MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

(Box) World No Tobacco Day — May 31st, 2008

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

• Press Release

No summary available

Tobacco Use Among Students Aged 13-15 Years — Sri Lanka, 1999-2007

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Office of Smoking and Health
(770) 488-5493

Evidence-based tobacco control efforts—such as those undertaken in Sri Lanka to limit exposure to both pro-tobacco messages and SHS—have a demonstrable effect on smoking prevalence and behavior. Between 1999 and 2007, parental cigarette smoking and smoking by boys in Sri Lanka experienced a steady decline. Exposure to tobacco advertising significantly declined over this period as well, while exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in public places remained unchanged at over 65 percent. Strides in tobacco control have been made over the past eight years in Sri Lanka (including prohibiting tobacco advertising through national broadcast and local print media, at retail outlets, and on the internet as well as banning exposure to SHS in health care, educational, and government facilities and many indoor workplaces.). These bans do not include international broadcast and print media nor do they restrict SHS exposure in restaurants or bars—which may explain the lack of change in SHS exposure.

State Smoking Restrictions for Private-Sector Worksites, Restaurants, and Bars — United State, 2004 and 2007

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Office of Smoking and Health
(770) 488-5493

If current trends continue, the United States may achieve the national health objective of establishing laws making indoor public places and worksites smoke-free in all states by the year 2010. Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 carcinogens and causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. The number of states with laws prohibiting smoking in worksites, restaurants and/or bars has tripled (from 8 to 25) in the United States. The study titled, “State Smoking Restrictions for Private-Sector Worksite, Restaurants and Bars — United States, 2004 and 2007,” found that the number with no such laws was halved (from 16 to 8) from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007. In every case where a change to an existing law occurred, the restrictions became more stringent. These restrictions provide nonsmokers with enhanced protections from secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and its health effects. There is no risk-free level of SHS exposure, so eliminating smoking in indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers. Smoking restrictions have also been shown to help smokers quit.

Increased Detection and Severe Neonatal Disease Associated with Coxsackievirus B1 Infection — United States, 2007

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

Enteroviruses, including coxsackievirus B1, usually cause mild disease; however, they can cause severe, life-threatening illness in newborn children. Transmission can be reduced by use of good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly (especially after diaper changes), disinfecting contaminated surfaces with chlorine-containing household cleaners, and not sharing utensils and drinking containers. Enterovirus infections are common, particularly during summer-fall months, and typically are spread person-to-person via the fecal-oral or oral-oral routes and through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. Enteroviruses, including coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1), generally cause mild disease; however, they can cause severe, life-threatening illness in newborn children. In 2007, CVB1 was associated with an unusually high number of severe cases in newborns, including at least five deaths. Overall in 2007, CVB1-related illnesses were reported in 19 states and were the most commonly reported enterovirus infections, accounting for 25 percent of all enterovirus-related reports. Among the reported cases of CVB1 cases with known patient age, half of the patients were less than one month old.

####

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES