Updates ·
Health notices · Thursday 10 September
3 notices from the agencies today, in plain words, each with the original linked.
CDC updated its tetanus overview
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Guidance
Tetanus is an uncommon but very serious infection caused by bacteria found in the environment. It requires immediate medical attention in a hospital if you develop symptoms.
Early signs can include jaw muscle spasms (“lockjaw”) and trouble swallowing, sudden muscle spasms, stiffness, seizures, headache, fever and sweating, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate.
Vaccines are the best way to prevent tetanus. If you have tetanus symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away. For wounds, get prompt first aid, and consider medical advice for puncture/deep wounds or wounds with dirt or dead tissue.
If you’re not up to date on tetanus vaccination—especially after a recent wound—ask a vaccine provider or healthcare provider about what you may need to prevent tetanus.
What to do
- Contact your healthcare provider if you have tetanus symptoms.
- Make sure you are up to date on your tetanus vaccination.
- Apply first aid to wounds and consult a healthcare provider if the wound is puncture/deep, contains dirt/soil/feces/saliva, or contains dead tissue (e.g., burns, fractures, crush injuries, frostbite).
- Talk to a vaccine provider if you have questions about a tetanus vaccine.
Nipah virus case reported in Bangladesh’s Rajshahi Division
World Health Organization (WHO) · Outbreak
If you are in Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh, and had close contact with a confirmed Nipah virus case, this update may affect you. Nipah virus can cause fever and neurological (brain/nerve) symptoms.
WHO says the patient developed symptoms on 21 January and was laboratory-confirmed on 29 January. The patient reported no travel history, but had consumed raw date palm sap.
WHO reports that all 35 contact-persons are being monitored, have tested negative so far, and no further cases have been detected to date. WHO assesses the overall risk as low nationally and globally.
FDA approval for buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) · Approval
If you have opioid dependence, the FDA has approved buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets for treatment.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it works on opioid receptors but not in the same full way as other opioids.
The label says it should be used as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support.
What to do
- Use buprenorphine hydrochloride sublingual tablets as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support.