Epidemiologic Notes and Reports

Syrup of Ipecac Contamination

On April 29, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the nationwide recall of Humco-brand syrup of ipecac as a result of a labeling error. The manufacturer, Humco Laboratory, Inc., of Texarkana, Texas, undertook the recall of all lots of the product following a report to FDA from the Thrift Drug Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that five of seven ipecac bottles in one of the company's drugstores had been found by the drug company to contain eucalyptus oil instead of ipecac. In addition to commercial sales, thousands of 1-ounce bottles of Humco-brand ipecac syrup were made available free to nonprofit organizations, including several poison control centers, throughout the United States during the week of May 2 as part of Poison Prevention Week campaigns.

The syrup was sold or given away as individual 1-ounce bottles or was included as part of a poison kit. At the time of the recall, 200,000 bottles were known to still be in distribution channels; another 200,000 bottles may already have reached consumers. FDA advises consumers to return all 1-ounce bottles labeled Humco ipecac. Reported by: Dallas District Office; Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration. Epidemiology Br, Div of Injury Epidemiology and Control, Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control, CDC.

Editorial Note: Ipecac syrup is used mostly to induce vomiting in children under the age of 4 after a poisoning or suspected poisoning. Eucalyptus oil is commonly used in minute amounts in vaporizers and nose drops, and in cough drops as flavoring, and it is considered safe for these purposes. However, pure eucalyptus oil should never be ingested because even small amounts can quickly cause convulsions and coma. As little as 1 teaspoon (5 cc) can be fatal. Parents are urged to search for 1-ounce bottles of Humco ipecac and to return them to the source from which they were distributed. For further information, contact Gust Koustenis, Recall Officer, Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 7520 Standish Place, Rockville, Maryland 20855, telephone (301)295-8060.

Notice to Readers

National Conference on the Prevention of HIV Infection and AIDS
Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States

August 15-17, 1988, CDC will cosponsor a national conference on the Prevention of HIV Infection and AIDS Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, in Washington, D.C. The conference is sponsored in conjunction with the Office of Minority Health; the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration; the Health Resources and Services Administration; and the Indian Health Service. The Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, state and local health departments, and minority and voluntary organizations will also participate. The conference is targeted for persons involved in AIDS prevention activities; these include AIDS program managers, planners, administrators, community health educators, counselors, health-care providers, and program evaluators.

Provide an overview of strategies for prevention and control of AIDS in racial and ethnic minority communities.

• Present and discuss information on technical assistance; funding; networking; and program development, implementation, and evaluation.

Exchange information on model programs to prevent infection among people
engaged in high-risk activities, such as intravenous drug use and unsafe sex.
Develop ideas for future direction of programs to prevent HIV infection and
AIDS.

The objectives will be accomplished through a series of workshops that will focus on program development, technical assistance, and funding resources and coordination. Strategies for community outreach, health education and risk reduction, HIV antibody counseling and testing, and research and program evaluation will be emphasized.

A preconference program on the evening of Sunday, August 14, will provide an overview of recent developments in HIV infection and AIDS. During the conference, time also will be allotted for roundtable discussions, strategy and resource sharing, and group caucuses.

For more information, contact the CDC AIDS Conference Office at (202)737-8062.

FIGURE I. Reported measles cases — United States, Weeks 19–22, 1988

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, and available on a paid subscription basis from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, (202) 783-3238.

The data in this report are provisional, based on weekly reports to CDC by state health departments. The reporting week concludes at close of business on Friday; compiled data on a national basis are officially released to the public on the succeeding Friday. The editor welcomes accounts of interesting cases, outbreaks, environmental hazards, or other public health problems of current interest to health officials. Such reports and any other matters pertaining to editorial or other textual considerations should be addressed to: Editor, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.