Healthcare

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answers some questions from healthcare providers regarding to the radiation exposure and treatment, especially to US traveler who suspected injuries or contaminated from radiation through conference call.

Right now, according to the CDC, they are not aware to any US travelers returning from Japan who have been contaminated with material at a level of concern.

Jeffrey Nemhauser, MD, a medical officer in the CDC’s Radiation Studies Branch said that if a traveler is contaminated, the CDC will recommend decontamination, collect data, and follow-up with the traveler.

However, according to Nemhauser, extra screening protocol for airports will be effective in this week for radiation contamination from those who entering the United States, including their luggage.

As many clinician asking about potassium iodine (KI) for the use, availability, and distribution, Dr. Nemhauser said that people at risk for direct exposure to radiation should be first evacuate the area, “before there’s even a need to take KI”, and KI used as secondary measure for next treatment.

Dr. Nemhauser said that the most effective of KI was when taken 1 to 2 hours before anticipated exposure to radioactive material, or up to 3 or 4 hours after exposure. It protects the thyroid from radioactive iodine for about 24 hours, and the risk was greatest for people younger than 40 years, especially in children and pregnant women from radioactive iodine exposure.

However, regarding to the availability, Dr. Nemhauser didn’t know what KI supplies each state has the stock, but if KI is needed, public health authorities will distribute it.

Other concerning asked by some caller were about food safety and water in and around Japan.
Dr. Nemhauser said that farmed seafood from Japan, such as seaweed and shellfish, might be at risk for contamination. However, Japan is monitoring its food supplies, and the country has embargoed some produce grown near the site of the accident, while the FDA also monitoring food imported from Japan.

In addition, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are monitoring the West Coast for radioactive materials brought from Japan by the jet stream.