Synopsis for June 20, 2003

The MMWR is embargoed until Noon ET, Thursdays.

1. Multistate Outbreak of Monkeypox
2. Foodborne Transmission of Hepatitis A -- Massachusetts, 2001
3. Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication -- Nigeria, January 2002-March 2003
4. Update: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome -- United States, June 18, 2003

Synopsis for June 20, 2003

Multistate Outbreak of Monkeypox

No summary available.

Foodborne Transmission of Hepatitis A --
Massachusetts, 2001

Foodborne transmission of hepatitis A can occur when a food handler with hepatitis A contaminates food during preparation.

Hepatitis A can be prevented by good hygiene, such as handwashing. For persons who have been exposed, hepatitis A can be prevented using immune globulin (IG). Sometimes health departments recommend IG when a food handler with hepatitis A is thought to have poor hygiene or to have handled foods that are easily contaminated. However, deciding whether to give IG is difficult, because most infected food handlers don’t transmit hepatitis A, and IG is expensive and requires a painful injection. This week’s MMWR summarizes a hepatitis A outbreak among restaurant patrons. The source of the outbreak was a food handler with hepatitis A who was considered unlikely to transmit illness.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication -- Nigeria, January 2002-March 2003

In order to stop wild poliovirus circulation in the northern states, Nigeria needs to implement higher quality immunization activities.

The estimated global occurrence of poliomyelitis has decreased more than 99 percent since 1998, when the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate polio worldwide. Despite progress, Nigeria remains one of the three global poliovirus reservoirs (along with northern India and Pakistan) whose low routine OPV vaccination coverage and high population density favor poliovirus transmission. This report summarizes the progress toward polio eradication in Nigeria during January 2002--March 2003, highlighting progress in acute flaccid paralysis surveillance. The findings of wild poliovirus circulation in areas of lower vaccination coverage underscore the importance of achieving high quality supplementary immunization activities.

Update: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome -- United States, June 18, 2003

No summary available.

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This page last reviewed June 20, 2003
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