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This year’s National Preparedness Month theme is “The Power
of Preparedness.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has identified four different areas to focus on during each week in September
to help better prepare for emergencies. This year’s weekly themes include
personal health preparedness, pandemic planning, policy and partnership, and
public health response. Learn more about National Preparedness Month and how
you and your family can get prepared and participate at the Michigan
Prepares website.
Wrapping Up the 2017-18 Flu Season and Looking Ahead to
Prevent Flu in 2018-19
Stefanie Cole,
BSN, RN, MPH, Immunization Nurse Educator, Michigan Department of Health and
Human Services Division of Immunization
The 2017-18 influenza season (defined as October 1, 2017–May
19, 2018) was a high severity season for all age groups in the United States. Levels
of flu activity are measured using multiple surveillance systems including
laboratory data, outpatient visits due to influenza-like illness (ILI),
hospitalizations, and deaths. The U.S. experienced high levels of outpatient
clinic and emergency department visits due to ILI, high flu-related
hospitalization rates, and widespread flu activity across the country for an
extended period in 2017-18. Nationally, ILI began to increase in November 2017,
peaked at the end of January/beginning of February 2018, and did not return to
baseline levels until early April. Overall, 2017-18 was an influenza A(H3N2)-predominant
season, although influenza B viruses predominated from March onward.
Wrapping Up the 2017-18 Flu Season and Looking Ahead to
Prevent Flu in 2018-19>>
Evaluation of Diperadipic Acid as a Surface Decontaminant for Spore-Forming Biological Agents
An environmental contamination incident involving an infectious or contagious biological agent may pose significant risks to human health. Currently, there are a limited number of sporicidal chemicals that are approved for use against Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Characterization of potential decontamination options, ahead of a contamination incident, are important to ensure response and remediation operations initiate promptly. A laboratory-scale study was undertaken to evaluate the decontamination efficacy of diperadipic acid, under application conditions that were found to be effective for pH-adjusted bleach (a common sporicidal liquid). The study found diperadipic acid, was more effective at killing spores on glass than concrete, however, there were viable spores in the liquid runoff.
The Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak Graphic Novel
CDC has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 4-H to develop “The Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak,” a graphic novel intended to educate youth audiences about variant flu and the real disease detective work conducted by public and animal health experts when outbreaks of infectious diseases occur.
This graphic novel follows a group of teenage 4-H members who participate in a state agricultural fair and later attend CDC’s Disease Detective Camp in Atlanta. When one of the boys becomes sick following the fair, the rest of the group use their newly-acquired disease detective knowledge to help a team of public and animal health experts solve the mystery of how their friend became ill.
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