Multistate outbreak of MDR TB identified by genotype cluster investigation.

In 2008, diagnosis and investigation of 2 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases with matching genotypes led to identification of an outbreak among foreign-born persons who performed short-term seafood production work in Alaska during 2006. Tuberculosis control programs should consider the possibility of domestic transmission even among foreign-born patients.

Endemic foodborne botulism among Alaska Native persons--Alaska, 1947-2007.

Background: Foodborne botulism resulting from consumption of uncooked aquatic game foods has been an endemic hazard among Alaska Native populations for centuries. Our review was conducted to help target botulism prevention and response activities.

Methods: Records of Alaska botulism investigations for the period 1947-2007 were reviewed.

Top EHR challenges in light of the stimulus. Enabling effective interdisciplinary, intradisciplinary and cross-setting communication.

US healthcare is undergoing a transformation. The economic stimulus plan is intended to transform healthcare through health IT. The government has defined "meaningful use" of health IT.

Association of regulatory issues with an echovirus 18 meningitis outbreak at a children's summer camp in Alaska.

We document an echovirus 18 meningitis outbreak occurring at a remote overnight children's camp in Alaska. The outbreak involved 26% of 113 camp residents, was associated with building overcrowding and occurred in a camp with a contaminated drinking water source. Lack of specific children's camp regulations and failure to implement and enforce existing regulations may have contributed to the outbreak.

Incremental effectiveness of 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine compared with 1 dose among high school students during an outbreak.

A measles outbreak occurred among a highly vaccinated population in Alaska during 1998, providing an opportunity to determine the incremental efficacy of >or=2 doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) compared with 1 dose. Of 33 confirmed case patients identified, 31 had been vaccinated with 1 dose of MCV, 1 had received 2 doses, and vaccination status was unknown in 1 case. Seventy percent of cases were school-associated; 58% of cases occurred in 2 high schools.

Impact of recurrent epidemics of hepatitis a virus infection on population immunity levels: Bristol Bay, Alaska.

The dynamics of population-based immunity were examined by using serologic surveys of 7 villages in rural Alaska between 2 epidemics of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and after the second epidemic (1988-1990). Among persons aged 2-30 years, the overall age-adjusted prevalence of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) was 51% in 1983 and 49% in 1993 (P=.506).