http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public.html en-us Copyright 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130523novelcoronavirus.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130523novelcoronavirus.html As of May 22, 43 laboratory-confirmed cases -- 21 of which have proved fatal -- of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection had been reported to the World Health Organization. According to a recent update from the CDC, which is closely monitoring the outbreak, 31 of the nCoV cases were reported in Saudi Arabia, along with a handful of others from Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. Other cases -- three in the United Kingdom, two in France and one in Germany -- were reported in Europe. ann@aafp.org Thu, 23 May 2013 17:05:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130522dtap-shortage.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130522dtap-shortage.html For the second consecutive summer, the CDC is issuing guidance on immunizing children during an ongoing shortage of certain combination vaccines. According to a notice on the CDC website, Sanofi Pasteur's diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib), marketed as Pentacel, as well as its diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed, marketed as Daptacel, are expected to remain in short supply throughout summer 2013. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 May 2013 14:40:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130516h7n9.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130516h7n9.html Despite the fact that since May 7, no new human cases of avian influenza A (H7N9) infection have been reported in China -- the only country affected by the deadly virus to date -- the CDC continues to encourage medical professionals in the United States to maintain a high level of alert and be prepared for the virus because its global pandemic potential still is unknown. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, reported that as of May 15, 131 lab-confirmed cases have been reported, including 36 deaths. ann@aafp.org Thu, 16 May 2013 17:05:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130515auapsaguidance.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130515auapsaguidance.html In a significant about-face, the American Urological Association (AUA) recently published clinical guidance that recommends against performing all routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer, as well as all screening in men older than 70, men younger than 40 and average-risk men ages 40-54. Doug Campos-Outcalt, M.D., M.P.A., of Phoenix, the AAFP liaison to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), said the move brings the AUA much more in line with AAFP and USPSTF recommendations against performing PSA screening in asymptomatic men regardless of age. ann@aafp.org Wed, 15 May 2013 11:30:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130508plan-b-letter.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130508plan-b-letter.html The AAFP has weighed in on the legal battle regarding emergency contraception now playing out in the nation's courts. In a prepared statement issued May 6, Academy Board Chair Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., disagreed with the U.S. Department of Justice's May 1 appeal of a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to remove the age restriction on OTC access to the single-dose levonorgestrel tablets marketed as Plan B One-Step. ann@aafp.org Wed, 08 May 2013 17:05:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130508strongstartltr.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130508strongstartltr.html The AAFP, along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and several other medical associations, sent a letter on May 1 to 3,100-plus hospitals that provide maternity care, urging them to help eliminate nonmedically indicated deliveries before 39 weeks' gestation. According to AAFP EVP Douglas Henley, M.D., the Academy and its partners sent the letter to advance HHS' Strong Start Initiative by asking the hospitals to work to reduce the rate of elective deliveries performed before 39 weeks' gestation to less than 5 percent. Strong Start, said Henley, represents an extension of two of the recommendations the AAFP and ACOG made in the most recent list released as part of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation's Choosing Wisely campaign. ann@aafp.org Wed, 08 May 2013 12:35:00 CDT Health of the Public http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130429hivscreenrecs.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130429hivscreenrecs.html Although the AAFP and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) each have issued new recommendations calling for routine screening of normal-risk adolescents and adults for HIV infection, the two organizations differ regarding the recommended age at which routine screening should begin. According to the USPSTF's recommendation, physicians and other health professionals should screen all adolescents and adults ages 15-65 for HIV infection, as well as younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased risk for contracting the disease. The Academy's recommendation, however, is that routine screening should not begin until age 18. ann@aafp.org Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:45:00 CDT Health of the Public