Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Email Updates for December 22, 2014

As you make your list of resolutions this year, add these five simple preparedness resolutions to your list. Taking time to prepare for an emergency now could be the most important thing you do in 2015.

The Ready Wrigley mobile application has been designed to teach children about what to do in emergency situations. Critical information about emergencies is weaved into the mobile app using age-appropriate language and activities to teach children about preparedness and response.

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Email Updates for December 15, 2014

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Email Updates for December 8, 2014

Viral suppression is the goal of HIV medical care. Yet, in 2011, only 40% of people living with HIV received HIV medical care and only 30% achieved viral suppression. Many persons living with HIV are not in medical care or are undiagnosed. When patients with HIV are in medical care, they are more likely to be prescribed antiretroviral medications, achieve viral suppression, and have a normal lifespan. Clinicians play a critical role in helping their patients move through the HIV care continuum by influencing the likelihood of patients engaging in medical care. During this COCA Webinar, clinicians will learn about current strategies to engage patients in HIV testing, counseling and medical care.

During emergency situations, communication is critical to a patient’s care. Learn how researchers are addressing a critical gap in communication between paramedics and emergency departments in our latest blog post.

Healthcare systems across the United States are actively preparing to treat patients with Ebola. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play an important role in the identification, assessment, and transportation of suspected or confirmed patients with Ebola. As designated treatment facilities, Emory University Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have received patients with confirmed Ebola. During this COCA Call, clinicians will learn about the field experiences of EMS personnel in the two jurisdictions and discuss unique planning considerations for EMS.

Influenza activity is currently low in the United States as a whole, but is increasing in some parts of the country. This season, influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been reported most frequently and have been detected in almost all states. During past seasons when influenza A (H3N2) viruses have predominated, higher overall and age-specific hospitalization rates and more mortality have been observed, especially among older people, very young children, and persons with certain chronic medical conditions compared with seasons during which influenza A (H1N1) or influenza B viruses have predominated.

Influenza activity is currently low in the United States as a whole, but is increasing in some parts of the country. This season, influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been reported most frequently and have been detected in almost all states. During past seasons when influenza A (H3N2) viruses have predominated, higher overall and age-specific hospitalization rates and more mortality have been observed, especially among older people, very young children, and persons with certain chronic medical conditions compared with seasons during which influenza A (H1N1) or influenza B viruses have predominated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Connecticut Departments of Public Health and Consumer Protection are investigating a fatal case of gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae in a premature infant. The infant received ABC Dophilus® Powder, a dietary supplement product containing viable microbial ingredients purchased from Solgar, Inc., Leonia, New Jersey. The product claimed to have “probiotic” properties and is marketed for infants and children. Subsequent testing of the same lot of unopened Solgar ABC Dophilus® Powder revealed contamination with Rhizopus oryzae. The purpose of this HAN advisory is to provide awareness about this fatal case of GI mucormycosis following ingestion of a contaminated dietary supplement and to provide guidance to state health departments and health care providers. Please disseminate this information to healthcare workers in neonatal intensive care units, hospital pharmacies, pediatricians, and primary care providers, as well as to microbiology and pathology laboratories.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Connecticut Departments of Public Health and Consumer Protection are investigating a fatal case of gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae in a premature infant. The infant received ABC Dophilus® Powder, a dietary supplement product containing viable microbial ingredients purchased from Solgar, Inc., Leonia, New Jersey. The product claimed to have “probiotic” properties and is marketed for infants and children. Subsequent testing of the same lot of unopened Solgar ABC Dophilus® Powder revealed contamination with Rhizopus oryzae. The purpose of this HAN advisory is to provide awareness about this fatal case of GI mucormycosis following ingestion of a contaminated dietary supplement and to provide guidance to state health departments and health care providers. Please disseminate this information to healthcare workers in neonatal intensive care units, hospital pharmacies, pediatricians, and primary care providers, as well as to microbiology and pathology laboratories.

On November 13, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a travel alert (Level 2) for Mali following reports of a cluster of Ebola cases in Bamako, Mali, that were linked to a man who had become sick in Guinea and traveled to Bamako, Mali. CDC is working with the government of Mali, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to control further spread of Ebola in Mali. In addition, CDC is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand enhanced entry screening at U.S. airports and post-arrival monitoring of people whose travel originates in Mali.

On November 13, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a travel alert (Level 2) for Mali following reports of a cluster of Ebola cases in Bamako, Mali, that were linked to a man who had become sick in Guinea and traveled to Bamako, Mali. CDC is working with the government of Mali, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to control further spread of Ebola in Mali. In addition, CDC is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand enhanced entry screening at U.S. airports and post-arrival monitoring of people whose travel originates in Mali.

After a hurricane, if the building is stable, you can open doors and windows to help dry out the building.

Rapid adoption of technology is significantly changing the speed and accuracy of how information is processed and shared. Emergency education and communication departments are particularly benefitting from new technology. In our latest blog post, find out how Minnesota is addressing the emergency preparedness and response needs of their community by leveraging text-to-speech technology for multi-language alerts.

Wash hands before handling food and whenever you stop working. Make sure you use a safe water source for washing.

Cervical cancer is vastly preventable, but there are still women who develop and die from cervical cancer every year. Human papillomavirus (HPV) types associated with cervical cancer can be prevented through screening tests and HPV vaccination. These measures are effective to prevent HPV infection and highlight the importance of clinicians taking action to establish evidence-based practices in screening and vaccination. During this COCA Webinar, clinicians will learn about CDC’s HPV vaccination recommendations and the USPSTF cervical cancer screening recommendations.

Make plans in advance to secure your home and keep your loved ones safe. Listen to local authorities for what to do in your area.

The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. A small number of patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been medically evacuated from West Africa to receive care in U.S. hospitals. The first imported case of Ebola was diagnosed in the United States in a person who had traveled from West Africa to Dallas, Texas and two secondary Ebola cases in health care workers have been identified as of October 14, 2014. CDC and our partners are taking precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola by sharing information with clinicians who may provide care for patients with EVD. During this COCA Call, clinicians will learn the clinical features and complications associated with Ebola and recommendations from Emory University Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center on clinical management of patients with EVD.