Issue Number 93
July 6, 1999
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Last week's offer of free copies of
"NEEDLE TIPS" is over!
- IAC is looking for an administrative
assistant
- CDC publishes article on influenza
outbreak among travelers in Alaska and Yukon Territory
- Pharmacists spearhead national
campaign to vaccinate the elderly
- Immunization education software for
nurses newly revised!
- CDC publishes article on measles
control in Southeast Asia
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(1)
July 6, 1999
LAST WEEK'S OFFER OF FREE COPIES OF "NEEDLE TIPS" IS OVER!
The early bird got the worm! The extra copies of the spring/summer 99 issue of
"NEEDLE TIPS" that we offered to our subscribers last week are all taken! We
have already received more requests than we can fill. The requests are being filled on a
first-come, first-serve basis so if you have already sent us an e-mail request, you will
either receive your copies or you will get a "sorry we ran out" message from us!
Remember, you can always download a camera-ready copy of "NEEDLE TIPS" at http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n21/n21.pdf
and make as many copies as you need.
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(2)
July 6, 1999
IAC IS LOOKING FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
IAC is looking for an administrative assistant. If you or anyone you know might be
interested in this position, please read the information below which includes instructions
on how to apply:
Pack up your administrative skills and come to work at the Immunization Action Coalition,
a small, award-winning, non-profit national publishing organization. Join a small group of
high-spirited professional women who are dedicated and meticulous, but still wear jeans
and have fun! We need an attention-to-detail administrative assistant who can handle
multiple tasks, has experience with Access, Word Perfect, and the Internet. Background in
PageMaker and accounting a plus. We offer full benefits and competitive compensation
commensurate with experience and skills.
Send your resume by July 14 to:
Immunization Action Coalition
1573 Selby Ave., Suite 234
St. Paul, MN 55104
or fax your resume to 651-647-9131. You can also e-mail your resume to admin@immunize.org
or click here: mailto:admin@immunize.org
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(3)
July 2, 1999
CDC PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AMONG TRAVELERS IN ALASKA AND YUKON TERRITORY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published "Outbreak of Influenza A
Infection Among Travelers -- Alaska and the Yukon Territory, May-June 1999" in the
July 2, 1999, issue of the MMWR.
As of June 29, CDC has received reports of 428
cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) among tourists who traveled to Alaska and the
Yukon Territory from May 22 through June 28 on seven separate week-long cruises. Among
tourism workers, 104 cases of ARI have been reported. Laboratory evidence has implicated
influenza A virus as the cause of illness.
The MMWR's editorial note reads as follows:
"Summer outbreaks of influenza A have been reported previously among tourists in the
United States and Canada. In 1998, approximately 40,000 tourists and tourism workers were
affected by an influenza outbreak in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. As with the 1998
summer outbreak of influenza A in this region, the findings in this report suggest that
influenza appears to be initially transmitted during land-based travel among tourists on
combination land and sea tours and among tourism workers.
"In anticipation of possible persistent influenza activity, some cruise lines
initiated policies to vaccinate crew members during the fall of 1998 to decrease the risk
for influenza transmission by crew members to travelers. In addition, health departments
in Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and British Columbia and collaborating cruise lines have
implemented summertime respiratory illness surveillance.
"In response to this outbreak, CDC and Health Canada developed recommendations for
travelers to the region and for regional tourism workers. These recommendations are based
on the following assumptions and considerations: 1) persons who travel with large
organized groups are at risk for exposure to influenza, 2) new cases of influenza A
infection probably will continue to occur among tourists to the region, 3) persons aged
greater than or equal to 65 years and persons with underlying health conditions are at
increased risk for influenza-related complications, 4) tourism workers have frequent
contact with persons at risk for influenza-related complications, 5) influenza vaccine
availability during the summer is limited, and 6) when the supply of influenza vaccine is
inadequate, influenza A-specific antiviral medications (i.e., amantadine or rimantadine)
have a primary role in influenza A prevention and treatment.
"On the basis of these considerations, CDC and Health Canada recommend that persons
aged greater than or equal to 65 years or who have certain underlying chronic medical
conditions (e.g., pulmonary or cardiac disease) should consult their health-care providers
before traveling to Alaska and the Yukon Territory this summer, regardless of their
vaccination status, about their risk for influenza, the symptoms of influenza, and the
advisability of carrying antiviral medications for either prophylaxis or treatment for
influenza A infections. These groups are at increased risk for serious complications from
influenza, including pneumonia, hospitalization, and death. Both amantadine and
rimantadine can reduce the duration of influenza A illness and viral shedding if
administered within 48 hours of symptom onset; however, these drugs also may cause side
effects (particularly central nervous system or gastrointestinal effects) and may require
dosage adjustment in elderly patients and those with underlying renal or hepatic disease.
Health-care providers in Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and British Columbia and on cruise
ships in regional waters who may be providing care for persons with ILI should consider
prescribing antiviral agents for patients with febrile respiratory illness. Rapid
antigen-detection tests for influenza, if available, will be useful for early diagnosis.
CDC, in collaboration with state and provincial health authorities and the tourism
industry, is working to implement surveillance for ILI among travelers and tourism workers
for the remainder of the Alaska/Yukon Territory tourist season.
"In the United States and Canada, health-care providers evaluating patients
with febrile respiratory illnesses or pneumonia should obtain a travel history and
consider influenza A in their differential diagnosis. Additional information about this
outbreak is available on the CDC World-Wide Web sites http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm"
To read the entire article, please click here:
http://cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4825a3.htm
HOW TO GET A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR
To get a free electronic subscription to the MMWR (delivered weekly), go to the MMWR
website and sign up. When you sign up, you will also automatically begin to receive all
new ACIP statements which are published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports."
To get to the MMWR website, click here: http://www2.cdc.gov/mmwr/
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(4)
July 6, 1999
PHARMACISTS SPEARHEAD NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO VACCINATE THE ELDERLY
"100% Immunization Campaign," a broad-based collaborative initiative to promote
immunization of all elderly residents of U.S. nursing facilities and assisted-living
facilities against influenza and pneumococcal disease, is being spearheaded by the
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP).
To help nursing and assisted-living facilities participate in this campaign (influenza and
pneumococcal disease are leading causes of death among Americans 65 years of age and
older) a resource kit has been developed. The kit contains a sample resident consent form,
recommended immunization policies and procedures, federal guidelines on vaccine
administration to older adults, and other materials.
To order the kit or for more information on the campaign, contact Sharon Cochraham at
703-739-1316, ext. 178 or send an e-mail to scochraham@ascp.com
More information about the "100% Immunization Campaign" will soon be available
on ASCP's website: http://ascp.com/public/pr/immunization/index.shtml
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(5)
July 6, 1999
IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION SOFTWARE FOR NURSES NEWLY REVISED!
"Immunization: You Call the Shots," an immunization education software program
for nurses, is now revised and contains new information on polio and rotavirus vaccines.
The teaching module features six hours of instruction along with a library of resources
and simulated practice settings.
Upon successful completion of the
self-instruction program, continuing education credits can be earned through the American
Nurses Association or the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and
Practitioners.
The software program was created by HealthSoft, Inc., and is supported by funding from the
National Immunization Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through a
cooperative agreement with the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine.
Cost for the software set is $25 for individuals, and $295 for multiple-user facilities.
Public health facilities may purchase the software at a significant discount.
For more information, call HealthSoft at 800-235-0882, or visit their website: http://www.nursingresourcecenter.com
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(6)
July 2, 1999
CDC PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON MEASLES CONTROL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an article entitled "Measles
Control -- South-East Asia Region, 1990-1997" in the July 2, 1999, issue of the MMWR.
The editorial note begins: "Despite routine coverage of greater than 80% since 1990
in SEAR (South East Asia Region), measles is a major cause of morbidity and death among
children aged less than 5 years. Basing calculations on the reported vaccination coverage
and a vaccine efficacy of 85%, approximately 9 million (25%) children in SEAR are not
protected through vaccination against measles at their first birthday."
To read the complete MMWR article, please click here: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4825a2.htm
HOW TO GET A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR
To get a free electronic subscription to the MMWR (delivered weekly), go to the MMWR
website and sign up. When you sign up, you will also automatically begin to receive all
new ACIP statements which are published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports."
To get to the MMWR website, click here: http://www2.cdc.gov/mmwr/ |
