Epidemiologic Responses to Anthrax Outbreaks: A Review of Field Investigations, 1950–2001

We used unpublished reports, published manuscripts, and communication with investigators to identify and summarize 49 anthrax-related epidemiologic field investigations conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1950 to August 2001. Of 41 investigations in which Bacillus anthracis caused human or animal disease, 24 were in agricultural settings, 11 in textile mills, and 6 in other settings. Among the other investigations, two focused on building decontamination, one was a response to bioterrorism threats, and five involved other causes. Knowledge gained in these investigations helped guide the public health response to the October 2001 intentional release of B. anthracis, especially by addressing the management of anthrax threats, prevention of occupational anthrax, use of antibiotic prophylaxis in exposed persons, use of vaccination, spread of B. anthracis spores in aerosols, clinical diagnostic and laboratory confirmation methods, techniques for environmental sampling of exposed surfaces, and methods for decontaminating buildings

Infectious diseases in children and adolescents in the Republic of Korea; Past & recent status

Compared to the past decades, in recent decades, environmental and hygienic conditions in the Republic of Korea have improved along with socioeconomic developments, and the incidence of most infectious diseases, especially vaccine-preventable diseases, has greatly decreased due to active immunization with the developed level of health care. However, the incidence of some diseases has been increasing, and new diseases have been emerging. To cope with such changes actively, the government put the "Law for Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases" into effect; this law was entirely revised on December 30, 2010. In this report, I review the past and recent status of infectious diseases in the Republic of Korea, following the introduction of this law, on the basis of data in the "National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System", which had been accumulated between the years 1960 and 2010

Endemic, Notifiable Bioterrorism-Related Diseases, United States, 1992–1999

Little information is available in the United States regarding the incidence and distribution of diseases caused by critical microbiologic agents with the potential for use in acts of terrorism. We describe disease-specific, demographic, geographic, and seasonal distribution of selected bioterrorism-related conditions (anthrax, botulism, brucellosis, cholera, plague, tularemia, and viral encephalitides) reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in 1992–1999. Tularemia and brucellosis were the most frequently reported diseases. Anthrax, plague, western equine encephalitis, and eastern equine encephalitis were rare. Higher incidence rates for cholera and plague were noted in the western United States and for tularemia in the central United States. Overall, the incidence of conditions caused by these critical agents in the United States is low. Individual case reports should be considered sentinel events. For potential bioterrorism-related conditions that are endemic and have low incidence, the use of nontraditional surveillance methods and complementary data sources may enhance our ability to rapidly detect changes in disease incidence

Challenges in defining an optimal approach to formula-based allocations of public health funds in the United States

BACKGROUND: Controversy and debate can arise whenever public health agencies determine how program funds should be allocated among constituent jurisdictions. Two common strategies for making such allocations are expert review of competitive applications and the use of funding formulas. Despite widespread use of funding formulas by public health agencies in the United States, formula allocation strategies in public health have been subject to relatively little formal scrutiny, with the notable exception of the attention focused on formula funding of HIV care programs. To inform debates and deliberations in the selection of a formula-based approach, we summarize key challenges to formula-based funding, based on prior reviews of federal programs in the United States. DISCUSSION: The primary challenge lies in identifying data sources and formula calculation methods that both reflect and serve program objectives, with or without adjustments for variations in the cost of delivering services, the availability of local resources, capacity, or performance. Simplicity and transparency are major advantages of formula-based allocations, but these advantages can be offset if formula-based allocations are perceived to under- or over-fund some jurisdictions, which may result from how guaranteed minimum funding levels are set or from "hold-harmless" provisions intended to blunt the effects of changes in formula design or random variations in source data. While fairness is considered an advantage of formula-based allocations, the design of a formula may implicitly reflect unquestioned values concerning equity versus equivalence in setting funding policies. Whether or how past or projected trends are taken into account can also have substantial impacts on allocations. SUMMARY: Insufficient attention has been focused on how the approach to designing funding formulas in public health should differ for treatment or service versus prevention programs. Further evaluations of formula-based versus competitive allocation methods are needed to promote the optimal use of public health funds. In the meantime, those who use formula-based strategies to allocate funds should be familiar with the nuances of this approach

Genomics and population health: United States 2003

Foreword -- Genomics and Population Health, 2003: Year at a Glance -- Genomics Lingo\ue2?\ub5..What Do the Terms Mean? -- List of Authors -- -- I. Population Health Research -- Chapter 1. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III DNA Bank: Gene Variants Important to Public Health -- Chapter 2. Genomics and Acute Public Health Investigations -- -- II. Building the Evidence Base -- Chapter 3. Asthma Genomics: Implications for Public Health -- Chapter 4. Public Health Assessment of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer -- Chapter 5. Newborn Screening for MCAD Deficiency -- Chapter 6. The Family History Public Health Initiative -- Chapter 7. Genetic Testing and the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: A Case Study -- Chapter 8. Genomics and Public Health: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues -- -- III. Genomics in Practice -- Chapter 9. Carrier Testing for Cystic Fibrosis: Transition from Research to Clinical Practice -- Chapter 10. Ensuring the Quality of Genetic Testing in the United States -- Chapter 11. Hemochromatosis: Information and Resources for Health Care Providers -- Chapter 12. Genomics Training for Public Health Practice: The Michigan Experience -- Chapter 13. Genomics Tools for Public Health -- Chapter 14. State Capacity Grants for Integrating Genomics into Chronic Disease Prevention Programs -- Chapter 15. Internet Resources for Genomics and Disease Prevention[edited by Marta Gwinn ... [et al.]]."March 2004."Also available via World Wide Web

Correlates and Consequences of Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse

This cross-sectional analysis of the 1991 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey explored factors associated with an early age at first sexual intercourse. Almost 18% of White males, 49% of Black males, 5% of White females and 12% of Black females were sexually active before age 13. Carrying a weapon to school, fighting, and early (\u3c age 13) experimentation with cigarettes and alcohol were associated with early initiation of sexual activity for all four race and gender groupings. Those initiating sexual activity early had greater numbers of partners but were 50% less likely to use condoms regularly and were two-seven times more likely to have been pregnant or caused a pregnancy. Females who initiated sexual activity early were more likely to have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Interventions to postpone sexual activity need to be tailored to the ethnic and gender differences observed in these analyses. Interventions must begin before age 13 and should be comprehensive school-based efforts

Motivation in Physical Education Classes: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

This paper presents a brief overview of empirical studies in school physical education (PE) that have employed SDT and, where relevant, proposes ideas for future research in this area. First, we review research on teachers’ interpersonal style and its relation to students’ motivation. Second, we discuss intervention studies aimed at optimizing teachers’ interactions with students. Third, we present an overview of findings suggesting that basic psychological needs and motivational regulations predict various cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes in PE. Finally, we provide practical recommendations for PE teachers drawing from initial intervention studies in PE

National public health initiative on diabetes and women's health

The National Agenda for Public Health Action represents a monumental step in addressing a priority health issue for women. It has been a work in progress and a true collaboration among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and the American Public Health Association (APHA) -- and numerous additional partnering organizationsAlso available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 42)

Assisted reproductive technology in the USA: is more regulation needed?

The regulation of assisted reproductive technologies is a contested area. Some jurisdictions, such as the UK and a number of Australian states, have comprehensive regulation of most aspects of assisted reproductive technologies; others, such as the USA, have taken a more piecemeal approach and rely on professional guidelines and the general regulation of medical practice to govern this area. It will be argued that such a laissez-faire approach is inadequate for regulating the complex area of assisted reproductive technologies. Two key examples, reducing multiple births and registers of donors and offspring, will be considered to illustrate the effects of the regulatory structure of assisted reproductive technologies in the USA on practice. It will be concluded that the regulatory structure in the USA fails to provide an adequate mechanism for ensuring the ethical and safe conduct of ART services, and that more comprehensive regulation is required