MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Apr 2000
Community indicators of health-related quality of life--United States, 1993-1997.
It is known that persons' longevity is affected by the environmental and population characteristics of their community. Studies that identify community-level characteristics associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of residents could help guide local health planning. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1993-1997 indicate that HRQOL differs among U. ⋯ In addition, socioeconomic and health status indicators, such as poverty, noncompletion of high school, unemployment, number of persons with severe work disabilities, mortality, and births to adolescents, also might affect county-level HRQOL differences. This report examines initial findings on the relation between selected community health status indicators (CHSIs) and the mean number of days that persons aged > or =18 years reported ill health (i.e., unhealthy days), a surveillance measure of population HRQOL. The findings suggest that CHSIs may be useful in the public health planning process.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Mar 2000
Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication--Democratic Republic of Congo, 1996-1999.
In 1988, the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis by December 31, 2000 (1). Although progress has been extraordinary (2), full implementation of polio eradication strategies has been delayed in several countries affected by war. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced continual armed conflict since October 1996. ⋯ DRC is an important global reservoir for wild poliovirus and shares more than 5580 miles (9000 km) of border with nine countries; in at least seven of these countries polio is endemic. The large area of DRC, substantial amount of poverty, weak health-care infrastructure, poor transportation and communication, and competing demands for resources present considerable challenges to polio eradication. This report summarizes information on the existing health-care infrastructure and routine coverage, information from NIDs carried out in 1999, and results from the recently established surveillance system for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP).
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Mar 2000
Update: Surveillance for West Nile virus in overwintering mosquitoes--New York, 2000.
Following the 1999 West Nile encephalitis outbreak in New York, guidelines were developed to direct surveillance, prevention, and control efforts in the eastern United States. As recommended in the guidelines, the New York City and New York state departments of health developed comprehensive West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance and control programs, which included collecting overwintering Culex mosquitoes to determine whether WNV might persist throughout the winter and initiate a zoonotic transmission cycle in the spring of 2000. As part of this surveillance effort, adult Culex mosquitoes were collected from structures in New York City during January-February 2000 to determine whether overwintering mosquitoes were infected with WNV. This report summarizes the results of this analysis, which documented WNV RNA in some mosquito pools.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Feb 2000
Vaccination coverage among adolescents 1 year before the institution of a seventh grade school entry vaccination requirement--San Diego, California, 1998.
In 1996, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Family Physicians, and the American Medical Association recommended routine health-care visits for children aged 11-12 years, emphasizing vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine; measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR); tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td); and varicella vaccine. Because no national data exist regarding vaccination coverage among adolescents, the impact of these recommendations is unknown. ⋯ To assist in planning and implementing AB381, the San Diego County Health Department expanded its 1998 infant and adult vaccination survey to include fifth and sixth graders. This report summarizes the findings from that survey, which indicate that most fifth and sixth graders lacked required and recommended vaccinations.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Jan 2000
Case ReportsAccutane-exposed pregnancies--California, 1999.
Accutane (Roche Laboratories, Nutley, New Jersey), known by the generic name "isotretinoin," is a prescription oral medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat severe, recalcitrant nodular acne. It is also a known human teratogen that can cause multiple major malformations. Embryopathy associated with the mother's exposure to isotretinoin during the first trimester of pregnancy includes craniofacial, cardiac, thymic, and central nervous system malformations. ⋯ Although isotretinoin is contraindicated in pregnancy and has a package label warning users to avoid pregnancy while taking it, exposed pregnancies occur. Approximately 900 pregnancies occurred among BUAS enrollees during 1989-1998 (BUAS, unpublished data, 1999). Roche Laboratories began direct-to-consumer print advertisements in 1996, added television and radio advertisements to selected cities in 1997, and expanded the campaign to the entire United States in 1998.