MMWR News Synopsis
Friday, May 3, 2019
State-Specific Severe Joint Pain and Physical Inactivity Among Adults with Arthritis — United States, 2017
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
Arthritis, and severe joint pain and physical inactivity among adults with arthritis, are common across the United States – especially in rural areas. Being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, or taking a self-management course can reduce arthritis pain and improve quality of life. Among the 54 million U.S. adults with arthritis, severe joint pain and physical inactivity are linked to physical limitations such as holding a cup, lifting a grocery bag, or walking to the car. Nearly half (47%) of adults with arthritis and severe joint pain reported being physically inactive. Severe joint pain or physical inactivity among adults with arthritis is twice as high in some states than others (range 21% to 45%, and 23% to 44%, respectively) and is higher in more rural areas. Among racial/ethnic groups, the prevalence of arthritis alone is highest in American Indian/Alaska Natives. Being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, or taking a self-management course can reduce arthritis pain and improve quality of life.
Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Cocaine and Psychostimulants with Abuse Potential — United States, 2003–2017
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
Analyses of overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants with and without opioids illustrate the increasing complexity of America’s current overdose crisis. CDC analyzed data on drug overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants with and without involvement of opioids. In recent years overdose deaths involving these substances have increased across age groups, racial/ethnic groups, county urbanization levels, and many states. Death rates involving cocaine and psychostimulants with and without involvement of opioids have increased. Synthetic opioids appear to be driving much of the increase in cocaine-involved deaths. Although early increases in psychostimulant-involved deaths occurred largely without involvement of opioids, recent data point to increasing synthetic opioid involvement. The contribution of opioids to increases in stimulant-involved deaths underscores the importance of continued opioid overdose surveillance and prevention measures such as current efforts to expand naloxone availability to people at risk.
Progress Toward Measles Elimination — European Region, 2009–2018
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
In the World Health Organization European Region, measles cases tripled from 2017 to 2018. Immunization programs need to vaccinate 95% of their populations to protect individuals and communities, stop measles outbreaks from occurring, and achieve elimination. A new report describes progress toward measles elimination in the European Region (EUR) during 2009-2018. After a low of 4,240 measles cases in 2016, measles cases tripled from 2017 to 2018 with 82,596 cases reported (37% among adults), including 179 deaths. Ukraine reported the highest number of measles cases in 2018 at 53,218. Other countries reporting large outbreaks in 2018 were France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Russian Federation, and Serbia. Several factors have caused this resurgence, including measles virus transmission in countries with weak immunization programs, an accumulation of susceptible young children in marginalized communities, prevalent anti-vaccine sentiment, and a growing population of young adults who had not received measles vaccine.
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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.
