Synopsis for August 19, 2005

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

1. Atypical Reactions Associated With Heroin Use ― Five States, January-April 2005
2. Mercury Exposure ― Kentucky, 2004
3. Update: Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk for Human Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection Associated with Pet Rodents

Atypical Reactions Associated With Heroin Use ― Five States, January-April 2005

Early and rapid collaboration among local, state, and federal public health and law enforcement agencies is necessary to identify, respond to, and minimize the effects from the unintentional or intentional adulteration of substances used by the public.

Unintentional or intentional adulteration of illicit drugs such as heroin is a potential hazard associated with their use. The article describes 26 patients in five states who went to emergency departments for treatment from January to April 2005 with an unexpected reaction after reported heroin use. These are the first published incidences of poisoning from clenbuterol associated with reported heroin use. Communication and cooperation among poison centers, emergency departments, CDC, and local public health resources allowed for coordination of an appropriate response to the clenbuterol incidents. Local public health agencies and poison centers (available 24 hours a day at telephone 800-222-1222) should be notified of any case of suspected or known human exposure to an adulterated product.

Mercury Exposure ― Kentucky, 2004

Mercury spills happen fairly frequently, but medical providers are often unaware of assessment and treatment guidelines for those exposed.

Local health department, medical provider, and school staffs need to be aware of and familiar with mercury exposure assessment guidelines to be effective in mercury spill situations. In November 2004, a 15-year old high school student carried a small vial of liquid mercury onto a school bus and into a county high school in rural Kentucky. A subsequent investigation revealed that the mercury had been in the student’s possession for more than a year and that substantial amounts had been spilled in multiple locations. This report describes the results of the investigation, which indicated that duration of exposure was a key factor affecting the amount of mercury absorbed by exposed persons. Elemental mercury is a liquid substance, silvery in appearance, which is toxic and can cause a variety of temporary and even long-term health problems. It is especially dangerous when spilled in an enclosed area where people might breathe in mercury’s odorless vapors as it evaporates over long periods of time.

Update: Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk for Human Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection Associated with Pet Rodents

No summary available.

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