MMWR News Synopsis for August 17, 2017

Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens–Related Eye Infections Among Adults and Adolescents — United States, 2016

CDC Media Relations
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Correctly wearing and caring for contact lenses can help prevent serious eye infections. More than 6 out of 7 adolescents aged 12-17 who wear contact lenses (an estimated 3 million) report at least one habit that increases their chance of an eye infection. Eye infections can potentially lead to serious problems, including blindness. The report found that 85 percent of adolescents (age 12-17), 81 percent of young adults (age 18-24) and 87 percent of adults (age 25 and older) report a habit that increases their chance of an eye infection and could threaten their vision. It’s important for people who wear contact lenses to properly clean their lenses and to regularly visit an eye-care provider. CDC recommends that people who wear contact lenses replace their contact lenses as often as recommended by an eye doctor, replace their case at least every 3 months, avoid sleeping in lenses, and avoid swimming or showering in lenses.

Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years — Los Angeles County, 1999–2006 and 2007–2014

CDC Media Relations
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Although the prevalence of hypertension among adults in Los Angeles County in 2007-2014 meets the Healthy People 2020 goal of 26.9 percent, less than half of adults in Los Angeles County with hypertension had their blood pressure under control. Hypertension is an important and common risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in U.S. adults. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension, as well as awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among adults aged ≥18 years in Los Angeles County compared with all U.S. adults in 1999–2006 and 2007–2014. During 2007–2014, the prevalence of hypertension was 23.1 percent among adults in Los Angeles County, lower than the prevalence of 29.6 percent among all U.S. adults. Among adults with hypertension in Los Angeles County, significant improvements from 1999–2006 to 2007–2014 were found in hypertension awareness (73.8% to 84.6%), treatment (61.3% to 77.2%), and control (28.5% to 48.3%).

Occupational Distribution of Campylobacteriosis and Salmonellosis Cases — Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia, 2014

CDC Media Relations
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Workers in agriculture, health care, food, and personal care occupations have increased risk of diarrheal illness which might be related to workplace exposures to pathogens. Campylobacter and Salmonella are leading causes of diarrheal illness in the United States with >1 million cases reported annually. A recent CDC study identified occupations where workers have a higher chance of getting sick from Campylobacter and Salmonella infections compared to other occupations. The study found workers in agriculture, health care, food-related, and personal care occupations were at increased risk for campylobacteriosis or salmonellosis. Campylobacter and Salmonella infections are commonly foodborne, but they can also be spread at work through a sick patient, animals, or the environment. These diseases should be considered when workers have compatible symptoms. Targeting education and prevention strategies, including disease awareness and proper hygiene techniques at work, to high risk groups and their employers could help reduce disease.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Afghanistan, January 2016–June 2017

CDC Media Relations
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Afghanistan has made progress in its polio eradication efforts during the period of January 2016 to June 2017. To accomplish eradication, it is critical that Afghanistan continue to focus on improving campaign quality in the southern part of the country through enhanced oversight and targeted campaigns. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan should continue prioritizing coordination on surveillance and vaccination activities to track and vaccinate children among their high-risk mobile populations. This report highlights polio eradication progress, challenges, and solutions implemented in Afghanistan during January 2016–June 2017. Thirteen cases were confirmed in 2016, a decrease from 20 cases reported in 2015. From January to June 2017, five cases were reported, compared with six during the same period in 2016. The polio program in Afghanistan has enhanced its management and accountability during vaccination campaigns and strengthened its coordination with Pakistan to track and vaccinate the children in high-risk populations that move between both countries. Vaccination teams have been increased at transit points in and out of areas that are inaccessible due to security challenges, as well as along travel routes and at border crossings. Community-based religious leaders and volunteers are deployed to increase acceptance of vaccination among families that had previously refused and to follow up after campaigns to identify and vaccinate children who were missed.

Notes from the Field:

• Death of a Farm Worker After Exposure to Manure Gas in an Open Air Environment — Wisconsin, August 2016

Quick Stats:

• Percentage of Currently Employed Adults with No Health Insurance, by Type of Work Arrangement — National Health Interview Survey, 2010 and 2015

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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