Synopsis for August 29, 2003

The MMWR is embargoed until NOON ET, Thursdays.

1. Tickborne Relapsing Fever Outbreak After a Family Gathering — New Mexico, August 2002
2. Nonfatal Physical Assault-Related Injuries Among Persons Aged >60 Years Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 2001
3. Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, January 2002– June 2003
4. Update: Adverse Events Following Civilian Smallpox Vaccination — United States, 2003
5. West Nile Virus Activity — United States, August 21– 27, 2003

Synopsis for August 29, 2003

Tickborne Relapsing Fever Outbreak After a Family Gathering — New Mexico, August 2002

Persons living in or traveling to endemic areas should avoid sleeping in rodent-infested buildings and use repellents containing DEET to prevent transmission of tickborne relapsing fever.

In August of 2002, the New Mexico Department of Health, the Indian Health Service, and the CDC investigated an outbreak of 11 cases of tickborne relapsing fever which occurred in northern New Mexico after a family gathering at a remote, uninhabited mountain cabin. An astute lab technician spotted the distinctive corkscrew-shaped bacteria which causes the rare infection while examining a blood sample from the first patient to develop symptoms. Once the diagnosis was confirmed, clinicians and public health nurses were able to rapidly identify and treat the other cases, preventing any serious complications. Relapsing fever is transmitted to humans by a type of soft tick found associated with small rodents, and is endemic in mountainous regions of the western US.

Nonfatal Physical Assault-Related Injuries Among Persons Aged >60 Years Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 2001

Nonfatal assault-related injury among older persons is a significant public health problem.

In 2001, 33,000 persons ages 60 years and older were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs) for nonfatal assault-related injuries. Most of these injuries were the result of being struck by a body part or blunt object. Contusions/abrasions, lacerations, and fractures were the most common types of injuries. Though the majority of these persons were treated and released, nearly one in ten required hospitalization. While it is not possible to determine how many of these injuries were the result of elder maltreatment (EM), EDs may be key points of contact for recognizing this cause of assault-related injuries and ED workers may play an important role in referring patients with physical signs suggestive of EM.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, January 2002– June 2003

In order to sustain the gains made in polio eradication in Angola and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), high quality polio surveillance and immunization must be maintained.

The estimated global occurrence of poliomyelitis has decreased more than 99% since 1988, when the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate polio worldwide. Although wild poliovirus (WPV) has not been detected for over a year in Angola and the DRC, these countries remain a concern because of factors which favor poliovirus transmission; including low routine immunization coverage, recent civil conflict and dense urban populations. The detection of wild poliovirus in 2002 in Angolan refugees in western Zambia and of high numbers of polio compatible cases in northeastern DRC where large groups of internally displaced persons have congregated due to ethnic conflict highlights the potential for circulation of poliovirus in these poorly vaccinated, high-risk populations. This report summarizes progress made toward polio eradication during January 2002–June 2003.

Update: Adverse Events Following Civilian Smallpox Vaccination — United States, 2003

Few adverse events, historically associated with smallpox vaccine, have been reported, but monitoring for adverse events continues at CDC and state vaccination programs.

During January 24 – August 8, 2003, smallpox vaccine was administered to 38,257 civilian health-care and public health workers. Ongoing monitoring for vaccine adverse events has shown that few adverse events have been reported. And, no cases of vaccine virus transmission from civilian vaccinees to their contacts have been reported.

West Nile Virus Activity — United States, August 21– 27, 2003

No summary available.

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