SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Dermatological Association recommend people age 50 and older get the shingles vaccine – 10 years younger than a previous recommendation. It is now estimated that one in three people will develop shingles (herpes zoster), with the greatest number of cases of occuring in people in their 50s. Some will suffer an extremely painful and disfiguring complication called herpes zoster ophthalmicus that can cause blindness. Even though an effective vaccine is available, many continue to go unvaccinated.

Shingles starts with pain, itching and tingling of the skin. Redness and numbness leads to a rash. Blisters form, then they break open and scab over. Though the blisters and scabs can last a few weeks, the pain lasts much longer, especially in older patients age 65 years and above. Some patients report that the pain is so bad they contemplate suicide.

If the virus infects the nerves of the eye, it can cause:

• Rash on your eyelids;
• Eye infections;
• Pink eye;
• Infection and inflammation of the cornea (front of the eye);
• Dry eye;
• Blurry vision and sensitivity to bright light;
• Pain and swelling inside the eye;
• Swelling of the optic nerve behind your eye; and
• Breakdown of the cornea so severe it requires a corneal transplant.

“Ophthalmologists and other physicians have a moral obligation to encourage immunocompetent people older than 50 to get vaccinated,” said Elisabeth Cohen, M.D., clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “The number of people affected is growing, and the health consequences are significant. The zoster vaccine is safe and effective. If you are older than 50 and are eligible, just do it.”

The herpes zoster virus is the same virus that causes chicken pox. More than 95 percent of people born in the United States who are older than 40 have had chicken pox. The virus lingers in the body and can be reactivated as shingles many years later. This can be due to your body’s natural aging process. Or it can be due to anything that weakens your immune system.

It is unclear why the risk has increased by almost 70 percent in the past 15 years. But it is clear that shingles is no longer just an older person’s disease. Research shows that the risk goes up after age 40 and rises sharply at age 50. About 50 percent of people who live to age 85 will develop shingles.

Unfortunately, only 31 percent of eligible people age 60 and older are vaccinated, and approximately 5 percent of people age 50 to 59, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Dermatologists are often the first physicians to see these patients, as the disease begins with a painful rash with blisters.

In July, the American Dermatological Association announced that it supports the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s recommendation for the shingles vaccine in appropriate patients over the age of 50.

“Herpes zoster can have devastating outcomes with prolonged intractable pain, and the potential for loss of vision,” said David E Cohen, MD, MPH, immediate past president of the American Dermatological Association. “Public health measures such as a zoster vaccine can reduce the chance of developing shingles or mitigate the impact of the disease.”

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart^® program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.

About the ADA
Founded in 1876, the American Dermatological Association (ADA) was the first national dermatological society in the United States. Its members are recognized leaders in Dermatology research, education, organizational medicine, and patient care. Its charge is to further the advancement of all aspects of scientific endeavor in Dermatology. In the execution of its enduring mission, it has been responsible for the development of a number of dermatologic organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology, the Society for Investigative Dermatology, and the American Board of Dermatology. Membership in the ADA is achieved through nomination and election based on meritorious contributions to the field of Medicine and Dermatology.

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SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology

ATLANTA, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — People who consumed raw milk or raw milk products from one Texas dairy should contact their health care provider immediately, warn health investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Raw milk from the K-Bar Dairy in Paradise, Texas (northwest of Fort Worth), tested positive for a rare but potentially serious bacteria known as Brucella RB51.

CDC advises that people who consumed raw milk or milk products from the K-Bar Dairy between June 1 and Aug. 7, 2017, should get antibiotic treatment to avoid the risk of lifelong, chronic infections. Initially, people with brucellosis experience fever, sweats, aches and fatigue. If not treated, Brucella RB51 infection can result in long-term complications, like arthritis;  heart problems; enlargement of the spleen or liver; and, in rare cases, nervous system problems,  like meningitis RB51 can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems and miscarriages in pregnant women.

“It’s very important for people who drank raw milk from this dairy to seek treatment to prevent infection with Brucella RB51,” said William Bower, M.D., team lead for the CDC group that investigates brucellosis. “Even if people don’t have any symptoms now, they can develop a chronic infection that can impact their health for years to come.”

Milk from K-Bar dairy is known to have caused Brucella infection in one Texas resident. One illness in a Texas woman has been linked to the dairy. Purchase records and illness reports indicate additional people in Texas and some as far away as California and North Dakota may need antibiotics to prevent or treat infection. In Texas, raw milk is only allowed to be sold on site at the dairy. According to Texas DHSH, K-Bar dairy has been operating in compliance with state dairy laws and rules and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

CDC and Texas health officials have been trying to reach people in more than 800 households known to have purchased K-Bar raw milk. Texas is following up with 170; CDC tried to contact the remaining 672 households but many did not provide contact information. Of the 485 households with contact information, CDC successfully reached 236 households. Among the 236 households, 83 percent of people were exposed to RB51 by drinking the milk.

Officials Worried People Not Aware of Risk
Due to incomplete contact information, CDC staff have been unable to reach about 200 households in which someone bought K-Bar milk. People who sampled the milk at the dairy or got the milk from friends or family also may not be aware of their risk.

So far, CDC and Texas health officials have received reports about people who drank K-Bar milk or have symptoms consistent with brucellosis caused by RB51 in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Ohio, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

Those Exposed Need Antibiotics
CDC recommends that anyone who drank raw milk or consumed milk products from K-Bar dairy between June 1 and Aug. 7, 2017, see their doctor for antibiotics to prevent infection. Because Brucella can cause complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage, it is especially important for pregnant women who may have been exposed to seek medical care. RB51 is resistant to some antibiotics that would normally be used to prevent or treat brucellosis, so people who drank the milk should tell their doctor that they may have been exposed to RB51 and refer their healthcare provider to the CDC website (link below). 

People who have consumed the milk should also check themselves for fever for four weeks after they last drank the milk and watch for other brucellosis symptoms for six months. These symptoms include but are not limited to: muscle pain, lasting fatigue, arthritis, depression, and swelling of the testicles.

Doctors can find more information about testing patients for RB51 and which antibiotics to use to prevent infection on the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/clinicians/rb51-raw-milk.html.

About RB51
RB51 is a weakened strain of Brucella used to vaccinate young female cattle against infection with more serious strains of Brucella. Vaccinating cows with the RB51 vaccine helps prevent abortions in cows and reduces the risk of people coming into contact with cows infected with more severe strains of Brucella. However, in rare cases, vaccinated cows can shed RB51 in their milk.

Testing of milk from the individual cows in the dairy herd revealed two cows that were infected with Brucella RB51, supporting the conclusion that these cows are a source of RB51 contamination of the dairy’s raw milk. Testing is ongoing by Texas officials to assure that the remaining cows in the herd do not pose an ongoing risk of RB51 contamination of the dairy’s raw milk. The only way to avoid this potential exposure is to drink milk that has been pasteurized to kill the germs.

Brucella is rare in the United States, largely due to our vaccination practices in cattle to prevent brucellosis. There are about 120 reported cases in people each year. Most cases of brucellosis in the U.S. occur in people who traveled to countries where Brucella is more common and drank contaminated cow, sheep or goat milk or had contact with infected animals. Among cases in the U.S. who acquired brucellosis here, infections occur from contact with feral swine or, more rarely, dogs, or because of accidental exposure in lab settings.

Raw Milk: a Risk for Infections
Raw milk and raw milk products are those that have not undergone a process called pasteurization that kills disease-causing germs. CDC recommends that people only drink milk that has been pasteurized to kill germs. Even healthy animals may carry germs that can contaminate milk. There is no substitute for pasteurization to assure that milk is safe to drink.

The risk of getting sick from drinking raw milk is greater for infants and young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV/AIDS. However, healthy people of any age can get very sick if they drink raw milk contaminated with harmful germs.

More info on raw milk: https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/raw-milk-index.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety, and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.

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SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)