MMR Vaccine

MMR Vaccine: The Best Protection against Mumps

One of the best ways to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases is to vaccinate them on time. Check your child's medical records to see whether he or she has already received the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and rubella).

Mumps is traditionally thought of as a childhood disease. The mumps virus affects the saliva glands, causing the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that used to be almost a routine part of childhood. This scene became less common after the mid-1960s, when a vaccine was developed against mumps. Due to widespread use of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, most parents today are unfamiliar with mumps.

But mumps has not disappeared entirely in the United States. Every year, a few hundred cases are reported to public health agencies. In 2006, an outbreak of mumps focused in the Midwest affected more than 6,000 people. Public health experts believe that the high vaccine coverage with two doses of MMR vaccine considerably limited the size of the outbreak, which may otherwise have numbered in the tens or even hundreds of thousands. Since June 2009, a mumps outbreak has been occurring in the Northeast. By late February 2010, more than 2,500 persons had been infected. Most of them were vaccinated, but, as in 2006, the outbreak would have been a lot larger without the high vaccine coverage in the affected communities. Group settings where persons had close contact for long periods of time may have made it easier for the disease to spread in both the 2006 and the 2009–10 mumps outbreaks.

Mumps virus usually causes fever, general discomfort, and (in most, but not all cases) the characteristic swollen jaw. However, complications can occur and might be more severe in teenagers and adults. Mumps can cause headache and stiff neck (called meningitis), inflammation of the testicles (called orchitis), deafness, and, in rare cases, inflammation of the brain (called encephalitis), which can lead to permanent disabilities or even death.

The Best Protection against Mumps—the MMR Vaccine

The mumps vaccine was licensed in 1967 and is usually administered as part of the MMR vaccine. MMR is a combination vaccine that provides protection from three viral diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. The MMR vaccine is strongly endorsed by medical and public health experts as safe and effective. Two doses are recommended for children—the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose before entering school at 4 to 6 years of age.

See If Your Child's MMR Vaccine Is Due

• Check your child's immunization record,
• Contact their healthcare provider, or
• Visit the immunization scheduler for newborn to 6-year-old children.

Paying for the MMR Vaccine

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of vaccines, but you may want to check with your insurance provider before going to the doctor. If you don't have insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program may be able to help.

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program helps families of eligible children who might not otherwise have access to vaccines. The program provides vaccines at no cost to doctors who serve eligible children. Children younger than 19 years of age are eligible for VFC vaccines if they are Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, Alaska Native, or have no health insurance. "Underinsured" children who have health insurance that does not cover vaccination can receive VFC vaccines through Federally Qualified Health Centers or Rural Health Centers. Parents of uninsured or underinsured children who receive vaccines at no cost through the VFC Program should check with their healthcare providers about possible administration fees that might apply. These fees help providers cover the costs that result from important services like storing the vaccines and paying staff members to give vaccines to patients. However, VFC vaccines cannot be denied to an eligible child if a family can't afford the fee.

Some Adults Need MMR Vaccine Too!

Anyone born during or after 1957 who has not had mumps or has not been vaccinated is at risk of getting mumps and should receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Some adults need two doses of the vaccine because they are at higher risk of getting the disease. Adults at higher risk include college students and other post–high school students, international travelers, and healthcare personnel.

CDC

What is TB?

Also called: TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks. If you have been exposed, you should go to your doctor for tests. You are more likely to get TB if you have a weak immune system.

Symptoms of TB in the lungs may include:

A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer

Weight loss

Coughing up blood or mucus

Weakness or fatigue

Fever and chills

Night sweats

If not treated properly, TB can be deadly. You can usually cure active TB by taking several medicines for a long period of time. People with latent TB can take medicine so that they do not develop active TB.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Tuberculosis Awareness

TB Elimination: Together We Can!

World TB Day is March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Among infectious diseases, TB remains a leading killer of adults in the world, with an estimated 2 million TB-related deaths worldwide each year.

Working Together to Eliminate TB

"Although preventable and treatable, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) together kill more than 5 million people annually. The burden of these diseases can be reduced—but only with increased governmental and nongovernmental resources, effective public-private partnerships, and strengthened disease-specific and general health systems."

(Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

Many people think that TB is a disease of the past — an illness that no longer threatens us today. One reason for this belief is that, in the United States, we are at an all-time low in the number of persons diagnosed with active TB disease. That very success makes us vulnerable to complacency and neglect. But it also gives us an opportunity to eliminate TB in this country. We can reach the goal of TB elimination by working together and strengthening partnerships.

This country's progress in controlling TB will only be sustainable if local, state, national, and international partners from all sectors of our society join resources and collaborate together. Our united effort is needed to reach those at highest risk for TB, and to identify and implement innovative strategies to improve testing and treatment among high-risk populations. CDC and its domestic and international partners, including the National TB Controllers Association , Stop TB USA , and the global Stop TB Partnership , are taking many steps to prevent further spread of TB and to reduce the overall burden of the disease. Efforts range from developing new treatment regimens and increasing the capacity of health professionals to provide adequate treatment, to issuing new recommendations for improved testing and treatment.

What Can You Do?

Learn about TB. Because many people are not aware of the impact of TB, local TB coalitions in many states and countries are convening educational and awareness activities related to World TB Day. Look to see how you can learn more and get involved.

World TB Day 2010 — Activities

Send a World TB Day e-Card to someone you know to increase awareness of this important day.

Until TB is eliminated, World TB Day won't be a celebration. But it is a valuable opportunity to educate the public about the devastation of TB and how it can be stopped.

CDC

Mold

After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.

People at Greatest Risk from Mold

People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold. People with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant) are more susceptible to mold infections.

Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure

People who are sensitive to mold may experience stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing, or skin irritation. People allergic to mold may have difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.

Recognizing Mold

You may recognize mold by:

• Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?)

Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?)

Safely Preventing Mold Growth

Clean up and dry out the building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building. (See the fact sheet for drying out your house, Reentering Your Flooded Home).

When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people.

To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water.

Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed.

If you wish to disinfect, refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) document, A Brief Guide to Mold and Moisture in Your Home.

If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix any water problem, such as leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing. Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth.

To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.

If you choose to use bleach to remove mold:

Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes

Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.

Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings . Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

If you plan to be inside the building for a while or you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building. Make certain that you follow instructions on the package for fitting the mask tightly to your face. If you go back into the building for a short time and are not cleaning up mold, you do not need to wear an N95 mask.

CDC

National Native HIV Awareness

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 20, 2010, the first day of spring, is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This national observance is an opportunity for Native peoples to mobilize across the United States to learn more and educate others about HIV/AIDS, encourage HIV counseling and testing, and get involved in HIV prevention activities.

On March 20, we recognize the mounting impact of HIV/AIDS on our country’s Native peoples—American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. This observance day is our opportunity to collectively and on a national scale raise awareness of the risks of the disease to Native peoples, to help understand the dynamics contributing to those risks, and to encourage testing for HIV.

Through projects such as Commitment to Action for 7th-Generation Awareness & Education: HIV/AIDS Prevention Project , American Indians (AI), Alaska Natives (AN), and Native Hawaiians are working to increase effective HIV/AIDS prevention, and encourage and support early detection through testing in their communities. By culturally adapting HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, we can limit the spread of this devastating disease among Native peoples.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a serious health threat to Native communities. Although AIs and ANs represent roughly 1% of the U.S. population, they have historically suffered high rates of health disparities, including HIV/AIDS. Compared with all other races and ethnicities, AIs and ANs continue to rank third in the nation in the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Moreover, AIs, ANs, and Native Hawaiians who are diagnosed with AIDS die sooner after their diagnosis than members of any other ethnic or racial group, suggesting that they are diagnosed late in the course of infection and underscoring the importance of increasing access to basic health care services.

An estimated 26% of HIV-infected AIs and ANs are unaware of their infection. This suggests that many AIs and ANs with HIV are not receiving proper counseling and care, placing them at risk for becoming very sick and further spreading the virus. Lack of access to basic health care services, stigma associated with gay relationships and HIV/AIDS, barriers to effective mental health care, and high rates of substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections, and poverty all increase the risk of HIV/AIDS in Native communities and create obstacles to HIV prevention and treatment.

To find an HIV testing location near you, go to www.hivtest.org or text your ZIP Code to KNOW IT (566948).

Spring: A Time of Change

In many cultures, spring represents a time of equality and balance and is a time of profound change, new beginnings, and birth. For these reasons, the first day of spring was chosen for the annual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

What Can You Do?

Get tested for HIV. To find a testing site center near you, text your ZIP Code to KNOW IT (566948).

Visit the Act Against AIDS Web site to get the facts about HIV/AIDS, including:

- Learning the risk factors for acquiring HIV.

- Avoiding high-risk behaviors.

- Practicing safer methods to prevent HIV infection.

Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues.

Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Get involved with or host an event for National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in your community.

CDC

Salmonella from Live Baby Poultry

Risk of Human Salmonella Infections from Live Baby Poultry

Peep, chirp, quack! Live baby poultry, such as chicks, ducklings, goslings, and baby turkeys, often carry harmful germs called Salmonella. After you touch a chick, duck, or other baby bird, or anything in the area where they live and roam, WASH YOUR HANDS so you don’t get sick!

Easter brings to mind brightly colored eggs, baskets full of candy, and large chocolate bunnies. Traditions associated with the Easter season are enjoyable for both children and adults. However, some Easter traditions may be of concern for children and place them at risk for illness. Live baby poultry are sometimes given as Easter gifts.  During the spring months, they are also put on display at stores where children may be able to touch the birds or areas where they are displayed. Because these birds are so soft and cute, many people do not realize the potential danger that live baby poultry can be, especially to children.  Each spring, some children become infected with Salmonella after receiving a chick or other baby bird for Easter.  It is important to remember that illness can occur from these baby birds or adult birds at any time of the year, and not just during the Easter season.

Live baby poultry can carry Salmonella and not appear sick, but can spread the germs to people.  Children can be exposed to Salmonella by holding, cuddling, or kissing the birds and by touching things where the bird lives, such as cages or feed and water bowls. Young children are especially at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing and because they are more likely than others to put their fingers or other items into their mouths.

Salmonella can make people sick with diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and/or abdominal cramps. Sometimes, people can become so sick from a Salmonella infection that they have to go to the hospital. Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Check out the questions and answers below for more information on Salmonella infection and how to prevent getting germs from live baby poultry. You may also obtain further information by talking to your health care provider or veterinarian.

How do people get Salmonella infections from live baby poultry?

Live baby poultry may have Salmonella germs on their bodies and in their droppings, even when they appear healthy and clean. The germs can also get on cages, coops, and wherever birds walk around. Anything that live baby poultry touch should be considered contaminated with Salmonella. When you touch live baby poultry, the germs can get on your hands or clothing.  It is important to wash your hands immediately after touching chicks or anything in the area where they live and roam, because the germs on your hands can easily spread to other people or things.  Children tend to touch their mouths frequently, so it is especially important to have them wash their hands after touching live baby poultry.

How do I reduce the risk of Salmonella infection from live baby poultry?

Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Salmonella from Live Poultry to Humans

Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching poultry.  Use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Do not let children less than 5 years of age touch birds.

Do not eat or drink around birds or around their living areas.

Do not let birds inside the house or in areas where food or drink is prepared or served, such as kitchens or outdoor patios.

Clean bird cages and related items outside of your house, never in the kitchen sink or bathtub.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching live baby poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.

Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.

Don’t snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth, or eat or drink around live baby poultry.

Do not let live baby poultry inside the house or in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens, pantries, or outdoor patios.

Do not clean any equipment or materials associated with raising or caring for live poultry, such as cages or feed or water containers, in the house.

Do not let children younger than 5 years of age handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry.

Don’t give live baby poultry as gifts to young children.

If you suspect you and your child has Salmonella infection, please contact your health care provider immediately.

Are there any restrictions about owning live poultry?

Rules and regulations vary by city, county, and state ordinances, so check with your local government to determine restrictions about owning live poultry.

CDC

Women and HIV/AIDS

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2010

March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It is a day to recognize the special risks HIV/AIDS poses for women and girls, and to raise awareness of the disease's increasing impact on them. We encourage women and girls to know their HIV status and get tested for HIV.

In 2007, more than a quarter of diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States were among women and girls aged 13 years and older. The numbers are unsettling: More than 278,000 women and adolescent girls in this country are living with HIV; and almost 94,000 American women and girls with AIDS have died since the epidemic began. Women and girls of color—especially black women and girls—bear a disproportionately heavy burden of HIV/AIDS. In 2007, for female adults and adolescents, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for black females was nearly 20 times as high as the rate for white females and nearly 4 times as high as the rate for Hispanic/Latino females. Relatively few cases were diagnosed among Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander females, although the rates for these groups were higher than the rate for white females.

CDC estimates that 1 in five people living with HIV infection in the United States do not know they are infected. Getting tested for HIV is the first step to protecting yourself and others. Knowing your own HIV status and that of your male sexual partners is critical because 80% of new HIV infections in American women and girls result from sex with an infected male partner. Early diagnosis of HIV allows for counseling and prompt treatment. HIV treatment prolongs life and reduces the risk of further HIV transmission. If you are a pregnant woman, it is especially important that you get tested early to help ensure, that if you are HIV-positive, you do not transmit the virus to your unborn child.

Make National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day a day to get the facts about HIV—to learn how HIV is spread, if you are at risk, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. And, if you are a parent, talk with your kids about HIV. Every 35 minutes a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States. It's time to get tested.

To find an HIV testing location near you, go to www.hivtest.org or text your ZIP Code to KNOW IT (566948). For more information on this day, theme, and events please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health, which is leading activities for this observance.

What Can You Do?

• Get tested for HIV. To find a testing site center near you, text your ZIP Code to KNOW IT (566948).
• Talk with your health care provider about your risks for HIV.
• Get the facts about HIV/AIDS by visiting the Act Against AIDS web site including:

- The risk factors for acquiring HIV.

- How to avoid high-risk behaviors.

- How to practice safer methods to prevent HIV.

• Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues.
• Volunteer at a local organization that serves people living with HIV.
• Attend an event near you.
• Learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States.
• Stand up against stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.
• Donate time and money to HIV/AIDS organizations.

CDC

H1N1 Flu and Asthma

Nose Disorders

Also called: Nasal disorders

Whether it's large or small, button-like or beak-like, your nose is important to your health. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep or get comfortable.

Many problems besides the common cold can affect the nose. They include

• Deviated septum – a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves
• Nasal polyps – soft growths that develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses
• Nosebleeds
• Rhinitis – inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom is a runny nose

Medlineplus

Hib Vaccine Information

The Hib vaccine prevents Hib disease, which is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria and can cause serious illness in infants and children. Babies receive 2 or 3 doses of Hib vaccine (depending on vaccine type) by age 6 months and then receive a booster shot at age 12 through 15 months.

Hib vaccine had been in short supply in the US, but most licensed Hib vaccines are now available. Check your child's vaccination records to see if he or she has received all doses of Hib vaccine. If you're not sure, call your child's doctor, nurse, or clinic.

What Is Hib Disease and Is It Serious?

Hib bacteria (Haemophilus influenzae type b) spread through contact with mucus or droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person, often by coughing or sneezing. Most of the time, Hib is spread by people who have the bacteria in their noses and throats but who are not ill.

Before Hib vaccines, there were about 20,000 cases of invasive Hib disease each year in the US. Invasive disease means that germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs. When this happens, disease is usually very severe, causing hospitalization or even death. Before a Hib vaccine was available, Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the US. About 12,000 children each year—most of them younger than 5 years of age—got Hib meningitis. Meningitis is just one of the invasive diseases that can be caused by Hib. Hib can also cause life-threatening infections that make it difficult to breathe, including epiglottitis (infection in the throat) and pneumonia (infection in the lungs). Other forms of invasive Hib disease include blood, bone, or joint infections.

Despite the success of Hib vaccine, parents need to remember the disease is still out there. Hib can be carried in the noses and throats of people who are not sick from the disease. These people can spread Hib bacteria to infants and children who are not protected by Hib vaccine. Vaccinating infants protects them at a time when they are most vulnerable to disease. If vaccination levels get too low in the United States, Hib disease could make a comeback.

How Can I Protect My Child from Hib Disease?

Hib vaccine prevents Hib disease. All children under 5 years of age should be vaccinated with Hib vaccine. There are two types of Hib vaccine for infants. With one vaccine, your child gets doses at 2, 4, and 6 months of age; with the other vaccine, your child gets doses at 2 and 4 months of age. All children need a booster shot at 12 through 15 months of age. You should check vaccination records to see if your child has received all doses of Hib vaccine. If unsure, you should call your child's doctor, nurse, or clinic.

Some brands of vaccine contain Hib along with other vaccines in a single shot. Hib vaccine can safely be combined with other vaccines to make these combination vaccines. Combination vaccines may be used for any or all doses given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, known as the primary series. Combination vaccines can also be used for the booster dose. If combination vaccines are the only vaccines available to your child's healthcare provider, they should be used to complete the Hib series, even if this results in your child receiving additional doses of another vaccine. If your child misses a dose or gets behind schedule, the next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Call your child's healthcare provider if you have questions and to make sure your child has received all scheduled doses of Hib vaccine.

CDC

Norovirus

Noroviruses (genus Norovirus, family Caliciviridae) are a group of related, single-stranded RNA, nonenveloped viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. Norovirus was recently approved as the official genus name for the group of viruses provisionally described as “Norwalk-like viruses” (NLV).
CDC

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