MMWR News Synopsis

Pool Chemical Injuries in Public and Residential Settings — United States, 2008–2017, and New York, 2018

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Pool chemicals protect swimmers from the spread of germs and prevent disease outbreaks linked to pools and water playgrounds. But these same chemicals can cause injuries if mishandled. Pool chemical injuries led to an estimated 4,535 emergency department visits per year during 2008–2017. In a review of more than 13,000 emergency department visits due to pool chemical injuries during 2015-2017, the most frequent injuries were due to inhaling chemical fumes, vapors, or gases; not keeping the chemicals out of reach of children and teens; and adding chemicals to the water just before swimmers enter. If you own a residential pool or hot tub/spa, follow directions on pool chemical labels, wear safety equipment when handling pool chemicals, keep chemicals out of reach of children and animals (including pets), and never mix different pool chemicals together. All swimmers can help keep the mix of chemicals in the water healthy and safe by showering before getting into the water – and by never peeing or pooping in the water.

Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

CDC and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) have updated the recommendations for TB screening and testing for U.S. health care personnel. The changes in recommendations reflect the overall decrease of TB cases and the low incidence of TB among health care personnel due to occupational exposure. Historically, U.S. health care personnel were at increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and TB disease from occupational exposures, but recent data suggest that this is no longer the case. CDC and the NTCA have updated the 2005 CDC recommendations for testing health care personnel. The update includes: 1) TB risk assessment, symptom screening, and TB testing upon hire with a TB blood test (e.g., interferon-gamma release assay) or tuberculin skin test for those without documented prior TB or LTBI; 2) no annual TB testing for most health care personnel without a known exposure or ongoing transmission; 3) treatment is strongly encouraged for health care personnel with LTBI; 4) annual symptom screening for health care personnel with untreated LTBI; and 5) annual TB education for all health care personnel. These recommendations apply to health care personnel and volunteers in all health care settings. However, state and local TB screening and testing regulations may have different requirements.

• Measles Outbreaks from Imported Cases in Orthodox Jewish Communities — New York and New Jersey, 2018–2019
• Community Outbreak of Measles — Clark County, Washington, 2018–2019
• Acanthamoeba Keratitis Cases — Iowa, 2002–2017

• Age-Adjusted Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Reporting a Lot of Pain, Among Those Who Report Pain on at Least Some Days in the Past 3 Months, by Poverty Status and Frequency of Pain — National Health Interview Survey, 2016–2017

• Healthy and Safe Swimming Week — May 20–26, 2019

• Malaria Surveillance — United States, 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.