MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

1. Locally Acquired Dengue — Key West, Florida, 2009

CDC
Division of News and Electronic Media
(404) 639-3286

Dengue, an acute mosquito-borne viral illness, was locally transmitted and caused a sizeable outbreak in southern Florida in the second half of 2009. Dengue continues to be transmitted in southern Florida in 2010 with the first case being detected in April of 2010. Dengue has not been locally transmitted in Florida in over 70 years. The public should be aware of the risk of contracting dengue within the southeastern United States and health care providers should consider dengue in patients with acute febrile illnesses who live in, or have recently traveled to sub-tropical parts of the United States. The 2009 outbreak was detected after a New York physician astutely considered the diagnosis of dengue in a fellow New Yorker who became ill after traveling to Key West, Florida. The New York physician then reported the case to the appropriate public health authorities, emphasizing the importance of reporting suspected dengue cases. Given that the necessary factors for dengue transmission are present in many parts of the US, and that dengue virus can be easily introduced by international travel to neighboring countries where dengue is endemic year round, strong vector-borne disease surveillance and heightened mosquito control efforts are needed in the United States.

2. Violations Identified from Routine Swimming Pool Inspections — Selected States and Counties, United States, 2008

CDC
Division of News and Electronic Media
(404) 639-3286

Nearly one in eight swimming pools is closed immediately upon routine inspection due to serious code violations.  Pool inspectors help minimize the risk for recreational water illnesses and injuries by enforcing regulations that govern public recreational water venues that are chemically treated (e.g., water parks and kiddie pools). An analysis of 121,020 routine pool inspections conducted in 15 state and local agencies shows that 11 percent of pools inspections found disinfectant (e.g., chlorine) level violations.  During 1997–2006, disinfectant-susceptible pathogens (e.g., Shigella and E. coli O157:H7) caused 24 (23 percent) of 104 outbreaks of gastroenteritis linked to treated recreational water venues, indicating inadequate pool operation. The findings of this report suggest the need for increased public health scrutiny and improved pool operation. To help ensure a healthy swimming experience each time, CDC is encouraging swimmers to take action (for example, by testing the chlorine or bromine level of the water before swimming in it). For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/triple-a-healthy-swimming.html.

3. Eye-Care Utilization Among Women Aged ≥40 Years with Eye Diseases — 19 States, 2006–2008

CDC
Division of News and Electronic Media
(404) 639-3286

Women have been found to have a higher prevalence of vision loss than men.CDC analyzed data from the 2006–2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 19 U.S. states to assess the use of professional eye care among women aged >40 years who self–reported being diagnosed with a major eye disease. Twenty–one percent of women with diabetic retinopathy, 12 percent of women with glaucoma, and 8 percent of women with age–related macular degeneration did not visit an eye–care provider in the recommended follow–up period. The two most commonly cited reasons for not having an eye–care visit were cost or not having insurance (range across diseases: 40 percent–46 percent) and having no reason to go for follow–up (range: 20 percent–29 percent).

 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES