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FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
There are no alerts as of 6-6-19.
5-7-19 NC Division of Public Health
This memo describes measles cases in the US from January 1 to April 26, 2019 and provides recommendations for NC clinicians to rapidly identify measles cases and control the spread of infection.
3-6-19 NC Division of Public Health
This memo provides updated guidance on Zika virus testing and provides notice that the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health will no longer perform testing of asymptomatic pregnant women with recent possible Zika virus exposure but without ongoing possible exposure.
11-13-18 NC Division of Public Health
Congenital syphilis continues to rise in North Carolina. Since 2014, there has been a 229% increase in the number of reported congenital syphilis cases. This public health advisory outlines how healthcare providers can help prevent congenital syphilis through screening, diagnosis and treatment of maternal syphilis infections.
11-06-18 NC Division of Public Health
Increase in Reports of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)- 2018
The North Carolina Division of Public Health (NC DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to receive reports of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases. As of November 2, 2018, the CDC has confirmed 80 cases of AFM in 25 states. Two cases have been confirmed in North Carolina during 2018.
AFM is usually characterized by sudden onset of weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes in the arms and/or legs. In addition to limb weakness, some patients will experience facial droop or weakness; difficulty moving the eyes; drooping eyelids; difficulty with swallowing; or slurred speech.
The specific causes of AFM are still being investigated. There are a variety of possible causes; to date, no single pathogen has been consistently detected in spinal fluid, respiratory, stool, or blood specimens at either the CDC or state laboratories. Although initial attention was focused on enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) when AFM surveillance began in 2014, the CDC has not found a clear association between EV-D68 and AFM.
Recommendations
Clinicians are encouraged to be alert for AFM among all age groups and to report patients with acute onset of flaccid limb weakness to North Carolina Division of Public Health (NC DPH).
Report any suspected AFM case to the NC DPH epidemiologist on-call by phone at 919-733-3419 (24/7) or by secure fax at 919-733-0490. Reporting of cases will help states and CDC monitor the occurrence of AFM and better understand factors associated with this illness.
11-1-2018 NC Division of Public Health
This notice is to alert clinicians and public health leaders about cases of lead poisoning in children in North Carolina due to Ayurvedic medicine and imported supplements commonly used in Southeast Asian Indian communities.
8-15-18 NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Ebola Virus Disease Update
This memo provides updated information to all NC clinicians and laboratories regarding Ebola virus disease (EVD) and management of suspected cases.
7-31-18 NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Please share this information with your networks and those who might see potential cases.
7-17-18 NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Increase in Hepatitis A Infections and Actions for NC Clinicians
In response to an increased number of cases of hepatitis A reported in the Charlotte area since April 2018, this memo from the NC Division of Public Health urges NC clinicians to take the described steps to protect high risk patients and mitigate the spread of illness.
6-11-18 NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
This provider memo and CDC Health Advisory contain background information and recommendations regarding life threatening coagulopathy problems associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids.
Additional information:
Questions? Please contact the Office of Environmental Epidemiology at 919-695-2662.
6-6-19 NC Division of Public Health
Measles, Rabies and Norovirus--Information for Summer Camps
This memo outlines information and resources concerning the prevention of measles, rabies and norovirus for summer camp directors.
12-10-18 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing information on: 1) the current status of a multistate outbreak of coagulopathy from exposure to synthetic cannabinoid products containing a vitamin K-epoxide cycle antagonist, brodifacoum; 2) the emergence of 2 new clinical scenarios; and 3) recommendations to help clinicians make decisions related to these 2 new clinical scenarios.