MMWR News Synopsis

Mumps Outbreaks at Four Universities — Indiana, 2016

Megan Wade-Taxter
Media Relations Coordinator, Office of Public Affairs
Indiana State Department of Health
Office: 317-233-7104
Cell: 317-607-7180
Email: mewadetaxter@isdh.in.gov

Laboratory testing, implementation of control measures, and availability of vaccination records are essential elements of plans to manage and contain mumps outbreaks. This report highlights strategies used in multiple, nearly simultaneous university outbreaks of mumps in Indiana in 2016 that public health departments and partners could use to help prevent or manage similar outbreaks. In 2016, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) confirmed mumps outbreaks nearly simultaneously at four universities around the state that also spread into the community. The ISDH and local health departments began investigations and took steps to control the outbreaks. Among the 281 confirmed and probable cases of mumps identified, 205 (73.0%) people had received two verifiable doses of mumps vaccine and an additional 11 (3.9%) were immune to mumps by laboratory testing. Complications were infrequent among cases and only one person required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. These outbreaks highlighted discrepancies in immunization documentation at universities and challenges in controlling outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations.

Application of a Tool to Identify Undiagnosed Hypertension — United States, 2016

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

These findings demonstrate the Million Hearts Hypertension Prevalence Estimator Tool’s potential use in improving hypertension identification within practices and health systems, and the likely importance of using both billing and clinical data to identify patients with hypertension and related chronic conditions. About 11 million U.S. adults with a usual source of health care have undiagnosed hypertension, putting them at increased risk for having a heart attack or stroke. CDC developed the Million Hearts Hypertension Prevalence Estimator Tool to allow practices and health systems to predict hypertension prevalence among their patients based on demographic characteristics and other chronic conditions. These groups can use the tool to compare their predicted prevalence with their observed prevalence to identify potential under-identification of hypertension. This study applied the tool using medical billing and clinical data collected among 8.92 million patients from 25 organizations participating in an AMGA national learning collaborative. The results suggest that upwards of 1 in 8 patients with hypertension may be undiagnosed.

Characteristics of Patients for Whom Benznidazole Was Released Through the Investigational New Drug Program for Treatment of Chagas Disease — United States, 2011–2018

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

In May 2018, the FDA approved a benznidazole product for treatment of Chagas disease. Benznidazole now is commercially available and is therefore no longer available through CDC. Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite spread by insects in the Americas, mainly in rural areas of Latin America. The antibiotics for treating this disease are benznidazole and nifurtimox. Without commercially available FDA-approved medications, these antibiotics have been available exclusively through CDC under special treatment protocols. A benznidazole product was approved by FDA in August 2017 and became commercially available in May 2018; as a result, benznidazole is no longer available through CDC. During 2011–2018, CDC provided benznidazole for more than 360 patients, most of whom were adults who were born in and became infected in Latin America. CDC’s nifurtimox program remains in effect to provide a therapeutic alternative to benznidazole when necessary.

• Number of Homicides Committed, by the Three Most Common Methods — United States, 2010–2016

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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.