Issue
Number 410
September 8, 2003
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- CDC reports on a multistate outbreak of
hepatitis A among young adult concert attendees
- HFI's 2003 Hep Summit to take place November
10-11
- CDC notifies readers about incomplete packages
of Aventis Pasteur rabies vaccine
- UNICEF announces Zambia's recent measles
campaign vaccinated nearly five million children
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(1 of 4)
September 8, 2003
CDC REPORTS ON A MULTISTATE OUTBREAK OF HEPATITIS A AMONG YOUNG ADULT
CONCERT ATTENDEES
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published "Multistate
Outbreak of Hepatitis A Among Young Adult Concert Attendees--United States,
2003" in the September 5 issue of the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report" (MMWR). A summary made available to the press is reprinted below in
its entirety.
***********************
Healthcare providers and state and local health departments should ask
persons newly diagnosed with hepatitis A about concert attendance and report
cases to CDC.
In July 2003, CDC learned of hepatitis A cases among young adults traveling
the country with several popular "jam bands." To date, a total of 25 cases
from nine states have been identified. Most have attended numerous outdoor
concerts or music festivals this summer. Person-to-person transmission and
poor sanitation may have contributed to the spread of the disease at these
gatherings. In response, CDC, together with state and local health
departments in California and Oregon, educated concert goers and vaccinated
more than 300 concert attendees this summer. While the summer concert season
has ended, fall tours are scheduled to begin this month and there is concern
that person-to-person spread may continue.
***********************
To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5235a5.htm
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5235.pdf
HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR:
To obtain a free electronic subscription to the "Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report" (MMWR), visit CDC's MMWR website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr Select
"Free Subscription" from the menu at the left of the screen. Once you have
submitted the required information, weekly issues of the MMWR and all new
ACIP statements (published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports") will
arrive automatically by email.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(2 of 4)
September 8, 2003
HFI'S 2003 HEP SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE NOVEMBER 10-11
[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "HEP
EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 8/15/03.]
The Hepatitis Foundation International's (HFI) 2003 Hepatitis Summit will
take place November 10-11 in Mystic, Connecticut. Titled "Viral Hepatitis:
An Emerged Epidemic," the conference is intended for physicians, physician
assistants, nurses, psychologists, counselors, outreach workers, patient
advocates, and all others working with people who are affected or infected
by hepatitis A, B, and C.
The program will include breakout sessions on various aspects of viral
hepatitis prevention and treatment, including harm reduction strategies,
resources and referrals, the health insurance maze, strategic planning for
progress, and support groups.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Public
Health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Rhode Island
Department of Public Health. For more information about the agenda and/or
registration, go to:
http://www.hepatitisfoundation.org or call (800) 891-0707.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(3 of 4)
September 8, 2003
CDC NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT INCOMPLETE PACKAGES OF AVENTIS PASTEUR RABIES
VACCINE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published "Notice to
Readers: Missing Vials of Aventis Pasteur Vaccine, August 2003" in the
September 5 issue of the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR). The
notice is reprinted below in its entirety.
***************************
On August 27, 2003, Aventis Pasteur notified CDC about reports of packages
of IMOVAX Rabies, Rabies Vaccine (a reconstituted vaccine) that are missing
the vial of freeze-dried vaccine. Each package should contain one diluent
syringe and one vaccine vial containing freeze-dried vaccine. An
investigation is under way. A communication about this issue will be sent
from Aventis Pasteur to customers when additional information becomes
available.
***************************
To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5235a7.htm
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5235.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(4 of 4)
September 8, 2003
UNICEF ANNOUNCES ZAMBIA'S RECENT MEASLES CAMPAIGN VACCINATED NEARLY FIVE
MILLION CHILDREN
In a press release dated August 26, UNICEF reported Zambia's National
Measles Campaign vaccinated more than 4.9 million children between the ages
of 6 months and 14 years. Held June 7-13, the campaign is part of a larger
global effort to halve the number of measles deaths by 2005.
According to the press release, the Zambian campaign garnered unprecedented
support from Zambian government agencies, religious organizations, and
community groups, as well from NGOs and global partners such as UNICEF and
WHO. The result was the successful deployment of 17,710 volunteers at 3,795
vaccination posts.
To access the press release from UNICEF's website, go to:
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_13707.html |
