Progress Toward Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination - Worldwide, 2012-2022.

Rubella virus is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable birth defects. Infection during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth, or a constellation of birth defects, including cataracts, deafness, heart defects, and developmental delay, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). A single dose of rubella-containing vaccine can provide lifelong protection against rubella.

The burden of congenital rubella syndrome in the Philippines: results from a retrospective assessment.

Introduction: In line with the regional aim of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), phased introduction of rubella-containing vaccines (RCV) in the Philippines' routine immunization programme began in 2010. We estimated the burden of CRS in the country before widespread nationwide programmatic RCV use.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review in four tertiary hospitals.

Progress toward measles elimination—Philippines, 1998-2014.

In 2005, the Regional Committee for the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPR) established a goal to eliminate measles by 2012.The recommended elimination strategies in WPR include 1) ≥95% 2-dose coverage with measles-containing vaccine (MCV) through routine immunization services and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 2) high-quality case-based measles surveillance; 3) laboratory surveillance with timely and accurate testing of specimens to confirm or discard suspected cases and detect measles virus genotypes; and 4) measles outbreak preparedness, rapid response, and appropriate case management. In the WPR, the Philippines set a national goal in 1998 to eliminate measles by 2008.

Motor palsies of cranial nerves (excluding VII) after vaccination: reports to the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

We reviewed cranial nerve palsies, other than VII, that have been reported to the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). We examined patterns for differences in vaccine types, seriousness, age, and clinical characteristics. We identified 68 reports of cranial nerve palsies, most commonly involving the oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), and abducens (VI) nerves.

The US Food and Drug Administration review of the safety and effectiveness of nonstandardized allergen extracts.

Background: Nonstandardized allergen extracts have been used for a century. Until 1972, these products were regulated by the National Institutes of Health, and products were not required to have an individualized showing of effectiveness. Jurisdiction was then transferred to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which established external review panels to make recommendations regarding safety and effectiveness.

Smoking rates and risk factors among youth in the Republic of the Marshall Islands: results of a school survey.

Rapidly increasing tobacco use in developing countries will result in a large and increasing burden of tobacco-related illnesses as their populations age. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is an island nation in the Pacific with a 1999 census population of 50,840, of whom more than fifty percent were under twenty years of age. There are limited data on the prevalence of smoking among youth in the RMI.

Epidemiology of cancer in the Republic of Nauru.

Between November 1998 and December 1999, the Republic of Nauru was one of 8 Micronesian jurisdictions visited by trained medical record abstractors to review all available medical records in order to describe the epidemiology of cancer in Micronesia and to better understand the cancer data and control systems in each entity. There is likely incomplete ascertainment of cancer cases in the Republic of Nauru because of historical events, and the lack of a robust cancer registry and a systematic cancer surveillance system. A national comprehensive cancer control strategic plan and the implementation of that plan would facilitate greater prevention, treatment and control of cancer.

Epidemiology of cancer in the Republic of Kiribati.

Little is known about cancer epidemiology in Kiribati. Between November 1998 and December 1999, trained medical record abstractors visited 8 Micronesian jurisdictions including the Republic of Kiribati to review all available medical records in order to describe the epidemiology of cancer in Micronesia and to better understand the cancer data and control systems in each entity. The Republic of Kiribati has identified many prevalent preventable cancers.

Cancer epidemiology in the freely associated U.S. Pacific Island jurisdictions: challenges and methodologic issues.

The health care systems of the U.S.-associated Pacific Island jurisdictions, especially the three freely associated states (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Belau), are faced with problems similar to developing countries such as malnutrition and infectious diseases, as well as diseases relating to westernization such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Cancer in Micronesia.

Between November 1998 and December 1999, trained medical record abstractors visited the Micronesian jurisdictions of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap (the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia), as well as the Republic of Palau (Belau), the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Nauru to review all available medical records in order to describe the epidemiology of cancer in Micronesia. Annualized age-adjusted, site-specific cancer period prevalence rates for individual jurisdictions were calculated. Site-specific cancer occurrence in Micronesia follows a pattern characteristic of developing nations.

Preventing post-traumatic stress disorder after mass exposure to violence.

Bioterrorism preparedness plans must take into account the psychosocial consequences of exposure to mass violence. If possible, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is associated with significant morbidity and cost, should be prevented. There are, however, no effective interventions that have been scaled up to prevent PTSD following mass exposure to violence.

One-year sequelae in patients with West Nile Virus encephalitis and meningitis in Louisiana.

West Nile Virus (WNV) infection can be severe and complicated by neuroinvasive disease, such as meningitis and encephalitis. Not much is known about the one-year sequelae following a complicated WNV infection. From July to December 2002, the first large outbreak of WNV in the Southern United States occurred in Louisiana.