NCJ Number
223968
Journal
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Volume: 57 Issue: 29 Dated: July 25, 2008 Pages: 793-816
Editor(s)
Frederic E. Shaw M.D., J.D.
Date Published
July 2008
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This issue presents several articles on morbidity and mortality in the areas of illicit drug use, effective vaccines, and viruses and their transmission.
Abstract
Findings are reported on nonpharmaceutical fentanyl-related deaths in several States from April 2005 to March 2007. Illicitly manufactured nonpharmaceutical fentanyl (NPF) is a synthetic opioid 30-50 times more potent than heroin. The findings in this report indicate that, during April 2005 and March 2007, a total of 1,013 deaths in six jurisdictions were attributed to NPF. The second article examines the use of mass Tdap vaccination to control an outbreak of pertussis in a high school in Cook County, IL from 2006 to 2007. Even though the effect of the Tdap vaccination clinic in shortening the duration of the pertussis outbreak is unclear, the experience shows that school-based Tdap vaccination clinics can quickly achieve high coverage during a pertussis outbreak with the increase in routine Tdap vaccinations remaining an important public health goal. The third article discusses the transmission of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a rodent-borne arenavirus, through solid organ transplantation, specifically a kidney transplant in Massachusetts. It summarizes the results of the subsequent public health investigation with results indicating that the donor was the source of LCMV infection. A brief report summarizes 2008 West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) through ArboNET. A total of 14 States have reported 43 cases of human WNV illness to CDC. This issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report concludes with some quick statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics on notable diseases for 2007-2008. Tables, figures, and references