Synopsis for October 17, 2003

The MMWR is embargoed until NOON ET, Thursdays.

1. Infants Tested for Hearing Loss — United States, 1999–2001
2. Prevalence of IgG Antibody to SARS-Associated Coronavirus in Animal Traders — Guangdong Province, China 2003
3. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Adults Aged >50 Years and Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage Among Adults Aged >65 Years — United States, 2002
4. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Correctional Facilities — Georgia, California, and Texas, 2001−2003
5. West Nile Virus Activity — United States, October 9–15, 2003

Synopsis for October 17, 2003

Infants Tested for Hearing Loss — United States,
1999–2001

Hearing loss (HL) is a common birth defect and when left undetected it can lead to developmental delays in children.

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs help to ensure that infants can progress smoothly through the process of screening (before one month of age), audiologic and medical evaluation (before three months of age), and enrollment in appropriate intervention services (before six months of age). While this report indicates notable progress has been made, estimated data show that infants are not always receiving recommended services. These findings highlight the importance of surveillance data in ensuring children with HL are identified as early as possible and enrolled in intervention services. The continued advancement of EHDI programs will help children with HL develop communication and language skills that will last a lifetime.

Prevalence of IgG Antibody to SARS-Associated Coronavirus in Animal Traders — Guangdong Province, China 2003

Evidence is accumulating that SARS jumped the species barrier from animals to humans, but the natural reservoir for SARS or the animal responsible for spillover to humans is still unknown.

A high proportion of animal traders from southern China had antibody to the virus that causes SARS (SARS CoV), but none of the workers sampled developed SARS during last Spring’s outbreak. In a survey conducted by the Guangdong Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 13% of animal traders sampled in May from three different Guangzhou markets had antibody to the SARS coronavirus, while only 1-3% of healthy controls had antibodies. Traders of palm civets, wild boar, muntjac deer, and hare were the most likely to SARS CoV antibodies. These findings are consistent with animals being the reservoir for SARS coronavirus, but workers could also have been exposed to a closely related virus in the market that protected against SARS.

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Adults Aged >50 Years and Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage Among Adults Aged >65 Years — United States, 2002

Universal recommendations for influenza vaccination have been broadened to include adults aged 50-64 years in addition to those aged >65 years. Vaccination coverage is currently low.

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination are recommended for persons aged >65 years to prevent illness and possible death. Recommendations for influenza vaccination were broadened recently to include adults aged 50-64 years. Data from the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed to estimate vaccination coverage for the 50 states, Washington DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Influenza vaccination in the preceding year for adults for persons aged 50-64 years ranged from 15.9% to 49.0%; median of 38.4%. For persons aged >65 years the range was from 32.2% to 76.6%; median of 68.4%. Pneumococcal vaccination ever for adults aged >65 years ranged from 25.1% to 72.5%; median of 63.0%. Wide variability in vaccination coverage exists across states and innovative approaches to improve vaccination levels are needed.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Correctional Facilities — Georgia, California, and Texas, 2001−2003

Adapting traditional hospital-based approaches to preventing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission may not be feasible in most correctional facilities.

MRSA has emerged recently as a more frequent cause of skin and soft tissue infections in the community, particularly in correctional facilities such as prisons, jails, and detention centers. This report summarizes recent investigations of MRSA transmission among inmates of correctional facilities in Georgia, California, and Texas. Inadequate personal hygiene, barriers to medical care, and other factors contributed to transmission. Because these barriers to disease control exist in crowded settings, prisons and jails can serve as amplifiers of MRSA skin disease.

West Nile Virus Activity — United States,
October 9–15, 2003

No summary available.

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