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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Synopsis for February 15, 2002
The MMWR is embargoed until NOON, ET.
- Barriers to Dietary Control Among Pregnant Women with Phenylketonuria— United States, 1998–2000
- Measles — United States, 2000
- State-Specific Mortality from Sudden Cardiac Death —United States, 1999
Notice to Readers
American Hearth Month — February 2002
Status of U.S. Department of Defense Preliminary Evaluation of the Association of Anthrax Vaccination and Congenital Anomalies
Revision of Guidelines for the Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease
| Telebriefing, February 14, 2002 |
| WHO: |
Dr. George Mensah, CDC cardiovascular expert |
| WHAT: |
Dr. Mensah will discuss prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease ― specifically heart disease ―
in the United States. Brief remarks followed by Q/A. |
| WHEN: |
Thursday, February 14, 2002; 12 Noon – 12:30 PM ET |
| WHERE: |
At your desk, by toll-free conference line: Dial 866-254-5942
Teleconference name: CDC |
| A full transcript of this teleconference will be available today following the teleconference on the CDC
website at www.cdc.gov/media.
This teleconference will also be audio webcast. Listen LIVE online at www.cdc.gov/media.
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Synopsis for February 15, 2002
Barriers to Dietary Control Among Pregnant Women with Phenylketonuria— United States, 1998–2000
Women with PKU should follow a special diet before and during pregnancy, to help prevent mental retardation and
birth defects.
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PRESS CONTACT:
Amanda Brown, Ph.D.
CDC, National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
(770) 488–7160
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The use of newborn screening to prevent mental retardation in children with phenylketonuria (PKU) is a major public health success. In the
United States there are an estimated 3-4 thousand reproductive-aged women with PKU who -starting in the mid 1960's- were identified by newborn
screening and placed on a diet that prevented the severe mental retardation associated with PKU. Doctors recommend that persons with PKU stay on
the diet throughout life, but this severely restricted diet is often discontinued during adolescence. Babies born to women with PKU not
following the diet are at high risk for mental retardation and birth defects, outcomes not due to the baby having PKU, but instead to the
mother's condition. These effects can be prevented if women follow the PKU diet before and during pregnancy.
Measles — United States, 2000
Measles is no longer an endemic disease in the United States, as a result of high measles vaccination coverage.
PRESS CONTACT:
Brent Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
CDC, National Immunization Program
(404) 639–8214 |
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In 2000 a total of 86 confirmed measles cases were reported to CDC by state and local health departments. This represents a new record low and a
further 14% decrease from the 100 cases reported in each of the previous two years. Most cases have been linked to importations from other
countries where measles is still endemic. The low number of secondary cases from these importations suggests that population immunity is high.
This high population immunity against measles virus is directly due to the successful immunization efforts in this country, with measles
vaccination coverage among children 19-35 months in 2000 at 90.5%. Sustaining high levels of immunization is key to limiting spread of measles
from imported cases and preventing measles from becoming reestablished as an endemic disease in the United States.
State-Specific Mortality from Sudden Cardiac Death —United States, 1999
Treatment of heart disease, including heart attack and cardiac arrest, is time dependent, the earlier a patient is
treated, the better the outcome.
PRESS CONTACT:
Zhi-Jie Zheng, M.D., Ph.D.
CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488–2424 |
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A new CDC study shows that despite advances in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and improvements in emergency transportation
systems, more than 63% of cardiac deaths in the United States in 1999 were unexpected or "sudden." Nearly half of all cardiac deaths
(46.9%) occurred before the patient reached a hospital, and another 16.5% occurred in the emergency room or the patient was dead on arrival.
Statespecific data show that in several states, the proportion of sudden cardiac deaths was more than 70%. These data show an urgent
need for a national effort to increase public awareness of heart attack signs and symptoms and to reduce delays in time to treatment.
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