Puumala hantavirus outbreak among U.S. military health care beneficiaries, Stuttgart, Germany--2012.

Hantaviruses are viruses of the family Bunyaviridae that are transmitted to humans via inhalation of the aerosolized excrement of rodents. The geographic distribution of hantavirus includes the Americas, Asia, and Europe. An outbreak of Puumala hantavirus infections among U.

Factors associated with receipt of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) monovalent and seasonal influenza vaccination among school-aged children: Maricopa County, Arizona, 2009-2010 influenza season.

Context: To target school-aged children (SAC), who were identified as a priority for pandemic 2009 Influenza A (pH1N1) vaccination, Maricopa County (MC) initiated school-based influenza vaccination in 69% of its 706 schools during the 2009-2010 influenza season.

Objective: To determine factors associated with receipt of pH1N1 monovalent and 2009-2010 seasonal influenza vaccination among SAC and evaluate the association of school-based vaccination with vaccination status of SAC.

Design: Random-digit dialing was used to survey 600 MC households with willing adult participants and children grades K-12.

Variations in positive predictive values for rapid influenza tests for 2009 pandemic influenza a (pH1N1)--Arizona, April-October 2009.

Context: Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) are used for influenza screening, clinical decision making, and influenza surveillance. In August 2009, a hospital reported increased false-positive RIDT results to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Because of reported RIDT low sensitivities (40%-62%) for 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1), the hospital's report raised further concerns about the specificity and clinical utility of RIDTs.