Synopsis for August 25, 2000

MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Thursdays.

1. State-Specific Cholesterol Screening Trends — United States, 1991–1999
2. Trends in Cigarette Smoking Among High School Students — United States, 1991–1999
3. Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, 1999–June 2000

Synopsis for August 25, 2000

State-Specific Cholesterol Screening Trends — United States, 1991–1999

Significant progress has been made in lowering cholesterol levels since the mid-1980s.

 

PRESS CONTACT:  David Brown, M.S.P.H., MS.c. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 488–2565

Although significant progress has been made in lowering cholesterol levels since the mid-1980s, few states attained the year 2000 national health objective for cholesterol screening in 1999 according to data from a state-based national survey. The year 2000 objective aims to increase to 75% the proportion of US adults aged 20 years and older who have had their blood cholesterol checked within the preceding five years. Overall, slightly more than 70% of US adults were screened for high blood cholesterol in 1999. Only the District of Columbia and nine states attained the national objective for the year 2000. Also, in spite of reported increases in cholesterol screening in the late 1980s, decreases were observed in the percentage of adults screened in seven states between 1991 and 1999. Only the District of Columbia and seven states are projected to attain the year 2010 objective of 80% screened.

Trends in Cigarette Smoking Among High School Students — United States, 1991–1999

CDC study shows that smoking rates may be falling among some of our nation's youth.

 

PRESS CONTACT: Terry Pechacek, Ph. D. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 488–5493

A new CDC study shows that smoking rates may be falling among some of our nation’s youth. The study, released by the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and Division of Adolescent and School Health, shows that current smoking rates among U.S. high school students may have leveled or begun to decline during the late 1990s (34.8% in 1995, 36.4% in 1997, and 34.8% in 1999) following years of increased rates. Despite this finding, trends need to be closely monitored in future surveys to evaluate if smoking rates have peaked and are beginning to decline among high school students. The data were obtained from CDC’s national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The survey is a representative of students in grades 9 through 12 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, 1999–June 2000

In 1988, the World Health Assembly of WHO resolved to eradicate polio globally by 2000.

 

PRESS CONTACT: Victor Caceres, M.D., M.P.H. CDC, National Immunization Program (404) 639–8252

Although polio remains endemic in Pakistan, this report summarizes improvements in supplemental vaccination activities, surveillance and in the status of wild poliovirus circulation. Several factors contributed to the large number of susceptible children in Pakistan. Nomads and Afghan refugees are particularly hard to reach and are often a source of new polio cases. Also, continuing conflicts in neighboring Afghanistan affect eradication efforts in Pakistan. Plans for 2001 include three rounds of door-to-door vaccination campaigns starting in January, followed by two more rounds in the Fall. The interruption of wild poliovirus transmission appears possible in Pakistan in 2001.

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