Mobile Version - July - August 2018
From the Director Dr. Jonathan Mermin
CDC has released the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results. This report provides surveillance data on health behaviors among high school students nationwide. Findings show improvements in some behaviors, but other areas reveal concerning trends that continue to put youth at risk for HIV and STDs. For example, the percentage of youth who have ever had sex decreased (48%, 2007 to 40%, 2017), as did the percentage who reported having had four or more sexual partners (15%, 2007 to 10%, 2017). However, condom use among sexually active students decreased (62%, 2007 to 54%, 2017). Injection drug use and use of some illicit drugs has declined (23%, 2007 to 14%, 2017), but over 14% of students reported non-prescription use of opioids. Given these concerning health risks, DASH produced a 2017 YRBS data summary and 10-year trends report to raise awareness and provide guidance to address priority areas. CDC and partners address these risks by funding, implementing, and evaluating school and community programs. However, our collective work must also include our families, peers, parents, and other important adults to ensure youth feel respected, connected, and safe to live full, healthy lives.
Updated Treatment Recommendations for Latent TB Infection
In the United States, up to 13 million people may have latent TB infection (LTBI). Treatment of LTBI is essential to control and eliminate TB in the United States because it substantially reduces the risk that LTBI will progress to TB disease. More than 80% of people who get sick with TB disease in the United States each year get sick from longstanding, untreated LTBI. CDC recently updated the 2011 recommendations for the use of once-weekly isoniazid-rifapentine for 12 weeks (3HP) for treatment of LTBI, including the use of 3HP by directly observed therapy or self-administered therapy in persons over 2 years of age, in persons 2-11 years old, and in persons with latent TB infection and HIV/AIDS who are taking antiretroviral medications with acceptable drug-drug interactions with rifapentine. Short course regimens, like 3HP, are preferred for reasons of convenience and higher rates of treatment completion.
AtlasPlus Updates
AtlasPlus continues to grow as the premier online data resource that allows users to create customized tables, maps, and other graphics accessing more than 15 years of HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB surveillance data. CDC recently added 11 new indicators to increase access to information on HIV and social determinants of health. These indicators let the user look at the complex, integrated, and overlapping social structures and economic systems that intersect and are responsible for most health inequities. The new HIV indicators are estimated incidence, diagnosed HIV among all persons living with HIV infection, and persons living with HIV infection nationally and by state; linkage to and receipt of HIV medical care; and viral suppression by state. New social determinants of health indicators include poverty, uninsured, less than a high school education, and vacant housing nationally and by state and county; percentage of population living in rural areas nationally and by state; and county urbanization level. Read more on the What´s New web page and the About NCHHSTP AtlasPlus web page.