1) CDC expands smallpox vaccine deferrals to include cardiac risk factors & 2) issues residential infection control guidance for SARS

Wed, 2 Apr 2003 22:32:27 -0800 (PST)

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AHA NEWS NOW

The Daily Report for Health Care Executives

www.ahanews.com

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Monday, March 31, 2003

1) CDC expands smallpox vaccine deferrals to include cardiac risk factors 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is immediately recommending that people with three or more major cardiac risk factors be excluded from the nation's voluntary smallpox immunization program, in addition to people with known heart disease, while it gathers more information on reported cases of cardiac adverse events following immunization, a CDC spokesperson told AHA News Now. CDC is sending updated information packets for the program to states this afternoon, he added. The packet indicates that people with three or more of the following risk factors should not get the vaccine: high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol; diabetes or high blood sugar; a mother, father, brother or sister who had a heart condition before age 50; or a current cigarette smoker. The CDC decision adopts a March 28 recommendation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The committee did not recommend special medical follow-up for people with cardiovascular risk factor!
s who had been vaccinated, but said vaccinees should see a health care provider right away if they develop shortness of breath, chest pain or other symptoms of cardiac disease. For more, see the ACIP statement at http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r030327.htm.

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2) CDC issues residential infection control guidance for SARS 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued infection control guidance for people who live or have very close contact with patients suspected of having severe acute respiratory syndrome. CDC on March 29 said SARS patients should limit interactions outside the home and should not go to work, out-of-home day care, or other public areas for 10 days after respiratory symptoms and fever are gone. It said people living with SARS patients should wash their hands frequently or use alcohol-based rubs, and wear disposable gloves for contact with the patient's body fluids. Patients or household members also were advised to wear a surgical mask during close contact. CDC Director Julie Gerberding, M.D., said investigators still believe the disease is spread primarily through droplets spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, but "are concerned about the possibility of airborne transmission across broader areas and also the possibility that objects that become contam!
inated in the environment could serve as modes of spread." She said the disease is still primarily limited to travelers to Asia and to health care personnel and others who have had close contact with SARS patients. As of March 30, CDC is reporting a total of 69 suspected U.S. cases of SARS in 26 states. The World Health Organization today reported a total of 1,622 suspected SARS cases and 58 deaths worldwide. For the CDC SARS updates, go to http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/.

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AHA News is a registered trademark of the American Hospital Association. The opinions expressed in AHA News Now are not necessarily those of the American Hospital Association.

Brian Potts 
Managing Editor, CAL/AAEM News Service 
MS-IV, UC-Irvine

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<P>AHA NEWS NOW</P>
<P>The Daily Report for Health Care Executives</P>
<P></FONT><A href="http://us.f413.mail.yahoo.com/ym/www.ahanews.com"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>www.ahanews.com</U></FONT></A></P><FONT size=2>
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<P>Monday, March 31, 2003</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>1) CDC expands smallpox vaccine deferrals to include cardiac risk factors </P>
<P>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is immediately recommending that people with three or more major cardiac risk factors be excluded from the nation's voluntary smallpox immunization program, in addition to people with known heart disease, while it gathers more information on reported cases of cardiac adverse events following immunization, a CDC spokesperson told AHA News Now. CDC is sending updated information packets for the program to states this afternoon, he added. The packet indicates that people with three or more of the following risk factors should not get the vaccine: high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol; diabetes or high blood sugar; a mother, father, brother or sister who had a heart condition before age 50; or a current cigarette smoker. The CDC decision adopts a March 28 recommendation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The committee did not recommend special medical follow-up for people with cardiovascular risk fac!
tors who had been vaccinated, but said vaccinees should see a health care provider right away if they develop shortness of breath, chest pain or other symptoms of cardiac disease. For more, see the ACIP statement at </FONT><A href="http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r030327.htm"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r030327.htm</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>.</P>
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<P>2) CDC issues residential infection control guidance for SARS </P>
<P>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued infection control guidance for people who live or have very close contact with patients suspected of having severe acute respiratory syndrome. CDC on March 29 said SARS patients should limit interactions outside the home and should not go to work, out-of-home day care, or other public areas for 10 days after respiratory symptoms and fever are gone. It said people living with SARS patients should wash their hands frequently or use alcohol-based rubs, and wear disposable gloves for contact with the patient's body fluids. Patients or household members also were advised to wear a surgical mask during close contact. CDC Director Julie Gerberding, M.D., said investigators still believe the disease is spread primarily through droplets spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, but "are concerned about the possibility of airborne transmission across broader areas and also the possibility that objects that become con!
taminated in the environment could serve as modes of spread." She said the disease is still primarily limited to travelers to Asia and to health care personnel and others who have had close contact with SARS patients. As of March 30, CDC is reporting a total of 69 suspected U.S. cases of SARS in 26 states. The World Health Organization today reported a total of 1,622 suspected SARS cases and 58 deaths worldwide. For the CDC SARS updates, go to </FONT><A href="http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>.</P>
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<P>Copyright 2003 by the American Hospital Association. All rights reserved. For republication rights, contact Craig Webb.</P>
<P>AHA News is a registered trademark of the American Hospital Association. The opinions expressed in AHA News Now are not necessarily those of the American Hospital Association.</P></FONT><BR><BR><STRONG>Brian Potts <BR>Managing Editor, CAL/AAEM News Service</STRONG> <BR>MS-IV, UC-Irvine<p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
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