Issue
Number 606
June 26, 2006
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Breaking news: CDC urges awareness of measles in
Americans returning from Germany
- Teleconference on shingles and new shingles vaccine is
scheduled for July 18
- Free: Bulk copies of June 2006 Vaccinate Adults
available while they last
- Reminder: Conference on Immunization Coalitions is
planned for Denver on August 9–11
- MMWR announces that June 27 is National HIV Testing Day
- CDC issues update on progress toward polio eradication
in Pakistan and Afghanistan in January 2005–May 2006
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ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American
Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices;
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug
Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine
Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health
Organization.
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June 26, 2006
BREAKING NEWS: CDC URGES AWARENESS OF MEASLES IN AMERICANS RETURNING FROM
GERMANY
On June 23, CDC issued a Media Advisory alerting clinicians and the general
public that some Americans traveling to and from the World Cup soccer
championship may have been exposed to the measles virus. The Media Advisory
is reprinted below in its entirety.
**************************
For Immediate Release
June 23, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY
CDC URGES AWARENESS OF MEASLES IN AMERICANS RETURNING FROM GERMANY
As American travelers go to and return from Germany for the World Cup soccer
championship games, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises
travelers and doctors to be aware that some travelers may have been exposed
to the measles virus.
Since Jan. 1, nearly 1,200 cases of measles have been reported in the North
Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. Three of the 12 cities hosting the
games—Cologne, Dortmund, and Gelsenkirchen—are in the affected region. CDC
is particularly concerned about the risk posed by the World Cup because the
event is expected to draw more than one million tourists, people will be in
close proximity, and the measles virus is extremely contagious. Outbreaks
like this can also cause greater concern because travelers may not take as
many precautions when traveling to western Europe as they would to other
parts of the world. There is a possibility that Americans traveling to
Germany could be exposed to measles while there.
CDC recommends that
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Travelers who plan to go to Germany should check their immunization status
and visit their doctors if they are not immune to measles or are not sure
they are.
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People returning from the World Cup in Germany should see a healthcare
provider if they develop signs or symptoms of measles—a fever and a raised
rash that begins on the face and spreads to the arms and legs, cough, red
eyes, or a runny nose.
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People with these symptoms should also limit their contact with others as
much as possible to prevent the spread of the disease.
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Clinicians seeing a patient with fever should ask about vaccination
history and any recent international travel.
Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness transmitted through
coughing and sneezing. The disease can lead to inflammation of the brain,
resulting in death in approximately 2 of every 1,000 cases in developed
countries, and can be an especially severe disease in people who are
malnourished or with weak immune systems. In the United States, most people
born before 1957—or those who have had a documented case of measles or
received 2 doses of MMR vaccine—are considered immune.
Live virus measles vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure may prevent
disease. Immune globulin given up to six days after exposure may prevent
disease among people at high risk for complications of measles (such as
pregnant women, people with weak immune systems, and children).
For more information about the measles outbreak and travel precautions,
please visit www.cdc.gov/travel
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To access the media advisory, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/a060622-c.htm
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June 26, 2006
TELECONFERENCE ON SHINGLES AND NEW SHINGLES VACCINE IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY
18
The National Immunization Coalition TA [technical assistance] Network has
scheduled a teleconference that will present an overview of shingles
disease and the new Zostavax shingles vaccine. It will be held at 2:00PM,
ET, July 18.
The presenter is Corklin Steinhart, MD, PhD, senior medical director,
Policy, Public Health, and Medical Affairs, Vaccine Division, Merck & Co.
A board certified internist and certified HIV specialist, Dr. Steinhart
headed a medical practice caring for HIV-positive patients until joining
Merck in April 2006.
To register for the teleconference, send an email to
IZTA@aed.org Include this message: "Sign
me up for the shingles call."
For additional information, or to access earlier programs, go to:
http://www.izcoalitionsta.org/confcall.cfm
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June 26, 2006
FREE: BULK COPIES OF JUNE 2006 VACCINATE ADULTS AVAILABLE WHILE THEY LAST
IAC is giving away bulk copies (up to 100 per request) of the June 2006
issue of Vaccinate Adults.
If you have an immunization conference or an educational program coming up
for adult medical specialists, this 12-page publication is an excellent
item to distribute. Vaccinate Adults is written for health professionals.
It is NOT for distribution to the public.
The June 2006 issue offers health professionals a newly revised version of
IAC's popular Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization, updated
with information about the new Tdap vaccine for adults. In addition, the
issue includes an overview of the many standing orders IAC has developed
for adult vaccination, as well as those for child and teen vaccination.
Because supplies are limited, it's best to make your request right away.
The free copies go quickly. Sorry, we can mail orders only to addresses
within the United States.
To request copies, fill out the online form on IAC's website:
http://www.immunize.org/freeoffer
You will be asked to supply the following information:
-
The number of copies you want (maximum 100)
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A description of how you plan to use the copies
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Your name and complete contact information, including mailing address,
telephone number, and email address
For further information, please email
admin@immunize.org
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June 26, 2006
REMINDER: CONFERENCE ON IMMUNIZATION COALITIONS IS PLANNED FOR DENVER ON
AUGUST 9–11
The seventh annual National Conference on Immunization Coalitions will
be held in Denver on August 9–11. July 31 is the deadline for standard
registration ($225). After July 31, registration will increase to $275.
Conference highlights include the following:
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Training on creating, leading, and sustaining effective coalitions and
community partnerships
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Proven strategies for organizing at the grassroots level
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Workshops on how to use data to drive coalition decision-making and
activities
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Models of successful health coalition activities and programs
To access comprehensive information about the conference, including the
conference agenda and online registration, click
here.
For more information, contact the conference coordinator: Carrie Shapleigh
at
cshapleigh@unbridledsolutions.com or (303) 996-6186.
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June 26, 2006
MMWR ANNOUNCES THAT JUNE 27 IS NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY
CDC published "National HIV Testing Day—June 27, 2006" in the June 23
issue of MMWR. The article is reprinted below in its entirety,
excluding references.
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June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. Initiated in 1995 by the National
Association of People with AIDS, National HIV Testing Day serves to
increase awareness of HIV/AIDS and to encourage all persons in the
United States to get tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Locations of HIV test sites by postal code are available at National
HIV Testing Resources at
http://www.hivtest.org
Persons who know they have HIV infection often can receive
antiretroviral treatment at an early stage of disease, when more
treatment options are available. Knowing HIV status also has the
potential to reduce transmission. Persons who learn they are infected
with HIV usually take steps to reduce their risk for transmitting the
virus.
In 2003, CDC began its Advancing HIV Prevention initiative, which aims
to increase the prevalence of persons who know their HIV status by
making HIV testing more available and by encouraging more people to
take advantage of the tests. MMWR will publish CDC's revised
Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant
Women in Health-Care Settings later this year.
***********************
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5524a1.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5524.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new
ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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June 26, 2006
CDC ISSUES UPDATE ON PROGRESS TOWARD POLIO ERADICATION IN PAKISTAN AND
AFGHANISTAN IN JANUARY 2005–MAY 2006
CDC published "Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication—Pakistan and
Afghanistan, January 2005–May 2006" in the June 23 issue of MMWR. A
summary made available to the press is reprinted below in its
entirety.
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Progress toward polio eradication has been made in Pakistan and
Afghanistan despite the ongoing war in some areas.
In 2005, Pakistan reported 28 confirmed cases of polio compared with
53 cases in 2004. In Afghanistan, the number of cases increased from
four in 2004 to nine in 2005, all in three provinces in the southern
part of the country. Areas in both countries, although mainly in
southern Afghanistan, were affected by the ongoing war. Virus
circulation has been restricted to an "axis" from central Pakistan
through southern Afghanistan. Genetic analysis indicates that the
virus is less able to circulate widely. In both countries, efforts
have been intensified by implementing new health communication strategies and by using type 1 monovalent oral polio vaccine. The
monovalent vaccine is expected to have a higher rate of positive
response compared with the usual trivalent (types 1, 2, and 3)
vaccine.
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5524a4.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5524.pdf
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