MMWR News Synopsis for November 19, 2015

MMWR News Synopsis for November 19, 2015

Diabetes among Asians and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders — United States, 2011–2014

Effective interventions and policies might reverse the large diabetes burden in Asians and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders(NHPIs). People with diabetes can take steps to control the disease and prevent complications, and those with prediabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through weight loss, healthy eating, and physical activity. Asians and (NHPIs) are fast-growing U.S. minority populations at high risk for type 2 diabetes. This report is the first to provide state-specific estimates of self-reported diagnosed diabetes prevalence among Asians and NHPIs in the United States. In 2011–2014, age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among Asians varied widely across states, with approximately a threefold difference between the state with the highest prevalence (New York, 15.3 percent) and the state with the lowest (Arizona, 4.9 percent). In five geographic areas with sufficient data for analysis, age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among NHPIs exceeded 13 percent; in three jurisdictions, approximately 17 percent of NHPIs had diagnosed diabetes. For both state and national estimates, NHPIs had a higher prevalence of diagnosed diabetes than Asians.

Exposure to Elevated Carbon Monoxide Levels at an Indoor Ice Arena — Wisconsin, 2014

None of your senses can detect carbon monoxide (CO), but CO exposure is potentially fatal. Simple, inexpensive steps can prevent CO poisoning. CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is highly toxic to humans. The largest CO poisoning in Wisconsin’s history took place at an ice arena in December of 2014, caused by malfunctioning gas-powered ice-resurfacing equipment. Despite awareness of the risk for CO poisoning posed by such equipment at indoor ice arenas, CO poisoning events still occur. Stakeholders should be aware of the risks and work, where they are able, to prevent CO poisoning events. There are many ways to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings at enclosed ice arenas including increasing awareness of the risks and symptoms of CO poisoning, improved indoor air monitoring by ice arenas, and primary prevention at the policy level.

Progress toward Polio Eradication — Pakistan, January 2014–September 2015

Interruption of wild poliovirus (WPV) circulation in Pakistan is within reach. Despite progress made during 2015, a large number of children across a wide geographic area remain unvaccinated. For global polio-eradication efforts to succeed, Pakistan must continue to make significant improvements to its program and control WPV spread within its borders. Every year that eradication is delayed will cost the world at least $1.5 billion. Pakistan is one of two countries (the other is Afghanistan) with uninterrupted WPV circulation. Pakistan has made significant improvements to its polio eradication program during 2015 and as a result the number of polio cases reported during 2015 has decreased significantly compared to those reported during 2014. Despite the decreased number of cases, the geographic spread of cases is cause for concern as this indicates that immunization campaigns continue to miss children. To eradicate polio and prevent outbreaks, all children must be vaccinated. Continued vigilance and improved efforts to reach and vaccinate all children are needed if the goal of stopping transmission is to be achieved during 2016.

QuickStats

• Percentage of Long-Term Care Services Providers That Use Electronic Health Records and Have a Computerized System for Health Information Exchange, by Sector — United States, 2014

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