MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Mar 2005
Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication--Afghanistan and Pakistan, January 2004-February 2005.
Although poliomyelitis remained endemic in only six countries at the end of 2003, a resurgence of polio occurred in 2004, originating in Nigeria and resulting in the export of wild poliovirus (WPV) into the polio-free countries of western and central Africa. However, progress toward interrupting WPV transmission continued during 2004 in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, the only remaining countries in Asia where polio is endemic. This report summarizes progress toward polio eradication in Afghanistan and Pakistan during January 2004-February 2005 and indicates that, with continued support from national and local leaders, interruption of poliovirus transmission in both countries is feasible by the end of 2005.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Mar 2005
Interventions to increase influenza vaccination of health-care workers--California and Minnesota.
Vaccination of health-care workers (HCWs) has been shown to reduce influenza infection and absenteeism among HCWs, prevent mortality in their patients, and result in financial savings to sponsoring health institutions. However, influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs in the United States remains low; in 2003, coverage among HCWs was 40.1%. This report describes strategies implemented in three clinical settings that increased the proportion of HCWs who received influenza vaccination. The results demonstrate the value of making influenza vaccination convenient and available at no cost to HCWs.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Feb 2005
Progress toward elimination of measles and prevention of congenital rubella infection--European region, 1990-2004.
The European Region (EUR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) comprises 52 member countries, with an estimated population of 876 million. In 1998, the Regional Committee for EUR resolved to interrupt indigenous measles transmission by 2007 and reduce the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in all countries to <1 per 100,000 live births by 2010. In 2002, progress toward these measles and rubella targets was further encouraged with development of the Strategic Plan for Measles and Congenital Rubella Infection in the WHO European Region, which outlines an integrated approach to achieving both disease targets by 2010 by implementing six key strategies. This report presents data on measles, rubella, and CRS control in EUR during 1990-2004 and summarizes progress halfway through the implementation of the strategic plan.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Nov 2004
Introduction of routine HIV testing in prenatal care--Botswana, 2004.
In 2003, approximately 37% of pregnant women in Botswana (2001 population: 1.7 million; approximately 40,000 births per year) were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since 2001, all prenatal clinics in Botswana have offered HIV screening and interventions for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), which can decrease vertical transmission of HIV from 35%-40% to 5%-10%. Historically, HIV testing in Botswana has been performed after individual pretest counseling, with patients actively choosing whether to be tested (i.e., an "opt-in" approach). ⋯ However, many women who were tested never learned their HIV status because of logistical problems or not returning to the clinic. Substantial increases in HIV testing of pregnant women were also observed at the Francistown referral hospital and at prenatal clinics nationwide. These findings highlight the potential public health impact of routine HIV testing with rapid, same-day results for programs seeking to increase the number of persons with access to HIV-prevention and treatment services.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Nov 2004
Acinetobacter baumannii infections among patients at military medical facilities treating injured U.S. service members, 2002-2004.
Acinetobacter baumannii is a well known but relatively uncommon cause of health-care--associated infections. Because the organism has developed substantial antimicrobial resistance, treatment of infections attributed to A. baumannii has become increasingly difficult This report describes an increasing number of A. baumannii bloodstream infections in patients at military medical facilities in which service members injured in the Iraq/Kuwait region during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) were treated. The number of these infections and their resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents underscore 1) the importance of infection control during treatment in combat and health-care settings and 2) the need to develop new antimicrobial drugs to treat these infections.