►February 25, 2004 - Just How Much Water Do We Really Need? The Answer May Depend On Our Age - American Physiological Society via www.intelihealth.com

►February 25, 2004 - Science, policy forum focuses on 'mad cow' and related diseases - Virginia Tech via www.eurekalert.org

►February 25, 2004 - Dynavax Initiates Phase II/III Clinical Trial for Ragweed Allergy Immunotherapy - PRNewswire-FirstCall http://interestalert.com

►February 25, 2004 - Dealing with autism: A sister's perspective - Children's PressLine via The Albuquerque Tribune

►February 25, 2004 - Geogia: Health Officials Rate TB Cases 'Outbreak' - Atlanta Journal-Constitution via www.aegis.org

►February 25, 2004 - Burkina Faso: Government urges traditional healers to help tackle HIV/AIDS - IRIN

►February 25, 2004 - Commercial funds pay for our research - letters to the editor - The Guardian 

►February 25, 2004 - We Still Have MMR Doubts - Gloucestershire Echo 

►February 25, 2004 - State may fund stem cell work - If budget is passed, New Jersey will be first US state to invest in stem cell research - Science Daily 

►February 25, 2004 - Defense Week to Sponsor Conference to Detail Research Agenda And Business Opportunities in Bio-defense - Defense Week via Yahoo! Finance 

►February 25, 2004 - WHO and UNICEF launch rapid response to contain yellow fever emergency in Liberia - WHO 

►February 25, 2004 - Polio vaccine boycott spreads (requires registration) - AP via Charlotte Observer 

►February 25, 2004 - Medication Errors in Children Common - Ivanhoe

►February 25, 2004 - Weston vows to rid its food of trans-fats - The Globe and Mail

►February 25, 2004 - Elderly found ill in districts where young unfit - Los Angeles Daily News

►February 25, 2004 - Meningitis kills teen - Ava Burton was quiet and generous. A unique sense of style and a way with words distinguished the Upper Darby High School junior. - News of Delaware County via www.zwire.com

►February 25, 2004 - Meningitis is likely cause of girl's death - Upper Darby - The recent death of a local 16-year-old Upper Darby High School junior increased the number of deaths in the Philadelphia area attributed to meningococcal bacteria to three so far this year. - News of Delaware County via www.zwire.com

►February 25, 2004 - Inside the immune system - The immune system is composed of billions of white blood cells that move in and out of the immune system organs such as the thymus, lymph nodes, liver and spleen. These disease fighters also travel in the blood system and lymphatic channels to wherever they are needed, for instance to the skin, intestine, lungs or brain. Each cell is very specialized and they all interact with each other in intricate, very rapid patterns to protect us from foreign invaders. - Casa Grande Valley Newspaper via www.zwire.com

►February 25, 2004 - Hearings to hash out mercury pollution rules - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

►February 25, 2004 - Tough Times for Nasal Flu Vaccines - HealthDay via Palm Beach Post

►February 25, 2004 - Houston markets disinfect, kill fowl after bird flu threat - Some chicken sellers have empty coops since strain found in Texas (requires registration) - AP via www.wfaa.com

►February 25, 2004 - U.S. public health chief says emergence of SARS, avian flu the "new normal" - Canadian Press via www.canada.com - "The flurry of exotic infectious diseases that have threatened global health in the past couple of years aren't an aberration - they are the new reality, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Wednesday...The rapid-fire emergence of diseases like SARS, West Nile virus, monkeypox and avian influenza point to a future where new and serious health threats arise on a regular basis from nature, Dr. Julie Gerberding said in an interview from nearby Hamilton, where she was speaking at McMaster University."

►February 26, 2004 - A Statement by the Editors of The Lancet (pdf) - includes statements by Murch, Walker-Smith and Wakefield, as well as Richard Horton, the editor of The Lancet

Comment: " BL Fisher (of NVIC) Note: The extent to which the forced vaccination proponents have gone to smear Andrew Wakefield and the meticulous biological mechanism research he has conducted into MMR-vaccine associated autism is in direct proportion to the fear they have that his hypothesis is correct: MMR vaccine can cause a persistent vaccine strain measles virus infection in genetically vulnerable children that leads to chronic inflammatory bowel disease and autistic behaviors. It is unfortunate they are so frightened of the scientific truth Dr. Wakefield is pursuing that they find it necessary to behave like a band of thugs out to score a hit...For the past 22 years, NVIC co-founder Kathi Williams and I have watched babies die and be horribly crippled by vaccine reactions while officials in industry, public health agencies and medical organizations have refused to support the kind of biological mechanism research that Dr. Wakefield is doing so that parents and doctors can have more information about children at high risk for suffering vaccine reactions and find ways to spare their lives. Parents around the world are not fooled by the ignorant, inhumane behavior of forced vaccinaton proponents, whose zealous defense of one-size-fits-all vaccine policies injure and kill innocent children...The truth will shine bright and clear in the end."

►February 26, 2004 - Dr Wakefield is just the man to research MMR safety - opinion - The Herald, UK - "There is something just a little too neat about the officially-sanctioned vilification of Dr Andrew Wakefield...Now the Lancet, the medical journal which published Wakefield's original, peer-reviewed, research back in 1998, says he was compromised by a conflict of interest because he was receiving legal aid money at the time, for another study of children whose parents wanted to take court action against the manufacturers of the vaccine. No sooner had the Lancet editor voiced his concerns, but Blair, his health secretary, John Reid, and their chief medical officer, Dr Liam Donaldson, lined up to urge all parents to have their children protected, claiming the Wakefield study was "poor science" and even suggesting he be investigated by the General Medical Council. If the GMC applied the same rules to all academics, it could be very busy. The Lancet has printed a great many articles which are potentially compromised. It was one of 13 leading medical journals which, in 2001, accused the pharmaceutical corporations of distorting the results of published research."

►February 26, 2004 - Social workers 'right to question parents' - This is London - "The row over the MMR "witch-hunt" deepened today as social workers defended their right to interview the mothers of autistic children...They insisted some parents could be harming their children to draw attention to themselves, and admitted subjecting one mother to an eight-week investigation before accepting she had done nothing wrong...It came after the Evening Standard revealed up to 20 parents of autistic children faced accusations that they were suffering from Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy."

Comment:  It's hard to believe this could be happening given that Roy Meadows, who has now been discredited, was the champion of this apparently ill-conceived theory.  How much tragedy and suffering must the parents of autistic children endure?  (And any old excuse in an attempt to detract from the real issue, i.e., does MMR contribute to autism?)

►February 26, 2004 - Study Finds Most Health Care Workers Do Not Get Flu Vaccines (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times - "Only 36 percent of health workers receive influenza vaccinations each year, despite a longstanding federal recommendation that such workers be immunized for their own protection and to prevent the spread of the disease, a leading health organization said here Wednesday."

►February 25, 2004 - MMR medics challenged over child spinal taps (requires subscription) - The Times Online, UK

►February 26, 2004 - Whooping cough cases rise - AAP via Herald Sun

►February 25, 2004 - Testing for avian influenza (requires registration) - KRT via The Philadelphia Inquirer via The Kansas City Star

►February 2004 - Possible link to autism and childhood vaccines - Torrington Telegram

►February 25, 2004 - Bill killed to stop use of mercury-based fillings in children's teeth - AP via www.tuscaloosanews.com

►February 25, 2004 - EPA hears complaints about mercury emissions proposal - AP via Newsday

►February 25, 2004 - Valley fever test may yield a vaccine - Research on mice raises optimism for possible human trial. - The Fresno Bee

►February 26, 2004 - Kenya targeted for multiple Aids vaccine trials - Horizon via www.nationaudio.com

►February 25, 2004 - Texas nonprofit corporation launches vaccine information service - Infectious Diseases Society of America via www.eurekalert.org

►February 25, 2004 - Resisting child immunization leads to prosecution - Prof - GNA via www.ghanaweb.com - "Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Services (GHS) on Wednesday said every child must be immunized against Polio in the forthcoming immunization exercise, warning that legal action would be taken against any individual or organisation that would prevent a child from being immunized...He said it was within the laws of Ghana that all children under five years old in each house or community should be immunized against polio to guarantee that Ghana became polio free."

►February 25, 2004 - Study: U.S. Health Care Workers Lag in Flu Vaccines - Reuters

►February 25, 2004 - Health official: Child's death not from meningitis - www.theworldlink.com

►February 26, 2004 - Confirmation Of A New Polio Case In Côte D'ivoire - press release - UNICEF via Scoop Media

►February 25, 2004 - WHO Sees Answers Soon to Key Bird Flu Questions - Reuters via Yahoo!

►February 25, 2004 - Bird Flu Spread Among Humans Would Be Deadly - Human Cases Mount, but Still No Giant Leap to Mankind - www.webmd.com

►February 25, 2004 - FAO calls for continued efforts to curb bird flu in Asia - Xinhuanet via China View

►February 25, 2004 - Leading Health and Labor Organizations Call For Improved Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Health Care Workers - National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Joins Supporters to Issue Call to Action for Institutions to Increase Dismally Low Immunization Rates Among Health Care Workers - press release - National Foundation for Infectious Diseases via PRNewswire via Yahoo!

►February 25, 2004 - Maine leaders to decry mercury proposal - Portland Press Herald

►February 25, 2004 - Illinois officials have doubts about federal mercury emissions plan - AP via ABC7Chicago.com

►February 25, 2004 - Fishing groups find common ground on mercury pollution - The Journal Times

►February 25, 2004 - Poker ride to benefit autism planned - The Lafayette Daily Advertiser via www.acadiananow.com

►February 25, 2004 - Vaccine testing short of subjects - Most volunteers already have form of herpes - The Cincinnati Enquirer

►February 25, 2004 - City Doctor Backs Man at Centre of MMR Row - The Bath Chronicle

►February 25, 2004 - What is the uptake rate for MMR in Lincolnshire? - Lincolnshire Echo

►February 25, 2004 - New info campaign on MMR needed immediately - Labour - The Irish Politics Network via www.politics.ie

►February 25, 2004 - Indian Experts Urge Political Parties to Make Health a Fundamental Right - One World South Asia via  www.oneworld.net

►February 25, 2004 - Moffitt Center unlocks mystery protein in tumors - A study done by the center has provided a breakthrough in the research of detecting tumor cells in the body - University of South Florida Oracle

►February 25, 2004 - IDEXX test for mad cow disease takes next step - Portland Press Herald

►February 26, 2004 - Avian Influenza: Case of bird-flu vaccine found at Don Muang - Customs officials think owner may have dumped it because of tight security measures - The Nation

►February 25, 2004 - American poultry farmers feel the pinch as more countries ban U.S. imports - AP via CBC News

►February 25, 2004 - Bird flu epidemic brought under control - Voice of Vietnam

►February 25, 2004 - Researchers to gauge bird flu's lethal potential - AP via The Seattle Times

►February 25, 2004 - 100m birds culled over flu - AAP via The Australian

►February 25, 2004 - Isolation of four bird flu-hit areas lifted - Xinhuanet via China View

►February 25, 2004 - Additional nine people suspected of contracting viral pneumonia - Vietnam News Agency

►February 25, 2004 - Exclusion Day Arrives For Multnomah County Students - No Shots, No School - www.koin.com

►February 25, 2004 - Emergency Yellow Fever Vaccinations Begin Thursday in Liberia - Voice of America

►February 25, 2004 - UN Eyes Nigeria Boycott in Ivory Coast Polio Case - Reuters

►February 25, 2004 - Fulani community backs FG’s anti-polio campaign - Daily Times of Nigeria

►February 25, 2004 - 10 Nations Take Part in Anti-Polio Drive - AP via Yahoo!

►February 25, 2004 - UN Warns Nigeria on Islamic Leaders' Polio Boycott - Reuters via Yahoo!

►February 25, 2004 - FDA Grants CLIA-Waived Status to Quidel's QuickVue Influenza A+B Test - Quidel Corporation via Business Wire

►February 25, 2004 - New Report into Meningitis Diagnosis - www.itv.com

►February 25, 2004 - Leerhsen Takes on Autism - Zap2it.com Movie News

►February 25, 2004 - Charles Lafitte Foundation Makes Donations in Support of Education and Quality Of Life for Children - press release - The Charles Lafitte Foundation via PRNewswire via Yahoo!

►February 25, 2004 - Pakistan: Newborns face uphill battle to earn life - IRIN via www.irinnews.org

►February 25, 2004 - Central African Republic: MSF Investigates Meningitis Outbreak in Northwest - IRIN via www.allafrica.com

►February 25, 2004 - Increased Incidence of Infection, Cardiovascular Disease, and Malignancy in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases - Current Opinion in Rheumatology via Doctor's Guide

►February 22, 2004 - China capable of detecting bird flu in human beings - Xinhuanet via China View

►February 22, 2004 - China still wary after lifting first bird flu-infected site's quarantine - Xinhuanet via China View

►February 21, 2004 - Bird flu virus kills cats, Thailand says - Captive tiger infected with deadly disease - AP via www.etaiwannews.com

►February 22, 2004 - Nigeria boycotting polio immunizations, calls shots 'U.S. plot to kill off Muslims' - AP via News 24 Houston

►February 22, 2004 - Islamic Nigerian state affirms immunization boycott as polio outbreak spreads - AP via The Houston Chronicle

►February 22, 2004 - Nigerian state shuns polio drive - The northern Nigerian state of Kano will not take part in a massive polio immunisation drive, due to start in 10 West African states on Monday. - BBC

►February 22, 2004 - UNICEF to Vaccinate 1.4 Million Children in Liberia for Measles - Voice of America

►February 22, 2004 - Over 25 million kids immunised against polio - PTI via The Hindu

►February 22, 2004 - Millions of kids given polio drops - ANI via www.webindia123.com

►February 22, 2004 - Kids feel the pulse of polio campaign - www.newstodaynet.com

►February 22, 2004 - Journal Editor Apologizes for Autism-Vaccination Article - ScoutNews, LLC via www.healthcentral.com

►February 22, 2004 - Lancet Pans Scientist's Dual Role - The Washington Post via Newsday

►February 22, 2004 - Timeline of spread of avian flu at farm - The Vancouver Province via www.canada.com

►February 22, 2004 - Report: Anthrax shot sickened troops (requires registration) - The Chicago Tribune

►February 23, 2004 - Children at risk as vaccine runs short - The Courier-Mail

►February 22, 2004 - In Oregon: New flu-like virus strikes in Medford - Statesman Journal

►February 22, 2004 - Thailand cleans up new bird flu outbreaks, China lifts quarantine - AFP via www.channelnewsasia.com

►February 22, 2004 - Singaporeans shun eggs due to bird flu scare - CNA via www.channelnewsasia.com

►February 22, 2004 - Lohman named exclusive source of Megan Egg vaccine - The Gainesville Times

►February 22, 2004 - Nasal Flu Vaccine At County Clinics - The Ledger

►February 22, 2004 - Polk's Raccoons to Get Rabies Vaccine - Bait containing medicine to be dispensed in area by air and land. - The Ledger

►February 22, 2004 - Teachers explore both sides of mission history - Sacramento Bee via www.contracostatimes.com

►February 22, 2004 - Australian defense chiefs lashed for not telling of anthrax vaccine ailments - AFP via  www.channelnewsasia.com

►February 22, 2004 - India News: Delhi launches polio drive - yet again - Kerala News via www.keralanext.com

►February 22, 2004 - Hull leads cancer fight - The Sun Herald

►February 22, 2004 - Neighborhood at Risk - Toxic air raises unhealthy odds - Lung cancer death rate in industrial hub far exceeds Marion County's as a whole. - Indianapolis Star via www.indystar.com

►February 22, 2004 - Flu fighters mix science, soothsaying - Decisions made now will affect next vaccine (requires registration) - The Kansas City Star

►February 22, 2004 - New DNA-based test speeds diagnosis of avian influenza - In a matter of hours, it can determine both the presence and strain of the disease. - Philadelphia Inquirer via www.philly.com

►February 21, 2004 - Anthrax vaccine serious side-effects kept from soldiers who were vaccinated - Medical News Today

►February 22, 2004 - Bird flu in China comes under gradual control: official - Xinhuanet via China View

►February 22, 2004 - Asia urged to step up bird flu fight - One News via www.nzoom.com

►February 22, 2004 - Chinese bird flu town comes out of isolation - Reuters AlertNet

►February 22, 2004 - Bird flu found in Gonzales County - Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

►February 21, 2004 - Eastern US Poultry Industry Worries About Avian Influenza Outbreak - Voice of America

►February 22, 2004 - Chronic wasting disease is 'the big question' - The Oregonian via www.oregonlive.com

►February 21, 2004 - Wildlife center operators protest DNR order to kill, test rehabilitated deer - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via  www.jsonline.com