MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

MMWR News Synopsis for January 30, 2014

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1. CDC Grand Rounds: Reducing the Burden of HPV-Associated Cancer and Disease

HPV vaccines are safe and effective and should be routinely administered to 11- or 12-year-old boys and girls. These vaccines will prevent the significant burden of diseases and cancers caused by HPV. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that girls and boys aged 11 or 12 years be routinely vaccinated for HPV; vaccine may be given starting at age 9 years. Two vaccines, bivalent and quadrivalent, are available. Both vaccines prevent HPV 16 and 18, the types that cause cervical and other HPV-associated cancers. Quadrivalent vaccine also prevents HPV 6 and 11, the types that cause genital warts. National data currently show less-than-desired HPV vaccination among female adolescents aged 13–17 years. Improving vaccination coverage is important to reduce the substantial burden of cancer and disease caused by HPV.

2. Rapidly Building Global Health Security Capacity — Uganda Demonstration Project, 2013

3. Strengthening Global Health Security Capacity — Vietnam Demonstration Project, 2013

Pilot project in Vietnam has resulted in considerable systems improvements that may serve as a model for increasing global health security in other countries. Building on Vietnam’s existing health system capacity, CDC and partners worked with the country to increase its ability to test for emerging pathogens and manage public health emergencies. From March–September 2013, CDC collaborated with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health on a project to demonstrate that enhancements could be made to the country’s established health system capacity to enhance surveillance and early detection of and response to diseases and outbreaks. Achievements included enhanced ability to test for emerging pathogens, manage public health emergencies, and demonstration of the need and capability for information systems to improve public health emergency reporting. As a result, the region has greater global health security and Vietnam is closer to meeting WHO requirements for surveillance and response under the International Health Regulations (IHR).