Breaking News Archives
- each day's breaking news from December 1, 2003
(check here for breaking news you might have missed and breaking news that
didn't ever hit the "front page")
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All the News - a running tab of
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►March
2, 2004 -
National Briefing: Science and Health - The Lethal Effects of Anger
(requires registration or subscription) - AP via The New York Times
►March 2, 2004 -
UK autism research 'is lacking' - UK research into the
causes and treatment of autism is seriously behind that of other countries, a
report says. - BBC News - "It
says the row over a possible link with the MMR jab has over-shadowed the fact
that little is known about the behavioural disorder...And it calls for wider
research into all aspects of the condition."
►March 4, 2004 -
Drug to treat hepatitis B proves useful in blocking anthrax toxin - The
University of Chicago Chronicle - "'These toxins pack a one-two punch that makes
inhalational anthrax extremely harmful,' said Tang, Associate Professor in the
Ben May Institute for Cancer Research at the University. 'For the first time, we
have a clinically approved drug that, at least in tissue culture, completely
eradicates half of that toxic team, and does it at non-toxic doses.'"
Comment:
That is good news. In my opinion, it is far better to develop drugs to
treat those exposed to anthrax, rather than expose everyone to the known and
unknown risks of anthrax vaccination, whether they need it or not.
►March 5, 2004 -
Scientist says no study yet proving GMO safety -
www.sunstar.com.ph - "Traavik,
who is based at the University of Tromso in Norway, admitted that there are not
enough studies on the safety of GMOs, even from independent scientists, as the
studies entail huge costs...He said the United States-based Monsanto Company,
producer of the Bt corn, have presented supposed findings on the safety of their
products, but he pointed out that the findings were 'not scientifically
substantiated'...'If you look at their (study) design, they were more on the
productional elements. There were no studies on what happened to the bodies of
the scientists exposed to them,' he said."
►March 2004 - Effect
of Zinc Salts on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Replication - journal article
(Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy) -
"The resultsof this study suggest that zinc mediates
antiviral activityon RSV by altering the ability of the cell to
support RSV replication."
►March 2004 -
Decrease of Invasive Pneumococcal Infections in Children Among 8 Children's
Hospitals in the United States After the Introduction of the 7-Valent
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine - journal article
(Pediatrics) - "Conclusions. Since the
introduction of the PCV7, the numberof invasive pneumococcal
infections caused by vaccine-serogroupisolates among 8 US children’s
hospitals has decreased>75% among children
24 months old. In addition, penicillinresistance decreased in 2002 for the first time since our surveillancebegan in 1993–1994. However, we have noted that replacementmay
be developing with serogroups 15 and 33. Furthermore, penicillin
resistance seems to be increasing among nonvaccine serogroups.
Surveillance must be continued to detect the emergence of changesin
the distribution of serotypes as well as antibiotic susceptibility."
►March 2004 -
Chickenpox Outbreak in a Highly Vaccinated School Population - journal
article (Pediatrics) - "Conclusions. A
chickenpox outbreak occurred in a school in which97% of students
without a prior history of chickenpox were vaccinated.Students
vaccinated >5 years before the outbreak were atrisk for breakthrough
disease. Booster vaccination may deserveadditional consideration."
►March 3, 2004 -
Alternative therapists to face new controls in government crackdown - The
Independent, UK - "Rogue practitioners of alternative medicine who try to
exploit patients will be driven out of business under plans announced by the
Government yesterday...One in five people uses alternative medicine regularly,
and there are more therapists than orthodox doctors but no control on standards
of training, ministers said."
►March 4, 2004 -
Criticism, skepticism surround anthrax vaccine - BioPort defends product
despite lawsuits, studies - The State News - "BioPort
Corp. executives are the first to admit that a cloud of doubt seems to linger
above their anthrax vaccine...Critics relentlessly question if the Lansing-based
company's product would be effective against a bioterrorist attack. Others
contend the immunization is harmful to those who receive it...Company
executives, however, maintain that scientific fact and a series of medical
studies vouch for the safety and effectiveness of the nation's only federally
licensed anthrax vaccine."
►March 3, 2004 -
Anti-depressants 'cause bleeding' - Elderly people and those with a history
of bleeding disorders have been warned of the risk of taking certain types of
anti-depressants. - BBC
►March 2004 -
Stopping
HRT - If Your Grandma Survived Without It, So Can You -
by RFD Columnist Lise Cloutier-Steele - www.redflagsdaily.com
►March 3, 2004 -
Parents of Kentuckiana boy say he's part of rising incidence of autism -
www.whas11.com - "Evan
Riggle's autism is a puzzle – a puzzle his parents say is being pieced together
by doctors, therapists, prayer warriors and family. His sister and brother help
with his speech...'He hasn't even spoken a word, but he has the potential to
change more lives than we ever could,' Evan’s father David says...Emlyn says
Evan's system couldn't handle a mercury preservative in vaccines called
thimerosal. She says once those vaccines had worn down Evan’s immune system, his
one-year measles, mumps and rubella or MMR shot was a knockout punch."
►March 3, 2004 -
Justice Seeks Dismissal of Anthrax Lawsuit (requires registration) - AP via
The Kansas City Star - "The Justice
Department wants a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by six members of
the military who are challenging the Pentagon's use of a vaccination against
anthrax...Court papers filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court contend the suit
has no merit because the Food and Drug Administration ruled on Dec. 30 that the
vaccine was safe and effective."
Comment: Never mind the fact that the FDA
miraculously found reason to approve it just days after the judge declared the
vaccine experimental, and put a (what turned out to be) temporary hold on the
military's anthrax shot program.
►March 1, 2004 -
Cancer rates in teens and early 20s rising - More research needed to
understand causes - Teenage Cancer Trust via
www.eurekalert.org - "A new analysis of cancer figures for England[1] shows
that the overall incidence among teenagers and young adults is rising, with the
biggest increase among 20 to 24-year-olds, particularly in lymphoma, melanoma
and germ cell tumours, including testicular germ cell tumours."
Comment: If those who question sunscreen use are
correct, the rise in melanoma could be attributed to
increased exposure to
the sun, (and the "fact" that sunscreen only prevents
burns and not cancer).
►March 4, 2004 -
Doctors and
Patients Start to Curb Use of Antibiotics (requires registration or
subscription) - The New York Times - "The inappropriate use of antibiotics has
led illness-causing microbes to become resistant to such drugs. Antibiotic
resistance is a major public health problem throughout the world and is
particularly common among the bacteria that cause ear and respiratory
infections."
►March 3, 2004 -
Debate Festers Over Autism & MMR - First Coast News - "Bradstreet is also
pro-vaccine, despite the results of his research. 'Responsible vaccine policy is
the mandate. For example, a nasal measles vaccine is being developed that would
be inhaled instead of injected. That's perhaps two years out. Since that's the
way the virus is naturally introduced into the body, I'm in favor of
that.'...'And whatever cases of regression may be attributable to MMR, we
haven't been able to prove enough of them yet for a change in vaccine policy to
be necessary. The weight of the evidence still falls squarely on the benefits of
vaccination. I think eventually we'll have the data to determine who's at risk,
how do we come up with safer vaccines, and how do we make sure all children are
protected.'"
►March 3, 2004 - Health Hype -
What Ever
Happened to the Flu Scare? - ABC News - "The flu is now at levels well below
last season ...Health officials had acknowledged that the vaccine formula this
season did not cover the so-called 'Fujian' strain of virus, but encouraged
vaccinations just the same."
►March 3, 2004 -
Clinic dismisses attack on MMR doctor - News Shopper - "STAFF at an Eltham
clinic offering single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines have dismissed claims
that research linking the MMR vaccine to autism is 'poor science'...However,
staff at the Direct 2000 clinic, in Grove Market Place, Eltham, believe the
revelation is an attempt to influence a judicial review into the withdrawal of
legal aid for families suing vaccine manufacturers."
►March 3, 2004 -
We fight on - Northwich Chronicle via Liverpool Daily Post via
http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk - "A FAMILY who have been fighting
for answers for more than 30 years say they will never give up hope of getting
justice for their daughter...Fred and Pat Pye, of King George Avenue, Northwich,
claim their daughter Debbie was left severely disabled when she was given a DPT
injection, a fore-runner of the MMR vaccine, in the late 1960s...Now the couple
have taken their fight to the next level, writing to Conservative Party leader
Michael Howard in a bid for justice for them and the other 500 families in the
region who have found themselves in the same situation."
►March 3, 2004 -
Anyone
have a tissue? - Carolina Morning News via Lowcountry NOW - "At night, my
romantic husband is very prone to whisper in my ear, between sniffles (snorts),
'Honey, where are the tissues? I think you used the last one and I need
more.'...
Yes, we are just two of the some 30 million Americans who suffer from seasonal
allergies. The most difficult season for allergy sufferers is the spring. Why is
that?"
►March 3, 2004 -
Dad's Work Cuts Into His Role in Kid's Health Care - HealthDay via Yahoo! -
"Fathers who want to be more involved in their children's health care find work
is the biggest barrier to being able to attend their kids' doctor visits, says
new research."
►February 28, 2004 -
Genuine concern or corporate greed? - opinion- Broomfield Enterprise via The
Daily Camera - "Does Senate Bill
139 represent genuine concern or corporate greed? Follow the money...SB 139 will
set forth a statewide database of all Colorado's children. The system will be
used to call parents and coerce them to have their children "fully" vaccinated.
This means the child must have every single recommended vaccine...When I was a
child I only had two immunizations: polio and smallpox. These shots were for
serious diseases that affected large populations. I am truly grateful for
advances in modern medicine that have eradicated deadly diseases. Today, though,
Colorado's children are required to receive 29 vaccinations by the age of 4. The
risk of children contracting some of these diseases is miniscule."
►March 2, 2004 -
Cancer coincidence? - An overwhelmed state office tries to connect disease
clusters to pollution -- but some say the agency is wasting time - The Boston
Globe via www.boston.com
►New report
calls for more research into causes of autism - National Autistic Society,
UK - ""Mapping Autism Research" is the first-ever comprehensive overview of the
UK research field. It outlines a surprising lack of research into the causes of
autism and successful interventions compared with other countries. The review
also concludes that research into how families cope and into autism support
services is extremely scant." ►The Immunization of
Children against Influenza can Protect the Elderly - media release - Leeds,
Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
Breaking News Archives
- each day's breaking news from December 1, 2003
(check here for breaking news you might have missed and breaking news that
didn't ever hit the "front page")
More News -
all the news most recently
posted on this website
All the News - a running tab of
everything posted on this website since October 29, 2003
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information, data, and material contained, presented, or provided here is for
general information purposes only and is not to be construed as reflecting the
knowledge or opinions of the publisher, and is not to be construed or intended
as providing medical or legal advice. The decision whether or not to vaccinate
is an important and complex issue and should be made by you, and you alone, in
consultation with your health care provider.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
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24 months old. In addition, penicillin
resistance decreased in 2002 for the first time since our surveillance
began in 1993–1994. However, we have noted that replacement may
be developing with serogroups 15 and 33. Furthermore, penicillin
resistance seems to be increasing among nonvaccine serogroups.
Surveillance must be continued to detect the emergence of changes in
the distribution of serotypes as well as antibiotic susceptibility."