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July 2010  Items covered in this issue: Updates for Massachusetts
Other News
Public Health Advisories and Updates
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| Updates for Massachusetts Top | |
Reports Due July 15th
Please be sure to get your project completion reports in to the League no later than July 15, 2010*. Each report should include the following:
- The state of preparedness at the CHC;
- Activities undertaken and accomplishments documented during the project period (including updated flu vaccination data);
- Newly identified gaps, and potential improvements/recommendations to address the identified gaps in preparedness;
- Full accounting of all expenditures reflecting dollar amounts and related costs and activities, work effort or relevant units of cost;
- Updated Emergency Contact Information, form provided by MLCHC;
- Updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Continuity of Operations Plan (CoOP);
- Most recent Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA).
Please see your contract attachments for more details on your reporting requirements. Do not hesitate to contact League staff with any questions or concerns.
* Please be advised that there was a typo in some of the contract attachments which listed a different due date. Please disregard those dates and submit all reports and documents by July 15, 2010 to the League. |
Tests Confirm Fisherman Exposed To Mustard Gas, Decon Completed AP - June 28, 2010. The Coast Guard says a clam boat that dragged up canisters of mustard gas earlier this month as well as the cold storage facility where the vessel was moored and cleaned have been fully decontaminated. The Coast Guard announced last weekend that there is no detectable sulfur mustard contamination aboard the vessel ESS Pursuit, or at Sea Watch International in New Bedford. In addition, 180 clam cages were also decontaminated. Click here to read more. WBZ - June 8, 2010. A doctor treating a commercial fisherman who was sickened after his clamming boat pulled up munitions tainted with chemicals says tests show he was exposed to mustard gas.... The U.S. Coast Guard said the New Bedford-based vessel, the ESS Pursuit, dredged up two shells Sunday about 45 miles south of Long Island. One of the shells opened up and spilled the nerve agent on the deck. "It caused some blisters on one crew member and eye and nose irritation on three others," said National Guard hazmat expert Capt. Christina Sampsonis. Crew member Kevin O'Sullivan told WBZ the canisters had the date "1914" or "1918" on it. Click here to read more. |
Reebok inoculates workers after at least 1 gets measles |
Sebelius Announces New $250 Million Investment to Lay Foundation for Prevention and Public Health
HHS - June 18, 2010. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $250 million in new Affordable Care Act investments to support prevention activities and develop the nation's public health infrastructure. These investments are the second allocation from the new $500 million Prevention and Public Health fund and will go to Community and Clinical Prevention, Public Health Infrastructure, Research and Tracking, and Public Health Training. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/06/20100618g.html |
Update - 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
CDC - June 16, 2010. Health Surveillance. The Gulf Coast Oil Spill has the potential to affect human health in addition to the effects already seen on animal and marine life. CDC, along with the affected Gulf Coast states, has developed a plan to track the potential short-term health effects related to the oil spill in the affected communities. CDC, with state and local health departments, is conducting surveillance across the five Gulf States for health effects possibly related to the oil spill using national and state-based surveillance systems. Those systems include the following:
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National Poison Data System (NPDS) - CDC has an agreement with the American Association of Poison Control Center's NPDS to track calls related to the oil spill-including information calls and potential exposures-for 60 Poison Centers (PCs) in all 50 states. CDC requested that Poison Centers in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, assign a temporary code to any calls related to the oil spill. This enables CDC to track the number of Poison Center calls and potential health effects. The data are also being provided to the states so that they can follow up as needed. For more information on the American Association of Poison Control Centers: http://www.aapcc.org/DNN/.
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Biosense - BioSense is a national program that conducts quick surveillance of health information, and enables public health officials to track changes in a population's health status through access to existing data from healthcare organizations across the country. Biosense includes 86 coastal healthcare facilities in the five Gulf states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) and staff are watching for specific syndromes (groupings of signs and symptoms) that could be related to the oil spill. For more information on Biosense: http://www.cdc.gov/biosense/.
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State Surveillance - Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi are using state-based surveillance systems to track oil spill-related health effects that might be related to occupational or non-occupational exposure. The states and CDC are collecting data from sources such as emergency departments, urgent care facilities, and poison centers for evaluation. States and CDC are regularly sharing data and summaries with each other. For More Information on Health Surveillance including the most recent findings visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/2010gulfoilspill/health_surveillance.asp.
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| Public Health Advisories Top |
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CDC - June 18, 2010. This is a reminder of the importance of Tdap vaccination for all health care workers, and household contacts and caregivers of infants. Although the number of pertussis cases in Massachusetts has been decreasing, the incidence of pertussis is cyclic with peaks occurring every two to five years as the number of susceptible persons in the population increases. Since February 2010, California has experienced an increase in pertussis cases, including 5 deaths in infants younger than 3 months of age. The only way to protect young infants against pertussis is to ensure a "cocoon" of immune people around them. Tdap vaccination of health care workers and contacts of infants: As long as they are at least age 10 years of age and younger than age 65 years, parents, grandparents, siblings, healthcare workers, and all others who have not already received Tdap, and who are close contacts of infants younger than age 12 months, should receive a single dose of this vaccine as soon as possible to protect infants from pertussis. When giving Tdap to protect infants, one does not need to observe a "minimum interval" between giving Td and Tdap. For example, if you had immediately realized that you had mistakenly given the father-to-be Td instead of Tdap, you could have given him the needed Tdap dose at the same visit at which you gave him the erroneous Td dose. Ideally, family members and other contacts should be vaccinated before the baby is born to ensure that they are immune before coming into contact with the infant. Links to additional information: CDC information on pertussis: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/default.htm. Treatment guidelines for pertussis in young infants: http://www.aap-ca.org/clinical/pertussis/pertussis_in_young_infants.html |
Counterfeit Tamiflu Product Sold on Internet
FDA - June 17, 2010. FDA notified consumers and healthcare professionals about a potentially harmful product represented as "Generic Tamiflu" sold over the Internet. FDA tests revealed that the fraudulent product does not contain Tamiflu's active ingredient, oseltamivir, but cloxacillin, an ingredient in the same class of antibiotics as penicillin. Patients who are allergic to penicillin products are at risk of experiencing similar reactions from cloxacillin. This includes a sudden, potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, with symptoms that include difficulty breathing, chest tightness, swelling of the throat or tongue, hives, dizziness, loss of consciousness, or a rapid or weak pulse. Click here to read more. |
Four Product Lots of Benadryl Recalled
FDA - June 15, 2010. Mcneil Consumer Healthcare Recalls Four Product Lots of Benadryl Allergy Ultratab Tablets, 100 Count, and One Product Lot of Extra Strength Tylenol Rapid Release Gels, 50 Count. This recall is a follow-up to the product recall that McNeil Consumer Healthcare announced on January 15th, 2010 and is being taken because the products were inadvertently omitted from the initial recall action.The additional lots involved are four product lots of BENADRYL ALLERGY ULTRATAB TABLETS, 100 count, sold in the US; and one product lot of EXTRA STRENGTH TYLENOL Rapid Release Gels, 50 count sold in the US, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. For specific recall information visit: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm. |
Flu Update for Massachusetts
by Donna Lazorik, MDPH
MPDH - June 30, 2010. Real Guys Immunize Campaign Spurs Dads on to Protect Themselves and their Families against VPDs. Launched in mid-June, the Real Guys Immunize Campaign gives dads the impetus and tools they need to take action to protect themselves and their families from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). The US is seeing a level of VPDs that we haven't seen in decades--the pertussis epidemic in California is proof of that. That's why it's so important for dads to play their part in making sure they and their families are fully immunized. The Real Guys Immunize website includes these web sections: * iHerd--counters common myths dads may have heard about vaccines * Captain's Corner--lets dads share how they or men they know have turned to vaccines to protect those they love * Resources--gives dads access to immunization information that has appeared in the popular media View the video on the Real Guys Immunize home page and to follow Real Guys Immunize on Facebook and Twitter. To access the home page, go to: http://www.vaccinatenow.org/realguysimmunize.
MDPH - June 25, 2010. Termination of Emergency Use Authorizations. Effective June 23, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has terminated all Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) that had been issued by the agency regarding the recent H1N1 pandemic. The EUA had been issued to permit the expanded use of certain antiviral medication (zanamivir, oseltamivir phosphate, and peramivir), personal respiratory protection devices (i.e. N-95 respirators), and in vitro diagnostic tests to detect the 2009 H1N1 virus. Please login to the HHAN and click on the title of this alert to access the full document. Read more at http://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/ucm182568.htm.
CDC - June 16, 2010. CDC Immunization Update webcast - August 5, 2010. August 5 is the date for this year's highly anticipated "Immunization Update," presented by CDC experts. The 2010 course instructors include William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH; Donna L. Weaver, RN, MN; Andrew T. Kroger, MD, MPH; Iyabode Akinsanya-Beysolow, MD, MPH, FAAP; and guest experts. This live satellite broadcast and webcast will provide up- to-date information on the rapidly changing field of immunization. Anticipated topics include influenza, pneumococcal conjugate, human papillomavirus, and meningococcal vaccines. Other emerging issues will be discussed, including the latest information from the June ACIP meeting. To read more about the course content, go to: http://www2a.cdc.gov/PHTN//immupdate2010.
MDPH - June 14, 2010. Save the date: October 7, 2010 - The 15th Annual MIAP Conference, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, Marlborough, MA, 9:00am-4:00pm. Conference topices to include: National and Local Immunization Updates ▪ Adolescent Immunizations ▪ Disease Surveillance ▪ Vaccine Safety ▪ Electronic Vaccine Ordering and More! Keynote Speakers: William Atkinson, MD, MPH, Medical Epidemiologist, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Susan Lett, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Immunization Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Registration forms will be available starting August 1, 2010, on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) website at www.mass.gov/dph/imm. (Click "Advisories, Alerts and Events" and look under Events).
More information is available at:
MDPH at http://www.mass.gov/flu
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ASPR Launches new Public Health Emergency Portal
HHS - June 29, 2010. HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Launches new Public Health Emergency Portal. The new PHE.gov acts as a cross-governmental portal for residents in the U.S. and worldwide to obtain information from all US federal agencies and their state and local partners involved in a public health emergency,medical disaster or public health aspects of a natural or man-made disaster. In addition to being a resource for citizens, the portal also provides specific information for federal, state, and local emergency planners to aid in preparing for, responding to, and recovery from public health emergencies. Information on legal authorities and guidance, preparedness and planning tools, and specific preparedness programs are also provided for emergency planners. Information for responders includes information on physical safety and mental health, and guidance for dealing with specific public health emergencies. Check it out at www.PHE.gov. |
June 2010 issue of Needle Tips is now online
CDC - June 22, 2010. The June 2010 issue of Needle Tips has just been placed online at http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n45/n45.pdf. This issue, which emphasizes the importance of vaccinating healthcare personnel against influenza, includes:
* Prepare Now to Vaccinate Healthcare Workers in the fall
* First Do No Harm--Protect Patients by Making Sure All Staff Receive Yearly Influenza Vaccine
* Honor Roll for Patient Safety (institutions that mandate influenza vaccination for healthcare workers)
Additional features included in the issue:
* Ask the Experts: CDC Immunization Experts Answer Your Questions
* Vaccine Highlights: Recommendations, Schedules, and More
* Standing Orders for Administering Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine to Children
* Recommendations for Pneumococcal Vaccine Use in Children
* Vaccine Refrigerator Setup, a resource from the California Department of Public Health
* Monthly Care of Vaccine Storage Units, a resource from the California Department of Public Health
* Need Help Responding to Vaccine Hesitant Parents? Science-Based Materials Are Available from These respected Organizations
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Hurricane Health & Safety Tips
CDC - June 18, 2010. Get important, timely tips from the CDCHurricane Preparedness web site. The site also contains fact sheets, podcasts, and other resources to help you stay safe and healthy in a storm. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/ |
Dengue and Malaria in US Residents
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| Training and Education Top |
2010 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (CDC)
July 11 - 14, 2010 in Atlanta, GA. The International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases brings together public health professionals to encourage the exchange of scientific and public health information on global emerging infectious disease issues. The program will include plenary and panel sessions with invited speakers as well as oral and poster presentations on emerging infections. Major topics to be included are current work on surveillance, epidemiology, research, communication and training, bioterrorism, and preventions and control of emerging infectious diseases, both in the United States and abroad. Continuing education for this activity is pending. http://www.iceid.org/. |
More MEMA ICS courses added
Incident Command System 200 at Boston Covention & Exhibition Center on July 20, 2010Incident Command System 300 at Hynes Convention Center on August 24, 2010Visit their web site for more details. |
Pandemics and Bioterrorism: From Realistic Threats to Effective Policies
July 26 - 28, 2010. Swine flu is only the most recent of the challenges posed by threats of bioterrorism and global pandemics. Yet public health and security agencies evaluate these risks through their own professional norms and organizational cultures. MIT experts and affiliates explore the obstacles to policy implementation and strategies to overcome them. http://web.mit.edu/professional/short-programs/courses/combating_bioterrorism.html |
Stregthening Partnerships & Enhancing Preparedness in Challenging Economic Times - Vitural Leadership Conference
July 28, 2010, this Virtual Leadership Training is a day long "on-line" event in response to the increasing demand for information about human services in disasters across the nation. The Forum is a unique opportunity for emergency management and human services leaders to discuss the delivery of human services during disasters, identify challenges as well as strategies and innovative approaches to address emerging issues. This event will build on the success of other ACF sponsored events that brought together the leadership of key emergency management and human service agencies and non-profit organizations. This virtual event is integral to promoting communications at the highest levels between governmental human services agencies, non-profit community based organizations, and the emergency management communities for effective responses during crisis events across the nation. http://www.humanservicesepr.org/ |
8th Annual Health Care Quality Congress (The World Congress)
August 2 - 4, 2010, Boston, MA. The 8th Annual Health Care Quality Congress convenes over 200 of the industry's top visionaries and thought leaders to discuss cost containment strategies and how to develop solutions that align incentives with various payment models to maximize reimbursement and enhance value. The Congress address quality issues from both a provider and plan perspective and features "national" programs discussing their implementation strategies and how they are achieving meaningful use. http://www.worldcongress.com/events/HL10025/index.cfm?confCode=HL10025. |
2010 Summer Institute for Public Health Practice
August 9 - 13, 2010 in Seattle, WA - University of Washington. Registration is now open for the 2010 Summer Institute for Public Health Practice at the University of Washington. The Summer Institute is a learning tradition designed to meet the needs of public health practitioners. All participants from each area of study attend the plenary sessions, which includes the Deputy Director of the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.nwcphp.org/training/summer-institute. |
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) Training Course
Presented by the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness on August 11 - 12, 2010, the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) Training Course is an intermediate-level training course that incorporates exercise guidance and best practices from the HSEEP. Throughout the course, participants will learn about topics including exercise program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. To enroll, you must access MEMA's Training Registration System at www.mass.gov/mema, click on the menu bar on the right hand side of the screen and look for "Training Registration System." **Please note, every registrant is waitlisted before being added to the class roster. This does not mean the class is full.**
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Radiological Emergency Planning: Terrorism, Security, and Communication
August 16 - 20, 2010, Boston, MA - Harvard School of Public Health. Benefit from a current curriculum on radiological emergency planning. Current events continue to make emergency planning an urgent concern. Taught by leaders in the field of Emergency Planning, this program combines lectures and case studies with access to expert faculty to provide a unique learning experience. https://ccpe.sph.harvard.edu/programs.cfm. |
New and updated FEMA On-Demand Training Courses
IS-366 - Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters. The purpose of this course is to provide guidance for Emergency Managers and implementers of children's programs about meeting the unique needs that arise among children as a result of a disaster or emergency. Course Length: Approximately 4 hours; CEUs: 0.4. http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is366.asp. IS-324.a Community Hurricane Preparedness. In May 2010 this course was revised to update information on hurricane science and National Weather Service forecast products. In addition a section on Emergency Management was added. Course Length: Approximately 10 hours; CEUs: 1.0. http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is324a.asp.
**If the above links do not work, you may need to copy and paste them into the address bar. ** |
July 20 - Massachusetts Association of Community Health 10th Annual Bocce Tournament in the Park, Boston, MA
July 29-30 - Massachusetts Statewide National Health Care Reform Planning Sessions for Health Centers, Boston, MA
August 8-14 - National Health Center Week
August 17 - Health Care in the New Millenium: Cultural Competency in Medicine, Worcester, MA
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| If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Tina Wright, Project Coordinator - EM & PI
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
40 Court Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
617-426-2225 ext. 231
twright@massleague.org
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