MMWR News Synopsis for July 20, 2017

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Homicides of Adult Females and the Role of Intimate Partner Violence — National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003–2014

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Over half of homicides of women for which circumstances were known were intimate partner violence-related, with the majority of women killed by their current or former intimate partner. Homicide is one of the leading causes of death for women. It is the fifth leading cause of death for women 18-44 years of age. In 2015, 3,519 women and girls died by homicide in the United States. Findings from this study of female homicides over the period of 2003-2014 in 18 states from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) show that young women, particularly racial/ethnic minority women, were disproportionately affected. Over half were intimate partner violence (IPV)-related, with the majority of women killed by their current or former intimate partner. To inform homicide and IPV prevention efforts, evidence-based programs and policies are needed to prevent IPV from occurring in the first place. CDC recently released a technical package, Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Across the Lifespan: A Technical Package of Programs, Policies, and Practices, a collection of prevention strategies that describes the best available evidence to prevent intimate partner violence.

Surveillance for Silicosis Deaths Among Young Adults — United States, 1999–2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Among deaths in people age 15–44 years, coded as caused by pneumoconiosis due to dust containing silica, only the sub-code for “pneumoconiosis due to other dust containing silica” identified occupational cases (most often in the manufacturing and construction industries). The sub-code “pneumoconiosis due to talc dust,” used in about one-third of these cases, identified non-occupational talc pneumoconiosis. Examining detailed information on causes of death, including external causes, along with industry and occupation of decedents is essential for identifying silicosis deaths associated with occupational exposures and reducing misclassification of silicosis mortality. Silicosis deaths in young adults (aged 15–44 years) suggests acute or accelerated disease. During 1999–2015, 55 young pneumoconiosis deaths were coded as due to dust containing silica. Thirty-eight (69%) had a sub-code for “pneumoconiosis due to other dust containing silica” listed on their death certificate, and 17 (31%) had a sub-code for “pneumoconiosis due to talc dust” listed. Decedents with pneumoconiosis due to other dust containing silica had the manufacturing or construction industry frequently listed on their death certificates. Both of these industries are well known to be associated with exposures to silica-containing dust. Among decedents with pneumoconiosis due to talc dust, 13 involved multiple drug use or drug overdose and none worked in talc exposure-associated jobs, suggesting that their pneumoconiosis was not occupational.

Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Bangladesh, 2000–2016

Ms. Shamila Sharma
Communication Officer
WHO Regional Office for South East Asia
Email: sharmasha@who.int
Cell +919818287256
Office +9111-23370804

To achieve and maintain measles elimination, additional measures are needed to strengthen routine immunization services in order to increase two-dose measles vaccine coverage to ≥95% in all districts. There is also a need to enhance the sensitivity of measles case-based surveillance by adopting a more sensitive case definition, expanding case-based surveillance sites nationwide, and enhancing capacity for epidemiological investigation and outbreak preparedness and response to rapidly identify and contain outbreaks. In 2014 Bangladesh adopted a goal for national measles elimination by 2018. This report summarizes progress toward measles elimination in Bangladesh during 2000–2016. During 2000–2016, estimated coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) increased from 74 percent to 94 percent. Supplementary immunization activities vaccinated approximately 36 million children in 2005-06, 18.1 million children in 2010, and 53.6 million children in 2014. Reported suspected measles incidence declined by 82 percent during 2000–2016, from 34.2 to 6.1 cases per million population.

Notes from the Field:

• Cluster of Acute Flaccid Myelitis in Pediatric Patients — Maricopa County, Arizona, October 2016
• Hospital Contact Investigation for a Patient Who Developed a Zoster Vaccine–Related Rash — Maryland, February 2015
• Cronobacter sakazakii Infection Associated with Feeding Extrinsically Contaminated Expressed Human Milk to a Premature Infant — Pennsylvania, 2016

Quick Stats:

• Percentage of Office-Based Primary Care Physicians Accepting New Patients, by Total and Source of Payment Accepted — National Electronic Health Records Survey, 2015

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