MMWR News Synopsis

Articles

Vital Signs: Deaths Among Persons with Diagnosed HIV Infection, United States, 2010-2018

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

The rate of HIV-related deaths among people with HIV in the U.S. fell by nearly half from 2010 to 2017. CDC found declines in the HIV-related death rates, adjusted for age, per 1,000 people with diagnosed HIV from 2010 to 2017. Overall, HIV-related deaths among people aged 13 years and older declined by 48% between 2010 and 2017. Reductions were seen across the board – among men and women, all ages, and all racial and ethnic groups. Differences in HIV-related deaths by race/ethnicity also declined. The absolute gap in the HIV-related death rate between African Americans and whites fell by two-thirds, and by 2017 the rates for Hispanics/Latinos and whites were the same. However, more action is needed to further reduce HIV deaths, prevent new transmissions, and end disparities. Through the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, federal agencies are working to accelerate progress against HIV.

COVID-19 Outbreak — New York City, February 29–June 1, 2020

Patrick Gallahue
Press Secretary, Public Affairs
Office Phone: 347-396-4061
Cell Phone: 646-891-9003
pgallahue@health.nyc.gov

The initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City (NYC) demonstrated that people from racial and ethnic minority groups, people living in poorer neighborhoods, older New Yorkers, and people with underlying medical conditions suffered disproportionately from COVID-19 infections and deaths. During spring 2020, NYC was an early epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. During February 29–June 1, 2020, more than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed and reported among residents of NYC, including more than 50,000 people who were hospitalized and more than 18,500 people who died. The highest rates of cases and deaths were concentrated in racial and ethnic minority communities, areas with high-levels of poverty, among people 75 years or older, and among people with underlying medical conditions. The rapid spread of COVID-19 combined with limited testing availability led to significant challenges in investigating and controlling disease. Given the unprecedented volume of cases, early on in the outbreak NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) stopped labor-intensive individual case investigations for all patients and sought supplementary sources of information. In addition, publishing NYC DOHMH data online in real-time allowed the public to access important information on COVID-19 in NYC. In the absence of a vaccine, reducing illness and deaths from COVID-19 across NYC, particularly among people who are at increased risk of severe outcomes, is an urgent priority.

Characterization of COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities — 39 States, October 2020

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

By mid-October, 1 in 5 assisted living facilities (ALFs) in 39 states reported one or more cases of COVID-19 among residents or staff. ALFs should take actions to prevent COVID-19 spread in their facilities, including rapid identification of and response to residents and staff with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. While various reports have described cases of COVID-19 in nursing homes, less is described about the impact of COVID-19 on residents and staff in U.S. ALFs. By October 15, 2020, in 39 states with available data, one in five ALFs reported one or more COVID-19 cases among residents or staff. ALF residents are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19-related outcomes, including death. About 21% of ALF residents who had COVID-19 died, compared to deaths in 3% of those with COVID-19 from the general population. With ongoing community transmission, ALFs should take actions to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in their facilities. These preventive measures should include: Having a plan for visitor and staff-member restrictions; encouraging social distancing and use of masks; implementing recommended infection prevention and control practices; providing access to supplies; and rapidly identifying and appropriately responding to residents and staff with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2019

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

In 2019, about 1 in 5 U.S. adults reported currently using any tobacco product. Cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product, followed by e-cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and pipes. To assess recent national estimates of tobacco product use among U.S. adults aged 18 and older, CDC analyzed data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey. In 2019, an estimated 50.6 million U.S. adults (20.8%) reported currently using any tobacco product, including cigarettes (14.0%), e-cigarettes (4.5%), cigars (3.6%), smokeless tobacco (2.4%), and pipes (1.0%). Most current tobacco-product users (80.5%) reported using combustible products (cigarettes, cigars, or pipes), and 18.6% reported using two or more tobacco products. U.S. adults also report using various non-cigarette tobacco products, with e-cigarettes being the most commonly used non-cigarette tobacco product (4.5%). The implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based, population-level interventions, in coordination with regulation of tobacco products, can reduce the burden of tobacco-related disease and death in the United States.

Implementation of a Pooled Surveillance Testing Program for Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections on a College Campus — Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, August–October, 2020 (Early Release November 17, 2020)

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2019–September 2020

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Due to persistent challenges in reaching children at-risk for polio and deteriorating vaccination campaign quality, Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts continued to see setbacks in 2019 and 2020 resulting in increases in wild poliovirus type 1 cases and the emergence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreaks. Transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) increased in Pakistan from January 2019 to September 2020. There were 147 WPV1 cases in 2019 compared to just 12 reported in 2018. Progress toward wild polio eradication further slipped in 2020 with 72 cases reported as of September 15 and with the geographic expansion of the virus beyond Pakistan’s core reservoirs to reach southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh provinces. Additionally, Pakistan reported 22 cVDPV2 cases in 2019 with an additional 59 cases as of September 15, 2020. Children at risk for polio will benefit from Pakistan’s full and safe resumption of national and sub-national immunization activities, paused from March to July due to COVID-19, as well as addressing other vaccination failures to reach high population immunity.

COVID-19 Stats: COVID-19 Incidence, by Urban-Rural Classification — United States, January 22–October 31, 2020

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Graph: Rates of COVID-19 have risen in small cities and rural areas compared to rates in urban areas. Since September, rates have increased in all areas, with the sharpest increases in small cities and rural areas. These findings highlight the importance of preventive measures in rural and urban communities, like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet from others, washing hands often, avoiding large gatherings, and staying home when sick.

• Death Rates from Septicemia Among Persons Aged ≥65 Years, by Age Group — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2000–2018

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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.