MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income Preschool-Aged Children – United States, 1998-2008

Press Contact: Division of Media Relations
Phone: (404) 639-3286

• Press Release

1 in 7 low-income, preschool-aged children are obese but the obesity epidemic in this population may be stabilizing. However, childhood obesity remains a serious public health problem, particularly among American Indian and Alaska Native children. The CDC Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) reports that 1 in 7 low-income, preschool-aged children are obese but that the obesity epidemic may be stabilizing. The prevalence of obesity increased from 12.4 percent in 1998 to 14.5 in 2003, but since has been essentially the same, with 14.6 prevalence in 2008. Prevalence has remained constant or declined since 2003 among approximately half of PedNSS contributors and among all racial and ethnic groups except American Indian and Alaska Native children.

Neurologic Complications Associated with Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection Among Children – Dallas, Texas, May 2009

Press Contact: CDC, Division of Media Relations
Phone: (404) 639-3286

For children who have flu-like symptoms accompanied by unexplained seizures or mental status changes, clinicians should consider acute seasonal influenza or novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection as a diagnosis, send specimens for appropriate testing, and promptly begin treatment with antiviral drugs, especially in hospitalized patients. This article reports on four children who were hospitalized in Texas with neurological complications of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. All four recovered fully and were sent home without any neurological symptoms. This report highlights the potential for children with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection to experience neurological complications. Physicians who are caring for children hospitalized with influenza-like illness and unexplained seizures or mental status changes should consider that the neurological symptoms may be related to influenza, send respiratory specimens for testing, and start treatment with antiviral medications used against flu.

Bubonic and Pneumonic Plague – Uganda, 2006

Press Contact: CDC, Division of Media Relations
Phone: (404) 639-3286

CDC is working with health officials in Uganda to develop improved methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing plague. Although rare in the United States, plague continues to be a serious and dreaded disease in some regions of the world. Nearly 90 percent of reported plague cases occur in rural areas of Africa where laboratory and clinical infrastructure are limited. This report describes CDC′s efforts to assist the Uganda Ministry of Health in responding to an increase in plague cases in the fall, 2006. Overall 127 cases were identified; 22 percent were fatal. Misunderstanding about the cause of plague and the need to seek effective treatment contribute to the high fatality rate seen in some areas.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES