2016

ZIKA UPDATE: CDC Guidance for Travel and Testing of Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age

On November 28, 2016, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) reported the first case of locally acquired mosquito-borne Zika virus infection in the city of Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. On December 9, 2016, four additional cases in people living in proximity to the first case were reported. TDSHS continues to investigate Zika virus transmission in Brownsville.

CMS publishes proposed rule on Fire Safety Requirements for Applicable Dialysis Facilities

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed rule to update Medicare fire protection guidelines for certain dialysis facilities to ensure that patients are protected from fire while receiving treatment in those facilities. CMS strives to promote health and safety for all patients, family, and staff in every provider and supplier setting, and fire safety requirements are an important part of this effort.

New CMS Emergency Preparedness Rules

FDA MedWatch: Drug Safety Label Changes (SLC) Available in New Format

The FDA is pleased to announce its safety labeling change (SLC) data on the Web will now be available in real time for health care providers, health information technology vendors, and the public to view, search, and download. Ultimately, the FDA expects that prompt access to these vital safety data by health care providers and consumers will better promote patient health.

CDC Health Alert: Influx of Fentanyl-laced Counterfeit Pills and Toxic Fentanyl-related Compounds Further Increases Risk of Fentanyl-related Overdose and Fatalities

The purpose of this HAN update is to alert public health departments, health care professionals, first responders, and medical examiners and coroners to new developments that have placed more people at risk for fentanyl-involved overdoses from IMF and may increase the risk of non-fatal and fatal overdose.

CDC Health Alert: Influx of Fentanyl-laced Counterfeit Pills and Toxic Fentanyl-related Compounds Further Increases Risk of Fentanyl-related Overdose and Fatalities

The purpose of this HAN update is to alert public health departments, health care professionals, first responders, and medical examiners and coroners to new developments that have placed more people at risk for fentanyl-involved overdoses from IMF and may increase the risk of non-fatal and fatal overdose.

Safety Announcement: FDA Investigates Outbreak of Hepatitis A Illness Linked to Raw Scallops

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses linked to raw scallops.

FDA MedWatch: Eyesaline Eyewash by Honeywell - Recall

Honeywell is voluntarily recalling one production lot of 32-ounce bottles of Eyesaline Eyewash solution, which is used for emergency eye rinsing after an injury. Although no injuries have been reported and no contamination was found in batch testing, there is a risk of product contamination with Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Newly Released Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis (TB) Guidelines

Although tuberculosis (TB) is no longer a leading cause of death in the United States, efforts to eliminate this potentially fatal disease are critical. After two decades of steady decline, the number of reported U.S. TB cases rose slightly in 2015 to 9,563, according to provisional data released...

AKF Press Release: Disaster Relief Program Activated to Help Kidney Patients Affected by Floods in LA and MS

The American Kidney Fund (AKF), the nation’s leading provider of charitable assistance to people with kidney failure, has activated its Disaster Relief Program to help dialysis patients affected by the devastating flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi.