MMWR News Synopsis for January 30, 2014
CDC Grand Rounds: Reducing the Burden of HPV-Associated Cancer and Disease
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
HPV vaccines are safe and effective and should be routinely administered to 11- or 12-year-old boys and girls. These vaccines will prevent the significant burden of diseases and cancers caused by HPV. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that girls and boys aged 11 or 12 years be routinely vaccinated for HPV; vaccine may be given starting at age 9 years. Two vaccines, bivalent and quadrivalent, are available. Both vaccines prevent HPV 16 and 18, the types that cause cervical and other HPV-associated cancers. Quadrivalent vaccine also prevents HPV 6 and 11, the types that cause genital warts. National data currently show less-than-desired HPV vaccination among female adolescents aged 13–17 years. Improving vaccination coverage is important to reduce the substantial burden of cancer and disease caused by HPV.
Rapidly Building Global Health Security Capacity — Uganda Demonstration Project, 2013
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
By leveraging the existing health system capacity and enhancing laboratory and information systems through an improved Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Uganda strengthened its surveillance and response capabilities and is closer to meeting WHO requirements under the International Health Regulations (IHR). Since completing a global health security demonstration project in collaboration with CDC, Uganda has used its increased ability to identify and report suspected cases of priority diseases and to transport samples for analysis from remote locations. Analysis of samples has led to early detection of several disease threats including: West Nile virus, Zika virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, hepatitis E virus, Neisseria meningitides infection and tuberculosis (TB). Uganda also activated its improved EOC during a mass gathering for solar eclipse and to support international airport screening for illness consistent with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection among people returning from the Hajj. Strengthening every country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats early and effectively is a global responsibility. From March to September 2013, CDC and the Uganda Ministry of Health worked collaboratively to improve the country’s disease detection and response capacity for priority infectious diseases that occur in Uganda, such as TB (including multi-drug resistant TB), cholera, and viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola virus. The demonstration project strengthened Uganda’s public health laboratory system; enhanced communications and information systems for outbreak response; and developed a public health EOC – all essential elements for protecting global health security.
Strengthening Global Health Security Capacity — Vietnam Demonstration Project, 2013
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
Pilot project in Vietnam has resulted in considerable systems improvements that may serve as a model for increasing global health security in other countries. Building on Vietnam’s existing health system capacity, CDC and partners worked with the country to increase its ability to test for emerging pathogens and manage public health emergencies. From March–September 2013, CDC collaborated with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health on a project to demonstrate that enhancements could be made to the country’s established health system capacity to enhance surveillance and early detection of and response to diseases and outbreaks. Achievements included enhanced ability to test for emerging pathogens, manage public health emergencies, and demonstration of the need and capability for information systems to improve public health emergency reporting. As a result, the region has greater global health security and Vietnam is closer to meeting WHO requirements for surveillance and response under the International Health Regulations (IHR).
Notes from the Field
Rotavirus Oral Vaccine Administration Errors — United States, 2006–2013.
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