MMWR Weekly Briefing

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, no new safety concerns have been identified a year after the RSV vaccine was recommended for older adults. Second, in response to New York City's chickenpox outbreak, about 27,000 vaccine doses have been administered to prevent new infections. Third, despite a decrease in reported cases, mosquitoes and ticks continue to spread disease in the U.S. Last, dangerous meningococcal infections after travel to Saudi Arabia highlight the need for vaccination before travel to perform the Umrah or Hajj pilgrimages.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, family members in three states got sick with a parasitic illness after eating previously frozen, undercooked bear meat. Second, the proportion of U.S. adults younger than 65 reporting that they had a stroke increased by 15%. Third, most new cases of mpox in the U.S. occur in people who are unvaccinated. Last, the risk of (H5N1) bird flu to people in the U.S. is currently low, but CDC is preparing for the possibility of increased risk.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, a rapid public health response successfully reduced the severity of a measles outbreak in Chicago. Next, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports the largest number of mpox cases ever. Last, polio cases were down globally in 2023, but 32 countries reported active outbreaks.

This episode discusses three MMWR reports. First, seven children in Utah were hospitalized with E. coli after drinking and playing in untreated water used for watering yards. Second, traveling in malaria-endemic countries can increase travel-associated malaria in the U.S. Prompt identification, diagnosis, and treatment are essential to prevent severe illness. Last, highly drug-resistant infections were identified in U.S. patients who recently traveled to Mexico for stem cell injections.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, emergency department visits for traffic-related pedestrian injuries are more common among racial and ethnic minority groups. Second, opportunities for clinicians to help pregnant and postpartum patients quit smoking. Third, a cluster of HIV cases associated with cosmetic injections emphasizes the importance of proper infection control and licensing at spa facilities. Finally, PCR lab tests are the most reliable tests for diagnosing COVID-19 to ensure appropriate treatment.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, extreme heat caused more emergency department visits in several U.S. regions in 2023 than in previous years. Second, health-related social needs, such as social isolation, dissatisfaction with life, and barriers to health care access, were associated with decreased mammogram use. Third, nursing home residents continued to get COVID-19 infection and be hospitalized during the most recent respiratory virus season. Fewer than half of nursing home residents were up to date with COVID-19 vaccines by February 2024. Finally, original COVID-19 vaccines protected children against hospitalizations, but the protection decreased over time.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, there was a rapid increase in the number of reported measles cases during the first quarter of 2024. Almost all cases occurred in people who were unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status. Second, backyard poultry might increase the risk of Salmonella in infants and newborns, even in the absence of direct exposure. Third, new data show COVID-19 vaccines did not cause cardiac death in teens and young adults in Oregon. Finally, a cluster of central nervous infections at the Rhode Island Hospital was associated with a medical device commonly used in neurosurgery.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, most newborns with sickle cell disease are born to mothers living in socially vulnerable counties. Second, CDC encourages providers to "Think. Test. Treat TB" as U.S. tuberculosis cases increase. Third, updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalization by about one-third among adults with weakened immune systems. Finally, lab tests used to diagnose rash may incorrectly indicate a child has measles if the child recently received a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

This episode discusses three MMWR reports. First, diagnosing chickenpox can be challenging; a lab test can help. Next, more than 13 million people with HIV were given lifesaving tuberculosis preventive treatment through PEPFAR-supported programs. Finally, prompt diagnosis and treatment of fungal diseases is needed.

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. Measles is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease. It can cause serious complications, particularly in young children. About 1 of every 5 people with measles have to be hospitalized. Thanks to a strong childhood vaccination program, measles stopped being constantly present in the U.S. in 2000. As the number of unvaccinated children increases, however, measles outbreaks are becoming more common. In the first report, the Cook County Department of Public Health in Illinois launched an investigation after five measles cases were reported in the fall of 2023.