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There is much work ahead to fully implement the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation to vaccinate all 6-23 month olds against influenza in order to increase the vaccination coverage levels and ensure protection of young children against influenza, because influenza results in large numbers of hospitalizations each year among young children.
PRESS CONTACT: |
The first CDC report of national estimates of influenza vaccination coverage among children aged 6-23 months showed that coverage was very low during the first year of the ACIP encouragement to vaccinate all 6-23 month olds against influenza. Beginning two years ago, with the 2002-03 influenza season, ACIP encouraged, when feasible, that all children aged 6-23 months, as well as household contacts and out-of-home caregivers for children aged < 2 years, receive influenza vaccination each influenza season; this was in addition to ACIP’s other longstanding recommendations. Results from CDC’s National Immunization Survey (NIS), a nationally representative random-digit-dialing telephone survey with provider verified vaccination data, revealed that for the 2002-03 influenza season, only 7.4 percent of children 6-23 months had received at least one influenza vaccination and only 4.4 percent were fully vaccinated against influenza. There was large variability between states and urban areas for influenza vaccination coverage among children aged 6-23 months which ranged from 2.2percent to 26.6percent for receipt of at least one dose of influenza vaccination.
In 2001, excessive drinking claimed more than 75,000 lives in the U.S., and shortened the lives of those who died by an average of over 30 years, resulting in a total of over 2.3 million years of potential life lost.
PRESS CONTACT: |
In 2001, excessive drinking (defined as >2 drinks per day for men or >4 drinks per occasion; or an average of >1 drink per day for women, or >3 drinks per occasion) claimed more than 75,000 lives in the U.S., and shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 30 years, resulting in a total of over 2.3 million years of potential life lost. Deaths were almost evenly divided between chronic conditions (46 percent) (e.g., liver disease) and acute conditions (54 percent) (e.g., car crashes). All deaths from acute conditions were due to binge drinking (i.e., 5 drinks or more per occasion for men; 4 drinks or more per occasion for women). Most deaths from excessive drinking involved men (72 percent), and most of the men who died were age 35 or older (75 percent).
Despite great progress during 2003, great effort is needed in the final push to eradicate Guinea worm disease.
PRESS CONTACT: |
In 2003, substantial progress was made by the global program to eradicate dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), a disabling parasitic disease that affects some of the world’s poorest people. The program has achieved a 99 percent reduction in the incidence of the disease from an estimated 3.5 million cases in 20 countries in 1986, when the program began, to 32,193 cases in 12 African countries by the end of 2003. This progress reflects the collaboration of The Carter Center, WHO, UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CDC, and many other partners that work with national dracunculiasis eradication programs in each country where the disease occurs. Intensification of interventions and access to southern Sudan and other areas in conflict are necessary to achieve eradication.
Findings released today by the CDC of an investigation of tuberculosis (TB) transmission in a renal dialysis center in Nevada reinforce that TB transmission continues to be a problem in such settings.
PRESS CONTACT: |
After identifying more than 400 contacts of a healthcare worker who was diagnosed with TB disease, 13 employees and 29 patients were found to have TB infection. None had TB disease. Because dialysis patients have compromised immune systems, they are at higher risk for progression to TB disease. Therefore, early detection and treatment of TB infection is critical. CDC recommends that all renal dialysis patients be tested for TB at least once for a baseline tuberculin skin test result and retested if TB exposure is suspected.
PRESS CONTACT: |
No summary available.
Health-care providers should consider Cyclospora infection in persons with prolonged or remitting-relapsing diarrheal illness and specifically request laboratory testing for this parasite, which is not routinely done by most laboratories.
| PRESS CONTACT: Division of Media Relations CDC, Office of Communications (404) 639-3286 |
An outbreak of cyclosporiasis -- a diarrheal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis -- occurred among persons associated with a residential facility in Pennsylvania; 96 cases of illness were identified. The cases were linked to consumption of raw Guatemalan snow peas at five special events catered by the facility from late May through late June 2004. This is the first documented outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to snow peas. Previous foodborne outbreaks have been linked to several other types of fresh produce from various countries. FDA and CDC are collaborating with Guatemalan officials to determine the sources of the snow peas and possible modes of contamination. No evidence of ongoing transmission has been obtained.
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Contact Us This page last reviewed September 23, 2004 Centers for
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