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E-Newsletter Update
April/May 2006
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April/May Events
From the President

California Chapter 4, American Academy of Pediatrics is an active and growing membership organization for pediatricians in Orange County. The Chapter has been actively involved in promoting children's health and advocating for the critical role of pediatricians. The Chapter is excited about continued opportunities to impact both the health of Orange County's children as well as provide a voice for the pediatricians.

The Chapter Fact Sheet describes the Chapter's goals and priorities and the different grant projects and activities which you as a member can participate if you wish. We certainly hope that we can help you with your practice and that we may assist you in any of your community activities.

Maria Tupas, MD, FAAP

The national AAP election for President-elect and district offices will commence on April 28, 2006 at noon Central Daylight Time (CDT) and conclude at 2:00pm CDT on June 1, 2006.

VOTE in this important election.

Most members will receive both the e-mail communication/ballot link as well as a paper ballot. Instructions on voting on-line are included on the paper ballot as well.

On-line voting is the AAP preferred method. For those members who inadvertently submit both paper and electronic ballot, only the electronic ballot will be counted.

The link to the on-line ballot will also be posted to the Member Center of the AAP Web site along with information on all of the candidates. The election site, which will not be activated until April 28, 2006. Log-in only requires AAP ID and memberís last name.

Web site support will be provided at AAP@directvote.net, or by calling 952/974-2300. For general election questions, contact Jan Page at 800/433-9016, extension 7502, or jpage@aap.org.
Mumps: There is currently an outbreak of mumps in the Midwest with over 1,500 suspected or confirmed cases. Although there is currently no outbreak in California or Orange County, we encourage prompt reporting (within one working day to 714-834-8180 or fax 714-834-8196) and laboratory testing (buccal swab for mumps culture and serology for mumps IgM and IgG) of any suspect cases so we can identify contacts and reduce transmission in our community. Persons with suspect or confirmed mumps should be excluded from school or work for 9 days after onset of symptoms. Patients with suspect mumps being seen in a healthcare setting should be managed using droplet and standard precautions. For more information, see our recent Mumps Advisory (4/25/06) and Frequent Asked Questions about Mumps.

Influenza: We continue to receive reports of influenza B from the community, predominantly from children. We will continue to distribute our Eye on Influenza newsletter every 2 weeks throughout the year to provide avian influenza updates. To receive our flu newsletter, email epi@ochca.com.

Avian and Pandemic Influenza: Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for influenza A (H5N1) in patients with fever and respiratory symptoms arriving or returning from H5N1 affected countries. Please consult Orange County Epidemiology at 714-834-8180 for diagnostic and infection control recommendations. For an up-to- date list of areas with H5N1 in birds or humans or our new Questions and Answers ñ Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza .

Pandemic planning checklists are now available from HHS for medical offices and clinics and child care and preschools. Checklists for individuals and families, businesses, community and faith-based organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, home healthcare, and EMS and medical transport are also available.

Avian and Pandemic Influenza Resources:
  • US
    •
  • CDC
    •
  • WHO

    • West Nile Virus: April showers and warm weather bring mosquitoes and now is the time to start thinking about West Nile Virus (WNV) again. Several birds in Orange County have already tested positive for WNV this season. Testing for WNV (WNV IgM and IgG) is recommended for all patients with encephalitis, aseptic meningitis (after considering enterovirus), acute flaccid paralysis or atypical Guillain Barre Syndrome, and febrile illness lasting at least 7 days. West Nile (WN) Virus infection, WN Fever, WN Neuroinvasive Disease, aseptic meningitis and encephalitis are all reportable within one working day to OC Epidemiology at 714-834-8180 or fax 714- 834-8196.

    For more information on any of the above topics, please call Epidemiology at 714-834-8180.
    CDC Learn the Signs - Act Early
    CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." campaign is making a real impact on parents. Thanks for you help! Data from the 2005 HealthStyles survey of more than 1,200 parents show that:
    • More parents strongly agreed that they look for developmental milestones (58% in 2005 vs. 51% in 2004).
    • More parents knew that the best time to get help is earlier: before six months of age (29% in 2005 vs. 21% in 2004), and before two years of age (27% in 2005 vs. 22% in 2004).

    One of the campaign's national partners, Autism Speaks, is launching a national ad campaign this month with the Ad Council. These ads will bring an increased focus on autism and may increase the number of parents asking questions about child development. The "Learn the Signs. Act Early." campaign has free resources to help health care professionals educate parents who want to learn more about autism and other developmental disorders.

    If you would like additional information about the campaign, feel free to send an email to Anna Okula at Porter Novelli - aokula@porter novelli.com. The website has also been updated in the past few months to include many more resources for pediatricians, including information on the campaign to share with colleagues and links to important information such as AAP's Autism A.L.A.R.M.
    The revised AAP Refusal to Vaccinate form includes: an introduction from members of the AAP Section on Infectious Diseases, recently recommended vaccines, and additional resources to address parental concerns.
    With the threat of bird flu looming, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will announce Tuesday that he supports creation of a Department of Public Health, a step he believes would better prepare the state to confront a major epidemic or bioterror attack. The governor will back legislation splitting the new agency off from the Department of Health Services. He also would name the State Public Health Officer - currently Dr. Mark Horton - to head the agency, should the legislation pass, aides said. "In an emergency, public health is on the front lines, whether it's a flood, earthquake, disease outbreak or bioterrorism attack," Schwarzenegger said in remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday at the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference, a gathering of policymakers, geologists and other experts marking the centennial of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. "By focusing on public health, this new department will ensure that when a disaster strikes, Californians will still be able to breathe clean air, drink safe water and eat healthy food," Schwarzenegger said. Supporters of the move say some public health programs are currently getting inadequate attention because the Department of Health Services also administers Medi-Cal, the state's health care program for the poor. The state Senate approved a bill in January to enact the split, which the governor's aides say would cost no extra money. It is currently under consideration by an Assembly health committee.
    Orange County Network of Care: Roadmap to Health Care is an online information source for individuals, families and agencies concerned with health care. This online community, custom created for the diverse Orange County population, provides free critical information, communication and advocacy tools with a single point of entry. It strives to increase access to health information to the Orange County community.
    Photo: Marc Lerner, MD FAAP (CA4), Danica Liberman MD (2nd year resident at Children's National Medical Center), Lynn Hunt MD FAAP (CA4) and Darrin Schrader, Health Legislative Assistant for Edward R. Royce, US Representative of 40th District, California in Assemblyman Royce's office in the Rayburn building.

    We met with Health Legislative Assistants for John Campbell (48th District), Ed Royce (Darrin, in picture) Barbara Boxer (Carina Armenta) and Diane Feinstein (Tamar Magarik) and discussed a NO vote on S. 1955 and H.R. 525 (Small Business Health Plans and Association Health Plans) that may eliminate required preventative care for children, and also discussed the AAP recommended increase in NIH funding that would re-establish the funding for the National Children's Study.
    The CDC Injury Center has successfully transitioned to the new CDC-INFO public inquiry contact center. CDC-INFO can be reached by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), by writing cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or by choosing any ìContact Usî or e-mail link found on CDC Injury Centerís website. CDC-INFO call center representatives respond to inquiries in English and Spanish 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The CDC Injury Center is very excited about this new, toll-free public inquiry call center and the opportunity it gives the CDC Injury Center to quickly provide information to health professionals, the public and others who access the service. In addition, the new call center system gives CDC even greater capacity to learn what information is needed and when.
    CME LOGO
    1. Connected Kids Training: April 29, 2006
    2. Quarterly Dinner Meeting: June 20, 2006
    3. Quarterly Dinner Meeting: September 19, 2006
    4. Current Advances in Pediatrics: October 20-22, 2006
    5. 28th Annual Las Vegas Seminar - Pediatric Update: November 16-19, 2006

    For registration information...Calendar of Events - Chapter Website

    Deborah Monfea
    California Chapter 4, American Academy of Pediatrics

    phone: 714/971-0695