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Objectives. We investigated an outbreak of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after a power outage to determine its extent, identify risk factors, and develop prevention measures. Methods. We reviewed medical records and medical examiner reports of patients with CO poisoning or related symptoms during December 15 to 24, 2006. We grouped patients into households exposed concurrently to a single source of CO. Results. Among 259 patients with CO poisoning, 204 cases were laboratory confirmed, 37 were probable, 10 were suspected, and 8 were fatal. Of 86 households studied, 58% (n=50) were immigrant households from Africa (n=21), Asia (n=15), Latin America (n=10), and the Middle East (n=4); 34% (n=29) were US-born households. One percent of households was European (n=1), and the origin for 7% (n=6) was unknown. Charcoal was the most common fuel source used among immigrant households (82%), whereas liquid fuel was predominant among US-born households (34%). Conclusions. Educational campaigns to prevent CO poisoning should consider immigrants' cultural practices and languages and specifically warn against burning charcoal indoors and incorrect ventilation of gasoline- or propane-powered electric generators. (doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.143222)

Background: Measurements of HIV exposure could help identify subpopulations at highest risk of acquisition and improve the design of HIV prevention efficacy trials and public health interventions. The HVTN 915 study evaluated the feasibility of self-administered vaginal swabs for detection of HIV virions to assess exposure., Methods: Fifty 18- to 25-year-old sexually active HIV-seronegative women using contraception were enrolled in Soweto, South Africa. Participants self-administered daily vaginal swabs and answered sexual behavior questions through mobile phone for 90 days. Clinician-administered vaginal swabs, behavioral questionnaires, HIV diagnostic testing, and counseling were performed at 8 clinic visits. Glycogen concentrations assessed adherence to swabbing. Y-chromosome DNA (Yc-DNA) assessed the accuracy of reported condom use. HIV exposure was measured by virion polymerase chain reaction in swabs from 41 women who reported unprotected vaginal sex during follow-up., Results: Glycogen was detected in 315/336 (93.8%) participant-collected and in all clinician-collected swabs. Approximately 20/39 daily swabs (51.3%) linked to mobile reports of unprotected sex tested positive for Yc-DNA, whereas 10/187 swabs collected after 3 days of abstinence or protected sex (5.3%) had detectable Yc-DNA. No participant became HIV infected during the study; yet, exposure to HIV was detected by nucleic acids in 2 vaginal swabs from 1 participant, collected less than 1 hour after coitus., Conclusion: There was high adherence to daily vaginal swabbing. Daily mobile surveys had accurate reporting of unprotected sex. Detection of HIV in self-collected vaginal swabs from an uninfected participant demonstrated it was possible to measure HIV exposure, but the detection rate was lower than expected.