Varicella outbreak reporting, response, management, and national surveillance.

Two national surveys were conducted to evaluate the status of varicella case-based surveillance and outbreak response. Although progress toward national surveillance has been significant, a large number of jurisdictions are still without case-based surveillance. For jurisdictions beginning case-based surveillance with limited resources, a staged approach is recommended.

Long-term persistence of mumps antibody after receipt of 2 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations and antibody response after a third MMR vaccination among a university population.

Background: High attack rates among vaccinated young adults reported during the 2006 mumps outbreak in the United States heightened concerns regarding mumps vaccine failure.

Methods: Serum specimens from university students and staff were tested for mumps immunoglobulin (Ig) G by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A subset of participants vaccinated for < or =5 years and > or =15 years were tested by neutralizing antibody (NA) assay.

Impact of Hurricane Katrina on newborn screening in Louisiana.

Objective: The Louisiana Office of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessed the extent to which newborn screening was disrupted from August 15 to September 21, 2005, the immediate period before and after Hurricane Katrina.

Methods: A list of hospitals with labor and delivery services was obtained from the Louisiana Hospital Association. A survey sent to hospitals on October 17, 2005, asked about the number of live births during the assessment period, disruption in hospital services, the number of specimens sent to alternative laboratories, and the number of children without screening results.