MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

MMWR News Synopsis for June 5, 2014

Click here for the full MMWR articles. Please send questions regarding these summaries to media@cdc.gov.

1. Smokeless Tobacco Use among Working Adults — United States, 2005 and 2010

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These findings highlight opportunities for reducing the health and economic burdens of tobacco use among U.S. workers, especially those in certain industries (e.g., mining) and occupations (e.g., construction and extraction) where use of smokeless tobacco is especially common. In 2010, cigarette smoking among working adults was significantly lower than in 2005 (19.1 percent vs. 22.2 percent), but the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among adult workers did not significantly differ (3.0 percent in 2010 vs. 2.7 percent in 2005), according to a new study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Among working adults who also smoked cigarettes, the proportion who used smokeless tobacco was 4.1 percent in 2005 and 4.2 percent 2010. Smokeless tobacco use varied widely by industry and occupation, and was highest among workers in the mining industry (18.8 percent) and in construction and extraction occupations such as mining and oil and gas extraction (10.8 percent). These findings can help health professionals direct assistance to working men and women to stop using smokeless tobacco, a known cause of oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer.

2. Influenza Activity — United States, 2013–14 Season and Composition of the 2014–15 Influenza Vaccine

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The 2013–14 influenza season began early, was pH1N1 predominant, and was relatively more severe than recent influenza seasons for adults aged less than 65 years. This season is a reminder that influenza viruses can affect all ages and that yearly vaccination is the best step to take to prevent illness from influenza and its associated complications. The 2013-14 influenza season was the first Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 (pH1N1) predominant season since the 2009 pandemic. It was characterized by lower overall levels of outpatient illness and mortality than influenza A (H3N2)–predominant seasons, but higher rates of hospitalization among adults aged 18–64 years compared to recent years. Although influenza activity is typically low in the summer, cases of influenza and even influenza outbreaks occur in the United States throughout the summer. Healthcare providers should remain vigilant and consider influenza as a potential cause of summer respiratory illnesses, and should consider treatment with influenza antiviral medications for those at high risk for influenza-associated complications