Synopsis for August 11, 2000

MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Thursdays.

1. Fatal Illnesses Associated With a New World Arenavirus — California, 1999– 2000
2. State-Specific Prevalence of Disability among Adults — 11 States and the District of Columbia, 1998
3. Update: West Nile Activity — Northeastern United States, January 1 – August 7, 2000

Synopsis for August 11, 2000

Fatal Illnesses Associated With a New World Arenavirus — California, 1999– 2000

Preventive measures for arenavirus infections include control of rodent populations and their exclusion from human dwellings.

 

PRESS CONTACT:  Division of Media Relations Office of Communication (404) 639–3286

The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) and University of Texas Medical Center recently identified evidence of infection with an arenavirus in three patients hospitalized with similar fatal illnesses. This report summarizes the investigation of this outbreak. Arenaviruses are rodent-borne enveloped RNA viruses and broken down into two groups, Old World and New World. Several arenaviruses cause viral hemorrhagic fever syndromes in Africa and South America. The South American hemorrhagic fever viruses belong to the Tacaribe complex or New World arena viruses (e.g., Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, and Sabia). The Old World arenaviruses include the agents of Lassa fever and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM). LCM associated with the house mouse Mus musculus is the only Old World arenavirus that occurs in the Americans.

State-Specific Prevalence of Disability among Adults — 11 States and the District of Columbia, 1998

Standard questions are needed to conduct surveillance of disability at the state and national level.

 

PRESS CONTACT: Vince Campbell, PhD CDC, National Center for Environmental Health (770) 488–7684

The work represents the first state-level prevalence analysis of disability from the BRFSS. Uniform data are needed to guide public health activities, including the implementation of state Healthy People 2010 objectives. CDC analyzed data from the disability module from BRFSS in eleven states and the District of Columbia to estimate state-level prevalence of disability. Positive response to either of two questions addressing activity limitations or use of assistive equipment to get around constituted the case definition. The average prevalence rate was 17.1%, consistent with national estimates ranging from 15% - 20%. State prevalence rates varied considerably, ranging from 13.6% to 21.8%. Rates increased with age: ages 18-44 ranged from 6.3% to 12.8%, averaging 9.7%; ages 45-64 ranged from 16.6% to 31.2%, averaging 22.1%; age 65 and older ranged from 26.2% to 40.4%, averaging 30.8%.

Update: West Nile Activity — Northeastern United States, January 1 – August 7, 2000

The data in this report suggest an expanding zone of epizootic transmission in four northeastern states with viral activity most intense in the NYC area.

 

PRESS CONTACT: Division of Media Relations Office of Communication (404) 639–3286

Surveillance programs initiated in response to the 1999 West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak have detected increased transmission activity in the northeastern United States. Seventeen states along the eastern seaboard and gulf coast, New York City (NYC) and Washington, D.C., have conducted WNV surveillance and are reporting to CDC. Surveillance includes monitoring of mosquitos, sentinel chicken flocks, wild birds, and potentially susceptible mammals such as horses and humans for WNV infection. This report summarizes findings of this surveillance system through August 7, 2000.

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