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| PRESS CONTACT: Laura Seeff, M.D. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 488鈥?227 |
Despite strong scientific evidence that regular screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce numbers of cases and deaths
from this disease, current screening rates remain very low. In 1999, of the more than 65,000 adults aged 50 and older who responded to CDC鈥檚
ongoing telephone survey (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System [BRFSS]) regarding their use of CRC screening tests, only 44% reported having
had at least one of the tests within the recommended time intervals. This is only a slight increase from reported screening rates measured in
1997. The federal government encourages all men and women 50 and older to begin regular screening for colorectal cancer and encourages health care
providers to recommend CRC screening to their patients. These efforts are reinforced through a national media campaign and an educational tool for
health care providers.
Levels of physical activity in the 1990s remained unchanged--only 25 percent of U.S. adults were at least moderately active.
| PRESS CONTACT: Sandra Ham, M.S. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 488鈥?820 |
To determine national estimates of leisure-time physical activity during 1990-1998, data were obtained from CDC鈥檚 Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). BRFSS is a population-based, telephone survey of the U.S. population (civilian and non-institutionalized)
18 years of age or older. Physical activity trends during the 1990's remained unchanged. Between 1990 and 1998 only one-quarter of U.S. adults
aged 18 and over met the physical activity recommendations of moderate intensity activity on at least 5 days per week for at least 30 minutes per
day, or vigorous activity on at least 3 days per week for at least 20 minutes per day. Three out of four U.S. adults were not physically active
enough to obtain health benefits.
Halofantrine can be potentially harmful for those with underlying cardiac abnormalities or those taking mefloquine (Lariam) for malaria prophylaxis.
| PRESS CONTACT: Robert Newman, M.D., M.P.H. CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases (770) 488鈥?760 |
In July, 2000, a previously healthy U.S. student collapsed and died while leading a teenage exchange group in Togo, West
Africa after taking halofantrine for presumed malaria. Halofantrine is an antimalarial drug with known adverse cardiac effects in some persons,
particularly those with underlying cardiac abnormalities and those taking mefloquine (Lariam), a frequently recommended drug for malaria
prophylaxis. Although halofantrine is approved for use in the United States, it is not currently marketed here but is available internationally.
Travelers and physicians who provide travel medicine advice should be aware of the potential dangers of halofantrine. Ideally, halofantrine would
be used only for cases of laboratory-confirmed malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum and when no other effective therapies are available.
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CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z This page last reviewed Friday, March 9, 2001 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
