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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Synopsis for July 21, 2000
MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Thursdays.
- Heroin Overdose Deaths 鈥?Multnomah County, 1993鈥?999
- Unintentional Opiate Overdose Deaths鈥?King County, Washington 1990鈥?999
- West Nile Virus Activity 鈥?New York and New Jersey, 2000
Synopsis for July 21, 2000
Heroin Overdose Deaths 鈥?Multnomah County, 1993鈥?999
Long term heroin users, particularly men who have been using heroin with other drugs, are most at risk for heroin overdose.
PRESS CONTACT:
Gary Oxman, M.D., M.P.H.
Multnomah County Health Department
(503) 988鈥?674 (Oregon) |
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In Multnomah County (Portland, Oregon), heroin overdose causes about the same number of deaths in
men 25鈥?4 years of age as cancer, AIDS, and heart disease. Heroin is cheap and readily available. Heroin users are most at risk of overdose
when they resume using the drug after having stopped for a period of time. Regular heroin users develop tolerance to higher doses. If they stop,
and then resume using heroin, doses that were previously well-tolerated can cause overdose. All overdose deaths are preventable. A wide range of
community actions being utilized in the United States and abroad can be effective to prevent heroin overdose.
Unintentional Opiate Overdose Deaths鈥?King County, Washington 1990鈥?999
Unintentional opiate overdose deaths are a serious, but preventable public health problem.
PRESS CONTACT:
Alonzo Plough, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Public Health 鈥?Seattle and King County
(206) 296鈥?480 (Washington state)* |
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From 1996 to the end of 1999, 485 people died from unintentional opiate overdoses in King County, Washington, which
includes Seattle. Last year there were 110 deaths, more than double the 47 deaths in 1990. Most of these overdose deaths were the result of
heroin injection. The numbers of fatal opiate overdose can be reduced by 1) preventing the initiation of heroin injection; 2) providing
treatment to users; 3) teaching injection drug users (IDUs) how to prevent overdose and what to do when an overdose occurs; and 4) addressing
IDUs鈥?fear that calling 9-1-1 for an overdose will lead to arrest. Close collaboration between public health agencies, public safety
officials, drug treatment services, street outreach services and IDUs is the key to preventing overdose deaths.
* Dr. Plough can be reached from 9 AM - NOON EST at 213鈥?24鈥?011 (Regal Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles)
West Nile Virus Activity 鈥?New York and New Jersey, 2000
Enhanced surveillance activities have helped to detect birds infected with West Nile Virus (WNV).
PRESS CONTACT:
Gary Euler, Dr. PH.
CDC, National Immunization Program
(404) 639鈥?742 |
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From May 6 through July 8, 2000, state and local health departments confirmed WNV infections in 25 birds from 5 counties
in New Jersey, New York City, and New York state. WNV is transmitted by mosquitoes. This year WNV has been detected in mosquito pools in
Westchester County (Aedes japonicus) and in Suffolk County (mixed Culex species). Last year, an outbreak of encephalitis
caused by WNV was detected in New York City. CDC recommends that counties were WNV was detected in 1999 should maintain active surveillance for
WNV, and continue to reinforce public education and outreach programs to reduce breeding sites around the home and the use of personal
protective measures.
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