WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, today was recognized by Billion Dollar Roundtable, a top-level corporate advocacy organization that promotes supply-chain diversity excellence, for reaching its goal of spending over $1 billion with diverse suppliers.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized by Billion Dollar Roundtable for our commitment to using diverse suppliers throughout our business,” said Eva Boratto, Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer for CVS Health. “By tapping into this expanding supplier pool, we are able to build supply chain excellence, add distinctive goods and services to our business offerings and enhance our brand among customers.”

CVS Health joins the ranks as one of 26 major U.S.-based corporations that provide thought leadership and solutions-driven exploration of key issues in supplier diversity. Billion Dollar Roundtable member companies each spend $1 billion or more annually for a broad range of goods and services with certified diverse companies whose majority owners primarily are minorities and women.

This recognition is the latest in a series of third-party acknowledgments, including CVS Health being ranked #45 on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in 2017, #3 on Fast Company’s® 50  Most Innovative Companies in 2016 and among the World’s Most Valuable Brands by Forbes®. The company also received awards recognizing its innovation, leadership, and workplace practices by CIO (100 Best Companies for IT Innovation), Corporate Responsibility Magazine® (100 Best Corporate Citizens), Human Rights Campaign® (Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality) and Disability Equality Index (Best Places to Work).

About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact
Joe Goode, 401-770-9820
[email protected]

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March of Dimes urges: Take steps to prevent infection

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A new government report shows that nearly 1,300 pregnancies from 44 states with possible recent Zika virus infection were reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry in 2016. Most of the women acquired the virus during travel to Zika-affected areas, the report says.

Among the pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection, 1 in 10 had a fetus or baby with birth defects. The highest risk was from confirmed infection in the first trimester — birth defects were reported in 15 percent of these fetuses or infants.

The report, published today in the journal Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), includes data on completed pregnancies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry from January 15 to December 27, 2016.

“Zika virus is causing a lot of anxiety among my patients and their partners, who are accustomed to traveling for work or to visit family,” says Siobhan Dolan, MD, MPH, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and medical advisor to the March of Dimes. “I advise them that preventing infection is the most important thing for themselves and their babies. Protect yourself from Zika before and during pregnancy, and that includes avoiding travel to affected areas. But remember — it’s not forever. Yes, you may miss a family event now, while you’re pregnant. But after the baby is born, in a few months, you’ll be able to travel safely and with peace of mind.”

The March of Dimes coordinates with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to provide up-to-the-minute information in English and Spanish for women, men, and families at ZAPzika.org and nacersano.org/zika. The March of Dimes also answers questions about Zika virus in social media and via email in both English and Spanish. Send email to [email protected] or [email protected].

“We don’t yet know the full range of disabilities in babies infected with Zika virus,” says Dr. Dolan. “Even babies who don’t have obvious signs of birth defects still may be affected. Babies born to women who have evidence of Zika virus during pregnancy need brain imaging and other testing after birth to make a correct diagnosis, and to help us understand how these babies grow and develop.”

She noted that the March of Dimes is hosting and promoting “Zika Care Connect,” a new website that will launch this month to assist Zika-affected families in finding healthcare professionals around the country who can provide specialized care.

Other March of Dimes activities to protect babies from Zika virus include:

• Funding research into a “weak spot” in the structure of a Zika virus protein that may lead to development of the first drug treatment for Zika infection;
• Providing continuing education for nurses on “What Every Nurse Should Know” about Zika in both English and Spanish;
• Preparing Zika Prevention Kits for newborns in Puerto Rico (including mosquito netting, onesies and prevention tips).

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause damage to the brain, microcephaly (smaller than expected head) and congenital Zika syndrome, a pattern of conditions in the baby that includes brain abnormalities, eye defects, hearing loss, and limb defects. Zika infection during pregnancy also has been linked to miscarriage and stillbirth.

“Vital Signs: Update on Zika Virus-Associated Birth Defects and Evaluation of All U.S. Infants with Congenital Zika Virus Exposure — U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry, 2016″ was an early release in MMWR, Vol. 66, April 4, 2017.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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Continued focus on Zika prevention needed

ATLANTA, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Of the 250 pregnant women who had confirmed Zika infection in 2016, 24 – or about 1 in 10 of them – had a fetus or baby with Zika-related birth defects, according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This report is the first to provide the analysis of a subgroup of pregnant women in the U.S. with clear, confirmed test results of Zika virus infection.

Testing for Zika remains complex because there is a narrow timeframe for obtaining a positive laboratory result, and many infected people do not have symptoms that might motivate testing. For this reason, CDC is monitoring all pregnant women with any evidence of recent Zika infection. In 2016, nearly 1,000 pregnant women from 44 states who completed their pregnancies had some evidence of a recent Zika infection and were at risk of having a fetus or baby with Zika-related birth defects. Most of these women acquired Zika infection during travel to an area where Zika was known to be present.

Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the brain and microcephaly in developing fetuses. It also can lead to congenital Zika syndrome in babies, a pattern of birth defects that includes brain abnormalities, vision problems, hearing loss, and problems moving limbs. Babies may also appear healthy at birth but have underlying brain defects or other Zika-related health problems.

“Zika virus can be scary and potentially devastating to families. Zika continues to be a threat to pregnant women across the U.S.,” said CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. “With warm weather and a new mosquito season approaching, prevention is crucial to protect the health of mothers and babies. Healthcare providers can play a key role in prevention efforts.” 

The findings from this report confirm the serious threat posed by Zika virus infection during pregnancy and the critical need for pregnant women to continue taking steps to prevent Zika virus exposure through mosquito bites and sexual transmission. The report also emphasizes the importance of healthcare providers screening all pregnant women for possible Zika virus exposure and testing and evaluating all infants born to women with evidence of Zika infection.

Identifying scope of Zika cases in U.S. and gaps in evaluation and care management

This report updates previously published estimates of the proportion of fetuses or babies with birth defects among pregnant women with possible Zika infection reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry from January 15 to December 27, 2016 in the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. The Registry includes data from all U.S. states, DC, and all U.S. territories except Puerto Rico; pregnancies in Puerto Rico are monitored separately by the Zika Active Pregnancy Surveillance System. This report also highlights possible gaps in clinical evaluation and management of infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection.

Key findings in the Vital Signs report include:

• Forty-four states reported pregnant women with evidence of Zika in 2016.
  • Most of these women acquired Zika virus infection during travel to an area with Zika.
• Nearly 1,300 pregnant women with evidence of possible Zika infection were reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry.
  • Of the 1,000 pregnancies that were completed by the end of the year, more than 50 had Zika-related birth defects.
• Among pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection, about 1 in 10 had a fetus or baby with birth defects.
  • Confirmed infections in the first trimester posed the highest risk – with about 15% having Zika-related birth defects.
• About 1 in 3 babies with possible congenital Zika infection had no report of Zika testing at birth.
• Only 1 in 4 babies with possible congenital Zika infection were reported to have received brain imaging after birth.

“Based on reports to the Registry, many babies born to mothers with possible Zika infection are not receiving brain imaging after birth to help diagnose serious brain defects,” said Peggy Honein, Ph.D., co-lead, Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force, CDC Zika Response. “Healthcare providers have an important role, and we encourage them to ask about possible Zika exposure when caring for both pregnant women and their babies and to follow CDC guidance for evaluation and care of infants with possible Zika infection.”  

CDC encourages healthcare providers to:

• Educate families on Zika prevention.
• Provide all needed tests and follow-up care.  
• Support babies and families.  

CDC is continuously updating guidance for healthcare providers on testing and clinical care for pregnant women and babies affected by Zika. It is also monitoring new infections and working to identify the long-term outcomes of congenital Zika infection.  

To learn more about Zika virus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/zika/. Healthcare providers can visit https://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/index.html for CDC’s latest clinical guidance, testing, and training information for Zika.

About Vital Signs

Vital Signs is a report that appears as part of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vital Signs provides the latest data and information on key health indicators: cancer prevention, obesity, tobacco use, motor vehicle passenger safety, prescription drug overdose, HIV/AIDS, alcohol use, health care-associated infections, cardiovascular health, teen pregnancy, food safety, and viral hepatitis.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CDC works 24/7 saving lives and protecting people from health threats to have a more secure nation. Whether these threats are chronic or acute, manmade or natural, human error or deliberate attack, global or domestic, CDC is the U.S. health protection agency.

Contact: CDC Media Relations 
404-639-3286

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