"We are concerned, given that the population we serve is largely from Mexico, that unwarranted fear of Mexican migrants in many communities will result in their being targeted or marginalized," said Edward Zuroweste, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Migrant Clinicians Network. "We wanted to reiterate that unless the migrant traveled to Mexico within the recent past, their risk of transmitting swine flu is minimal and they are at equal risk to the standing population for contracting the disease."

The announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the elevation of the pandemic alert level to Phase 4 is a step taken in order to mobilize resources rather than to indicate a direct corollary to individual risk. As noted in an April 26th press conference the United States declared a public health emergency, which "allows us to free up federal, state and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation," Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said. Flu cases in the United States so far have been mild.

The CDC is the main source of all information on the swine flu. Clinicians are reminded that reasonable risk assessment should be employed for individuals presenting with symptoms and sound infection control strategies must remain in place. To keep up to date visit the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm.

The Migrant Clinicians Network wants to reiterate the importance of caring for all of our patients regardless of the country of origin and encourage all clinicians to maintain our commitment to this vulnerable population.

Elseveir Press has just issued Tuberculosis - A Comprehensive Clinical Reference which contains a chapter entitled "TB and Migration" authored by MCN staff members,  Deliana Garcia, MA and Edward Zuroweste, MD.  To order a copy of this timely reference go to Elsevier Press. 

In response to continued requests from migrant health centers, Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) has modified its Health Network to accept all patients who are either suspected of, or have the diagnosis of, H1N1 influenza, and might possibly be moving.

To enroll patients in Health Network, simply have patients fill out and return to Health Network a signed consent form and registration form found here. You may also contact us at (800) 825-8205, and our Health Network associates will be happy to enroll any of your patients in this process, as well as answer any questions you might have. 

MCN is thrilled to welcome three new board members who bring with them a wealth of experience, talent, and dedication to the underserved. Anne Atkinson Hyre is the Director, Global Outreach for the American College of Nurse Midwives; Rosemary Sokas is the Director of the Office of Occupational Medicine for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Kristine McVea is the Medical Director of OneWorld Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Find out more.

The 19th Annual Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum, produced by the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc. is an annual conference that provides quality, migrant farmworker specific, professional development experiences for individuals in all disciplines within migrant health. The forum offers a diverse program featuring sessions on clinical topics, lay health/outreach, research, and leadership development while at the same time addressing the Bureau of Primary Health Care’s Key Health Center Program Requirements. [Event Postcard]

Learn from the experts in the field, hear about cutting edge research and exceptional best practices, discover the latest public health products and services, and share your public health experience with your peers. The world of public health is in continual motion, and there is no better time to stay abreast of the research and learn about emerging issues.

The only national conference designed exclusively for Health Center dental providers.

To enable physicians and other healthcare providers to provide state-of-the-art care to HIV infected patients throughout their life span.

The 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference-Healthy People in a Healthy Environment seeks to promote the nation's environmental health capacity by enhancing the expertise of environmental health professionals-including public health and healthcare professionals, academic researchers, representatives from communities and organizations, as well as advocacy and business groups with a primary interest in environmental public health.

The conference aims to develop and encourage innovative strategies for addressing existing and emerging issues in addition to being a forum for CDC/ATSDR and its many partners to share research, scientific, and program information focusing on environmental public health priorities.

Regional primary care conference held in conjunction with Community Health Association of Mountain & Plains States. Includes Region VIII: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY & Region X: AK, ID, OR, WA.

The East Coast Migrant Stream Forum is an annual event that brings together professional whose focus is increasing access to health care services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families along the east coast. This three-day conference offers educational workshops through five major discplines: Clinical, Outreach/Lay Health Promotion, Policy/Advocacy, Programmatic/Administrative, and Research.

The National Association of Community Health Centers' (NACHC) Community Health Institute (CHI) and Expo is the largest annual gathering of community health center managers, clinicians, employees, board members and leaders. Every aspect of the community health center movement is represented and fully-vested at the CHI, making it a significant networking opportunity.