Infectious Diseases


CDC Issuing Recommendations for Identifying Chronic HCV Cases

Coming during Hepatitis Awareness Month and immediately after the agency's first Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19, the goal is to identify more of the people who have the disease but aren’t aware of it.

OSHA Finds N.J. Launderer Awash in Hazards

Three willful violations involve a failure to conduct proper training and provide hepatitis B vaccinations, as well as to have engineering and work practice controls in place to eliminate or minimize exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

WA Governor Grants Emergency Funds for Pertussis Vaccine

The state Department of Health declared it an epidemic a month ago. Reported cases are on pace to hit 3,000 this year, more than triple the total of 965 cases in 2011.

WHO Releases Fact Sheet on Oral Health

Worldwide, 60-90 percent of school children and nearly 100 percent of adults have dental cavities.

Hospital-Linked Infections Down, CDC Says

Twenty-one states had significant decreases in central line-associated bloodstream infections between 2009 and 2010, according to the report.

OSHA Opens Nursing Care NEP

Focused on specific hazards including workplace violence and ergonomics injuries, the three-year emphasis program may allay some of the concerns that OSHA is not sufficiently involved in health care industries.

Dengue Virus Increases Mosquitoes' Thirst for Blood, Study Says

Research has shown that infection with dengue virus turns on mosquito genes that makes them hungrier and better feeders, and therefore possibly more likely to spread the disease to humans.

'Wicked' Challenge Highlights UAB School of Public Health's NPHW

National Public Health Week activities are taking place across the country this week. At UAB, teams in a "Wicked Problem" competition are tasked with solving a very real challenge for the local health department.



It's Tick Time: Mayo Clinic Offers Tips for Avoiding, Spotting Tick-Borne Diseases

Physicians are seeing new cases of tick-borne illness several weeks earlier than usual, likely because a mild winter in much of the country made life easier for ticks and their offspring.

Low Levels of Resistant Bacteria Found in Chicago-Area Ambulances: Study

“These results indicate that first responders are doing a good job of protecting their patients,” said James Rago, Ph.D., lead study author and assistant professor of biology at Lewis University.

CDC: Disease Outbreaks from Imported Food on the Rise

From 2005-2010, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported food from 15 countries.

Smartphones Beat Paper in Disease Surveillance, CDC Says

Survey data collected with smartphones in this study had fewer errors and were more quickly available for analyses than data collected on paper.

C Diff Infections Common Outside Hospitals

Earlier estimates of 337,000 annual U.S. hospital stays related to C. difficile actually understate its overall impact.

WHO, CDC Release New Guide on Mosquito-Transmitted Virus

Hundreds of people who have traveled from the Americas to Asia and Africa in the past five years have become infected with the chikungunya virus. While the virus has not spread locally in the Western Hemisphere, experts say there is a clear risk of its introduction into local mosquito populations.

NIOSH Partners with Singapore WSH Institute to Promote Workplace Safety Research

"International cooperation is a critical part of improving the safety and health of all workers," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D.

Health professionals should be aware of the health risks posed by unclean cellphones.

Mobile Phones in Hospital Settings: A Serious Threat to Infection Control Practices

Health professionals need to help raise awareness about the health risks of using an unclean cell phone.

Scientists Identify Newly Emerging Staph Strain

It is presently susceptible to methicillin but could acquire genes making it resistant, and it transmits efficiently from person to person.

Flu experts recommend getting vaccinated annually. But taking health-promoting actions can prevent the common cold or flu from occurring altogether.

The Vaccination War and the Workplace

What's really interesting right now is which side OSHA is fighting on.

Needlestick Law Linked to Decrease in Health Care Worker Injuries

Needlestick injury rates from 2001 to 2005 were well below pre-Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act rates, according to the study.

650,000 Cases of Multidrug-Resistant TB in 2010: WHO

These cases are becoming more difficult to treat in some countries where medicines may not always be available, according to the public health agency.

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Upcoming Webinars

5/24: It's Not Just the SAMHSA 5 Anymore: K2/Spice, Bath Salts and Emerging Drug Trends
Which drugs should employers test for? Synthetic drugs like K2 and Spice, as well as seemingly harmless products like Bath Salts, have become as popular as the illegal drugs they try to mimic. These questions and more will be explored in this enlightening webinar.

5/30: An Introduction to Machine Safety
A common sense look at the regulatory framework of machine safety, best practices and practical solutions to ensuring a safe machine and workplace.

5/31: IAQ is Critical to Earning LEED Points, Green Building and a Healthy Workplace
This is an informative webinar on the role of high performance buildings in workplace health and safety.

6/14: OHSAS Guidance for Small Businesses: Protect and Grow Your Business
OHSAS 18001:2007 Certification offers more than just a globally recognized Health and Safety System. It can also help your business.

6/27: The Different Forms of Machine Safeguarding and When to Use Them
Some of the topics include: the different forms of safeguarding and when to use them. Safety devices to be reviewed may include: interlocking devices, light curtains, safety mats, safety scanners, two hand control units, and safety strips.

Spotlight

For May, OH&S puts the spotlight on: