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  Press Summaries

MMWR
March 19, 1999

MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.


MMWR Synopsis
  1. Total Tooth Loss Among Persons Aged >= 65 Years--Selected States, 1995-1997
  2. Outbreaks of Gastrointestinal Illness of Unknown Etiology Associated with Eating Burritos--United States, October 1997-October 1998
  3. Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance--United States, Second and Third Quarters, 1998, and Annual 1994-1997
Fact Sheet: Rotavirus and Rotavirus Vaccine

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MMWR
Synopsis March 19, 1999

Total Tooth Loss Among Persons Aged >= 65 Years--Selected States, 1995-1997
Total tooth loss (edentulism) in elderly persons varies widely among the States.
PRESS CONTACT:
Scott Tomar, D.M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H.
CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488-6055		 Overall, the proportion of the U.S. population >= 65 years that has lost all natural teeth has been dropping for the past several decades. However, there remain substantial differences in the prevalence of total tooth loss among the states, with a greater than three-fold difference between the lowest (Hawaii, 13.9%) and the highest (West Virginia, 47.9%). Total tooth loss disproportionately affected particular segments of older Americans: African-Americans, those without dental insurance, those with less education, and cigarette smokers. Loss of natural teeth is not an inevitable consequence of aging and is largely preventable. Strategies to prevent total tooth loss include fluoridation of community water to prevent tooth decay, expansion of dental insurance coverage, and appropriate use of dental care services. Other preventive measures include the use of toothpastes and mouth rinses containing fluoride or antibacterial agents, and avoiding the use of tobacco.

  Outbreaks of Gastrointestinal Illness of Unknown Etiology Associated with Eating Burritos--United States, October 1997-October 1998
Sixteen outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, associated with eating burritos, occurred between October 1997 and October 1998.
PRESS CONTACT:
Ellen Steinberg, M.D.
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 639-2206		 All, but one, of the outbreaks followed a school meal, and most of the >1700 persons affected were children. The outbreaks occurred in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. Symptoms typically developed within 1 hour of eating a burrito and included nausea, headache, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. The burritos were from two unrelated companies. All of the burritos were made with wheat flour tortillas, but the filling differed in three outbreaks, suggesting the tortillas contain the agent that caused illness. The CDC, FDA, and USDA are collaborating to identify the etiologic agent; thus far, extensive laboratory testing has failed to identify the cause of this outbreak. The suspect burritos were removed from the market and no outbreaks have been reported since October 1998.

  Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance--United States, Second and Third Quarters, 1998, and Annual 1994-1997
Preventable workplace lead exposures continue to be an occupational health problem in the United States.
PRESS CONTACT:
Robert Roscoe, M.S.
CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
(513) 841-4424		 The Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program's most recent report indicated 3,727 adults with blood lead levels (BLLs) at or above 25 micrograms per deciliter of blood (>= 25 mg/dL) in 27 states during the second quarter of 1998 and 3,322 in the third quarter. The quarterly number of adults with BLLs >= 25 mg/dL has consistently been around 4,000 out of about 20,000 tested. From 1994 through 1997, the annual rates of adults with blood lead levels >=25 mg/dL for all ABLES states combined were 110, 115, 113, and 111 per million adults ages 16-64, respectively. These rates varied considerably among the ABLES states. Contact with the individual state ABLES programs is required for better interpretation of the state data.

Rotavirus and Rotavirus Vaccine

March 19, 1999
CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

  • Rotavirus affects virtually all children in both developed and developing countries during the first 5 years of life, and Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) during winter in the United States.

     

  • Rotavirus is a common cause of hospitalizations (50,000 annually) and emergency room and outpatient clinic visits (500,000 annually) in this country. An estimated 20 children die from rotavirus gastroenteritis annually. Most hospitalizations and outpatient visits for severe rotavirus diarrhea and dehydration occur among children 3 to 35 months of age.

     

  • In the United States, rotavirus gastroenteritis is responsible for an estimated $264 million in direct medical costs and more than $1 billion in total costs to society.

     

  • The vaccine was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration on August 31, 1998. Clinical trials of the vaccine indicated it prevented approximately 50% of all episodes of rotavirus diarrhea and 70-90% of severe episodes. The vaccine was associated with fever following the first dose in some recipients, usually occurring 3 to 5 days after administration and lasting for 24 hours or less. The fever was occasionally associated with decreased appetite, irritability, and decreased activity.

     

  • The vaccine is an oral live rotavirus preparation that should be given to infants between the ages of 6 weeks and 1 year. The recommended schedule is a three-dose series, with doses to be given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The first dose may be administered from the ages of 6 weeks to 6 months and later doses should be given at least 3 weeks apart. The entire series needs to be completed before the first birthday. Special efforts should be made to vaccinate children before onset of the winter rotavirus season.

    Rotavirus Vaccine for the Prevention of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Among Children Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) MMWR Vol. 48/No. RR-2/March 19, 1999*

    These recommendations represent the first statement by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on the use of a rotavirus vaccine licensed by the Food and Drug Administration on August 31, 1998, for use among infants. This report reviews the epidemiology of rotavirus, describes the licensed rotavirus vaccine, and makes recommendations regarding its use for the routine immunization of infants in the United States.

    Contact:

    Charles Vitek, M.D., M.P.H.
    CDC, National Immunization Program
    (404) 639-8715    		 or Joseph S. Bresee, M.D.
    CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
    (404) 639-3577

    * This report is NOT attached. It will be available on-line, after 4 p.m., at http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr_rr.html

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