MMWR News Synopsis for November 9, 2017

Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

The findings in this study highlight the importance of using proven strategies to reduce tobacco-related death and disease in the U.S., including enhanced access to cessation services, comprehensive smoke-free policies, price increases, and high-impact mass media campaigns, in conjunction with FDA regulation of tobacco products. In 2015, about 1 in 5 U.S. adults used some form of tobacco product every day or some days. About 42 million adults – more than 87 percent of the nation’s nearly 49 million tobacco product users – reported using a combustible, or burned, product such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes (including hookahs and water pipes). The remaining adult tobacco users reported using e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, snuff, dip, snus, and dissolvable tobacco. Among all adults, cigarettes were the most commonly used product (15.1%); followed by e-cigarettes (3.5%); cigars, cigarillos, or filtered little cigars (3.4%); smokeless tobacco (2.3%); and pipes, water pipes, or hookahs (1.2%). About 9.5 million American adults reported use of two or more tobacco products every day or some days.

Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water — United States, 2013–2014

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Detecting waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water and understanding how they affect the public’s health is vital to planning and carrying out the measures needed to prevent future outbreaks. There were 42 outbreaks associated with drinking water reported from 19 states in 2013 and 2014. Legionella caused more than half of the outbreaks, 88 percent of hospitalizations, and all 13 deaths. Cryptosporidium caused five outbreaks and Giardia caused three outbreaks. Chemicals or toxins caused five outbreaks, including two associated with algal toxins. This is the first report of drinking-water-associated outbreaks caused by harmful algal blooms.

Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Environmental and Undetermined Exposures to Water — United States, 2013–2014

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Detecting waterborne disease outbreaks associated with environmental and undetermined exposures to water and understanding how they affect the public’s health is vital to planning and carrying out the measures needed to prevent future outbreaks. There were 15 outbreaks associated with environmental exposure to water and 12 outbreaks associated with an undetermined exposure to water reported from 2013 to 2014. Of the outbreaks associated with environmental exposure to water, eight outbreaks involved human-made systems such as cooling towers and decorative fountains. The other seven outbreaks involved natural water systems such as rivers and streams, with Giardia causing most of those outbreaks. Of the outbreaks associated with undetermined exposure to water, almost all were caused by Legionella and involved human-made water systems.

Country Immunization Information System Assessments — Kenya, 2015 and Ghana, 20165

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Countries wanting to strengthen their national immunization programs by creating data quality improvement plans now have a model, due to the new WHO and CDC method for immunization information system assessments (IISAs) which was recently used for assessments in Kenya and Ghana. The availability, quality, and use of immunization data are widely considered to be cornerstones of successful national immunization programs. In 2015 and 2016, immunization information system assessments (IISAs) were conducted in Kenya and Ghana using a new WHO and CDC assessment method designed to identify the root causes of immunization data quality problems and assist in the development of improvement plans. In Kenya, this resulted in national and county target-setting workshops, with goals of strengthening support for 17 targeted counties. In Ghana, public health officials are piloting changes to improve the managerial and supervision skills of sub-district staff. They are also incorporating data quality content into pre-professional coursework for health students and continuing education for facility staff.

Notes from the Field:

• none

Quick Stats:

• Percentage of Children and Teens Aged 6–17 Years Who Missed >10 Days of School in the Past 12 Months Because of Illness or Injury, by Serious Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties Status and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016

###

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety, and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, stem from human error or deliberate attack, CDC is committed to respond to America’s most pressing health challenges.