CDC scientists discovered Legionnaires’ disease in 1976, during one of the largest respiratory disease investigations in U.S. history. CDC’s disease detectives were called upon when people became sick with pneumonia, a serious lung infection, while attending an American Legion convention at a hotel in Philadelphia. Findings from the investigation suggested that a germ was being spread by the hotel’s air conditioning system. Six months later, CDC scientists identified that germ. It was a previously unknown bacteria, which they named Legionella (http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html).

Extreme heat events, or heat waves, are a leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. Between 1999 and 2012, extreme heat caused more than 7,400 heat-related deaths in the United States. Extreme heat increases hospital admissions for heart disease, respiratory disease, and stroke.

On May 13, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidance (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6518e1.htm) that recommends Zika virus rRT-PCR testing of urine collected less than 14 days after symptom onset, along with testing of patient-matched serum samples, for the diagnosis of suspected Zika virus infection (1). The purpose of this Health Alert Network (HAN) health update is to further disseminate information about the interim guidance to clinical and public health professionals.

On May 13, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidance (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6518e1.htm) that recommends Zika virus rRT-PCR testing of urine collected less than 14 days after symptom onset, along with testing of patient-matched serum samples, for the diagnosis of suspected Zika virus infection (1). The purpose of this Health Alert Network (HAN) health update is to further disseminate information about the interim guidance to clinical and public health professionals.

Summer is here! For many, it is time to hit the pool or take your children on a summer outing to the waterpark. Swimming is a great way to exercise, have fun and relax while spending time with family and friends. However, like many activities, it is not risk-free.

The first thing that comes to mind when people think about the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is probably a big warehouse with lots of medicines and supplies. What many do not know is that even when the SNS does not have the specific medicines or supplies needed to combat a public health threat, SNS experts can play a key role in working with medical supply chain partners to locate and purchase products during an emergency response.

Ticks transmit over a dozen infectious pathogens in the United States, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Recent discoveries of emerging pathogens such as Borrelia mayonii and Ehrlichia muris add to the complexity of properly diagnosing and treating tickborne diseases. As we approach summer and people become more active in the outdoors, reports of tick bites and tickborne diseases are expected to increase. Clinicians can help prevent complications associated with tickborne diseases with early recognition and prompt treatment. During this COCA Call, clinicians will learn about the treatment, management, and prevention of tickborne diseases in the U.S., with an emphasis on Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and newly emerging tickborne diseases.

Animal health represents an important factor in public health as zoonoses account for nearly two-thirds of human infectious diseases—the majority are from wild species. This is especially relevant given increasing pressures on our environment that are changing human contact with wildlife, resulting in the growing threat of disease emergence to our global and local public health and economies. Leading drivers of infectious disease emergence in humans from wildlife include anthropogenic pressures such as land use change, food production systems, and trade and travel. These complex drivers require broad and novel approaches to predict and prevent disease emergence. A multi-sectoral or One Health approach that considers the human-animal-environment links can promote synergies among public health, veterinary, and medical professions with other disciplines.

May 5th is World Hand Hygiene Day! We all know that cleaning our hands helps keep threatening germs away, but unclean hands continue to contribute to infections while patients receive care in healthcare settings. On any given day, about 1 in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection. Many germs that cause these infections are spread from patient to patient on the hands of healthcare providers.

When disaster strikes, CDC’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is prepared to provide medicine and medical supplies to any affected area within the United States and its territories on a moment’s notice. The SNS serves as the nation’s repository of medicines and supplies for use if there is a public health emergency, such as a terrorist attack, flu outbreak, or natural disaster, severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. The repository is designed to supplement or re-supply state and local public health agencies when needed.

To mark the National Day of Action, there are hundreds of little steps you can take to be better prepared at home, in your community, and on the go. Here are a few quick action steps you can take today!

Hurricane Katrina led to the largest incident of missing children in US history. Many of these missing children were too young to accurately identify themselves. Parents of missing children were among thousands of people displaced in emergency shelters, some in different states, with limited access to communication channels. Learn more. CDC’s crisis communicators are trained to speak to the public when the unthinkable happens to them, their families, and their communities. Crisis communicators use evidence-based communication strategies to deliver messages to help people stay safe and healthy during a disaster. Find out how crisis communication works and how it was used in the Ebola response. Learn more in our latest Public Health Matters blog post.

An unexpected public health emergency can happen anywhere and to anyone. The right health or safety message at the right time from the right person can save lives. However, poor communication can also make an emergency situation much worse. CDC’s crisis communicators are trained to speak to the public when the unthinkable happens to them, their families, and their communities. Crisis communicators use evidence-based communication strategies to deliver messages to help people stay safe and healthy during a disaster. Find out how crisis communication works and how it was used in the Ebola response. Learn more in our latest Public Health Matters blog post.

With spring weather and mosquito season coming soon in the Unites States, the Zika virus – and the mosquitoes that carry the virus – may be a major concern. People and communities can take steps to reduce the number of mosquitoes in their homes and communities to protect themselves from Zika - starting with removing standing water. Learn more in our latest Public Health Matters blog post.

Whether it’s taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle, preventing diseases, or preparing for an emergency or natural disaster, public law is an important tool to promote and protect public health. Find out how CDC’s Public Health Law Program (PHLP) helps to keep communities safer and healthier.

As demonstrated in events like the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and the Ebola response of 2014, children can be particularly vulnerable in emergency situations. Children are still developing physically, emotionally, and socially and often require different responses to events than adults. With children ages 0 to 17 representing nearly a quarter of the US population, the specific needs of children during planning for natural, accidental, and intentional disasters has become a national priority.

Outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and most recently in the Americas. Because the mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, it is likely that outbreaks will continue to spread. Here are 5 things that you really need to know about the Zika virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published recommendations for protecting people against sexual transmission of Zika virus (1). As stated in that report, information about possible sexual transmission of Zika virus was based on one published report of transmission from a man to a woman, one published report in which Zika virus was detected in semen of a man with hematospermia, and one case of possible sexual transmission then under investigation in Texas. An additional case of Zika virus detected in semen in a man was reported after the CDC recommendations were published (2). As of February 23, 2016, CDC and state public health departments are investigating 14 additional reports of possible sexual transmission of the virus, including several involving pregnant women. While additional investigations are being completed, CDC is issuing this HAN Advisory as a strong reminder to state, local, and US territorial public health departments, clinicians, and the public to be aware of and adhere to current recommendations for preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus, particularly for men with pregnant partners. These recommendations may change as more information becomes available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published recommendations for protecting people against sexual transmission of Zika virus (1). As stated in that report, information about possible sexual transmission of Zika virus was based on one published report of transmission from a man to a woman, one published report in which Zika virus was detected in semen of a man with hematospermia, and one case of possible sexual transmission then under investigation in Texas. An additional case of Zika virus detected in semen in a man was reported after the CDC recommendations were published (2). As of February 23, 2016, CDC and state public health departments are investigating 14 additional reports of possible sexual transmission of the virus, including several involving pregnant women. While additional investigations are being completed, CDC is issuing this HAN Advisory as a strong reminder to state, local, and US territorial public health departments, clinicians, and the public to be aware of and adhere to current recommendations for preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus, particularly for men with pregnant partners. These recommendations may change as more information becomes available.

CDC continues to evaluate all available evidence to assess the effect of Zika virus disease during pregnancy and in infants and children with possible Zika virus infection. Updated interim guidelines for healthcare providers caring for pregnant women and women of reproductive age include a new recommendation to offer serologic testing to asymptomatic pregnant women (women who do not report clinical illness consistent with Zika virus disease) who have traveled to areas with ongoing transmission of Zika virus. Updated guidelines for healthcare providers caring for infants and children with possible Zika infection have been expanded to cover children up to 18 years old, and contain a new recommendation to provide routine care to infants with no abnormal findings on prenatal or postnatal ultrasound, normal physical examination and whose mothers were not previously tested for Zika virus infection. The guideline document contains new recommendations for the care of infants and children with possible acute Zika virus disease. During this COCA Call, participants will learn why CDC has updated the clinical guidelines and how they can use the guidelines for Zika virus evaluation and testing.