Reduction in hepatitis B virus seroprevalence among U.S.-born children of foreign-born Asian parents -- benefit of universal infant hepatitis B vaccination.

We demonstrate that after implementation of recommendations for universal infant hepatitis B vaccination, HBV infection prevalence among children of foreign-born Asian parents in Georgia declined dramatically; horizontal transmission of infection within households has occurred infrequently; and the vast majority of infants and children have received the recommended hepatitis B vaccinations. These results provide evidence of the success of the hepatitis B infant vaccination program and highlight its potential impact on reducing chronic HBV infection morbidity and mortality among U.S.

Vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza among children aged 6 to 59 months, 2003-2004.

Objectives: Influenza is a leading cause of illness among children. Studies rarely have measured influenza vaccine effectiveness among young children, particularly when antigenic match between vaccine and circulating viruses is suboptimal. We assessed vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza for children who were aged 6 to 59 months during the 2003-2004 influenza season.

Tightly clustered outbreak of group A streptococcal disease at a long-term care facility.

Objective: To describe investigation of a tightly clustered outbreak of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease associated with a high mortality rate in a long-term care facility (LTCF).

Design: Cross-sectional carriage survey and epidemiologic investigation of LTCF resident and employee cohorts.

Setting: A 104-bed community LTCF between March 1 and April 7, 2004.