We describe influenza immunization coverage trends from the New York State (NYS) Department of Health long-term care facility (LTCF) reports. Overall median immunization coverage levels for NYS LTCF residents and employees were 84.0% (range: 81.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo help elucidate rabies disease patterns and control issues, a full assessment of a human case of dog-variant rabies was undertaken. In 2000, a 54-year-old man presented to a New York hospital with lower back discomfort four days after arrival from Africa. Rabies was first suspected 8 days after hospitalization based on clinical signs, specimens were collected on the same day, and rabies infection was confirmed the following day (fluorescence antibody testing on nuchal skin biopsy specimen).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe largest reported outbreak of waterborne Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the United States occurred in upstate New York following a county fair in August 1999. Culture methods were used to isolate E. coli O157:H7 from specimens from 128 of 775 patients with suspected infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis report summarizes the spread of a raccoon rabies epizootic into New York in the 1990s, the species of animals affected, and human postexposure treatments (PET). A total of 57,008 specimens were submitted to the state laboratory from 1993 to 1998; 8,858 (16%) animals were confirmed rabid, with raccoons the most common species (75%). After exposure to 11,769 animals, 18,238 (45%) persons received PET, mostly because of contact with saliva or nervous tissue.
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