MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

1. Workers Memorial Day (Box)

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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No summary available

2. Occupational Highway Transportation Deaths — United States, 2003–2008

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Work-related motor vehicle crashes claimed 8,173 lives during 2003-2008, reaffirming crashes as the leading cause of death on the job. Workers over 54 were at highest risk for these deaths, with most fatal work-related crashes involving trucks. Interventions needed to reduce these deaths include compliance with Federal regulations and state traffic laws, and good workplace driving policies.

3. Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Among Older Workers — United States, 2009

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Workers 55 and over represent the fastest growing segment of the U.S. work force by age and are most likely to sustain longer absences from work once injured, and are at higher risks for falls from heights, stairs or ladders) and for fractures and for hip injuries. There is an urgent need to address safety and health risks for older workers whose numbers are growing, and such efforts are likely to pay dividends by also improving safety for workers of all ages.

4. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults with Arthritis — United States, 2003–2009

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Obesity is common among the 50 million adults with arthritis. Although weight loss can improve arthritis symptoms and function among obese adults with arthritis, obesity prevalence among adults with arthritis is increasing in far more states than it is decreasing. From 2003 to 2009 obesity prevalence among adults with arthritis significantly increased in 15 states/territories, stayed roughly the same in 35 states, and significantly decreased only in the District of Columbia. In 2009 among adults with arthritis, 48 states had an obesity prevalence ≥30 percent. These findings indicate a critical need to expand the reach of effective strategies aimed at obesity prevention, treatment and arthritis management (physical activity, self-management education, etc.) in the population.

5. Rotavirus Surveillance — Worldwide, 2009

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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The global disease burden of diarrheal disease due to rotavirus remains high (36 percent), but experience to date indicates that it can be reduced through rotavirus vaccination. Data from a global rotavirus surveillance network coordinated by the World Health Organization demonstrate that rotavirus infection continues to be a major cause of severe diarrhea among children under 5 years of age. Among 43 countries participating in the network in 2009, it was found that 36 percent of diarrhea-related hospitalizations among children aged less than 5 years for whom stool specimens were tested were due to rotavirus infection. Immunization against rotavirus has been demonstrated to reduce the burden of severe rotavirus disease in countries that have introduced the vaccine. Thus, effective rotavirus immunization programs, complemented with other prevention and control efforts, can have a large impact in reducing diarrheal disease worldwide.

 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES