MMWR News Synopsis
Friday, June 28, 2019
HIV Screening in 50 Local Jurisdictions Accounting for the Majority of New HIV Diagnoses and Seven States with Disproportionate Occurrence of HIV in Rural Areas, 2016–2017
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
CDC analysis demonstrates the urgent need to expand HIV testing as part of the proposed federal plan to end the U.S. HIV epidemic. CDC recommends that everyone ages 13-64 years be screened for HIV at least once in their lifetime. New CDC data show that fewer than 40% of people in the U.S. have ever been tested for HIV. The 2016-2017 data, from a national population-based survey, suggest that most people are not getting the recommended screening – even in areas with the greatest burden of HIV. Expanding HIV testing is a critical part of the proposed federal plan to end the U.S. HIV epidemic, as testing can be a gateway to prevention options like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or can link a person with HIV to care and treatment that protects their health and prevents new infections.
Cryptosporidiosis Outbreaks — United States, 2009–2017
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
The number of U.S. outbreaks caused by the extremely chlorine-tolerant parasite, Cryptosporidium, increased significantly from 2009 through 2017. Cryptosporidium (Crypto) is an extremely chlorine-tolerant parasite that can cause diarrhea (cryptosporidiosis) that lasts up to three weeks. The number of outbreaks Crypto causes has increased significantly in recent years. CDC researchers used data from the National Outbreak Reporting System to examine trends in the number of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks reported each year to CDC and the most common outbreak sources. During 2009 through 2017, cryptosporidiosis outbreaks increased an average of 13% each year. Among the 444 reported outbreaks, more than a third (35%) were linked to treated recreational water, such as in pools and water playgrounds. Other outbreak sources include cattle, childcare settings, and raw milk. Cryptosporidium DNA fingerprinting can reveal how the parasite spreads and help detect and investigate outbreaks.
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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.
