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Highlights
Campylobacteriosis
The Office of Epidemiology
noted a statistically significant increase in suspected and confirmed
campylobacteriosis cases reported in Utah during June. No more than
32 suspected and/or confirmed cases of the disease are expected
to be reported during the month, but the Office of Epidemiology
received 45 reports of the disease from 10 of Utah's 12 health districts.
This increase is currently being investigated to compare risk factors
(e.g., food histories, travel histories, animal contact, etc.) among
the cases.
Campylobacter
infections may be prevented by implementing the following 8 guidelines:
1. Never leave raw meat
at room temperature.
2. Always cook meat thoroughly. Ensure that juices run clear and
that the inside is cooked to 170°F (77°C) for breast meat,
and 180°F (82°C) for thigh meat. If one is served undercooked
poultry in a restaurant, he or she should send it back for further
cooking.
3. Thoroughly cook raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs.
4. Avoid using unpasteurized milk and untreated surface water.
5. Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen: Use separate cutting
boards for foods of animal origin and other foods. Carefully clean
all cutting boards, countertops and utensils with soap and hot water
after preparing raw food of animal origin.
6. Carefully wash hands before and after preparing food.
7. Make sure children wash their hands carefully, especially after
using the toilet or handling pets.
8. Always wash hands with soap and warm water after using the toilet
or changing diapers.
West Nile virus
West Nile virus (WNV)
activity has not been detected in Utah in 2004. The state is at
Risk Level 2 (i.e., there is an active mosquito season, but no WNV
activity has been detected). To date, there have been 552 mosquito
pools, 39 dead birds, 36 sentinel chicken flocks, and 16 horses
tested for WNV with no positive results. Although several human
serum samples have been tested at several different laboratories
in the state, there have been no IgM positive specimens.
Idaho, Minnesota, North
Carolina, and Tennessee have reported their first West Nile virus
activity of 2004 during the past week. To date, a total of 30 states,
plus Puerto Rico, have reported WNV activity. Michigan published
their first human WNV case during the past week. In 2004, the following
8 states have reported a total of 57 cases: Arizona, California,
Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Florida.
Among 56 WNV cases with available clinical and demographic data,
the median age was 53 years (range: 9 - 84 years), and 36 (64%)
were males. Thirty-five (63%) of the 56 cases were neuroinvasive.
In 2004, there has been 1 reported WNV-related fatality. The decedent
was a 74 year-old Arizona resident. The majority of human cases
continue to be reported in the Phoenix Metropolis area.
The total
number of confirmed, probable, and suspect cases for selected diseases,
reported by Utah health
districts, is provided below (Table
1 and Figure 1). Click on the
disease names in Table 1 to access their corresponding fact sheets.
Click here
for sexually-transmitted disease epidemiologic data. Click here
for AIDS/HIV epidemiologic data.
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