The Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL) maintains a collection of the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), which collects and analyzes data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on epidemiology and public health. Each issue of the MMWR is packed with raw and analyzed public health data and scientific studies from some of the top minds in the United States. Below we highlight some of the most current and informative studies included in their weekly reports. 

Here are some important articles you may have missed from Volume 73, Issues 19-23 of the Centers for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series. 

June 13, 2024 / No. 23

Featured Article:

“Migration from Epi Info to District Health Information Software 2 for Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance — World Health Organization African Region, 2019–2023“

Epi Info is free CDC software developed to allow for statistical data in preventable disease surveillance, but it “has limited capability to integrate with other information systems.” This article discusses a move to new software in the African region to improve “reporting timeliness and data use.”

June 6, 2024 / No. 22

Featured Article:

“Mpox Surveillance Based on Rash Characteristics — 13 Emergency Departments, United States, June–December 2023“

The CDC provides an update to emerging local Mpox outbreaks, noting that there may have been more undiagnosed cases in 2022, especially amongst non-gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (non-GBMSM), where infection has been less likely. Review the report for further details on the most recent study.

May 30, 2024 / No. 21

Featured Article:

“Early Safety Findings Among Persons Aged ≥60 Years Who Received a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine — United States, May 3, 2023–April 14, 2024”

Two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines were approved in May 2023 for use in adults aged ≥60 years: Arexvy and Abrysvo. This early safety review provides information on the prevalence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) amongst vaccination recipients. Reporting rates of GBS were “higher than estimated expected background rates in a vaccinated population.”

May 16, 2024 / No. 19

Featured Article:

“Real-Time Use of a Dynamic Model To Measure the Impact of Public Health Interventions on Measles Outbreak Size and Duration — Chicago, Illinois, 2024“

Fifty-seven measles cases were associated with a migrant shelter in Chicago, Illinois. Taking advantage of this outbreak, the CDC “developed dynamic models of shelter residents in real time to produce forecasts and assess the impact of interventions on outbreak size and duration.” This report provides the findings.

For more information on COVID, visit HSDL’s COVID-19 Resource Archive. You can also find pandemic-related resources in HSDL’s Focus on Pandemics and Epidemics, and search our statistical resources related to public health.