MMWR News Synopsis
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Fatal Falls Overboard in Commercial Fishing — United States, 2000–2016
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
Falling from a vessel is a serious hazard in the commercial fishing industry. Fall-overboard fatalities can be prevented by using a variety of strategies, including reducing deck hazards, increasing the use of life jackets, man-overboard alarms, recovery devices, and verifying recovery and response skills for all crewmembers through training. Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. A CDC study showed that during 2000–2016, 204 commercial fishermen died after unintentionally falling overboard. The majority of falls were not witnessed by other crewmembers, and recovery of victims from the water was infrequent. None of the victims were wearing a life jacket when they died. Although the number of fall overboard fatalities decreased over the study period, these events remain a leading contributor to commercial fishing deaths and are largely preventable. Vessel owners should consider strategies to prevent future fatalities, including lifeline tethers, line management, life jackets, man-overboard alarms, recovery devices, and rescue training.
Three Rotavirus Outbreaks in the Postvaccine Era — California, 2017
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
While rotavirus vaccination is the best way to reduce rotavirus disease in the United States, outbreaks may continue to occur as the vaccine does not confer full protection, especially against mild disease. Efforts to improve rotavirus vaccination coverage should continue. Rotavirus disease, a cause of severe diarrhea in young children, has substantially declined since the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the United States in 2006. However, rotavirus disease still occurs in a winter-spring seasonal pattern. This study examined three rotavirus outbreaks in California in 2017. Most of the cases were associated with mild to moderate illness, although one fatality was reported in an unvaccinated child with underlying complications. Rotavirus outbreaks may continue to occur because the vaccine does not confer full protection, especially against mild disease. However, vaccination of eligible infants is the best way to reduce rotavirus disease.
Adherence to CDC Recommendations for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Gonorrhea — STD Surveillance Network, 2016
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
Slowing the threat of drug resistance hinges on healthcare providers following CDC treatment recommendations. Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported notifiable condition in the United States, and a disease that has progressively developed resistance to most recommended treatments. To effectively treat infections, CDC has in recent years recommended only one treatment strategy: dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Dual therapy may also slow the emergence and spread of drug resistance. A new analysis of data from the STD Surveillance Network (SSuN) found that 81 percent of all reported gonorrhea cases received the recommended treatment. However, there is room for improvement, as nearly one in five patients were not treated with this regimen. Cases diagnosed in STD or family planning/reproductive health clinics were more likely to receive this regimen compared to cases diagnosed by private providers or in urgent/emergent care settings. Provider awareness and adherence to current treatment recommendations helps ensure that all patients are treated with the most effective therapy and slows the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
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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, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.