* ►December 21, 2006 - The mercury and autism link - There has been a medical controversy brewing for quite some time regarding the cause of autism. Many people believe that what they refer to as an autism epidemic, is due to vaccines that children had received when they were babies. - East Meadow Herald - "New York Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize nominee David Kirby has written a book, 'Evidence of Harm,' which addresses the autism-mercury link. He came to East Meadow High School to discuss his book."
 
* ►December 21, 2006 - Require HPV vaccine for students - editorial - Detroit Free Press

* ►December 21, 2006 - Santa delivers flu vaccines to high-risk young patients at NUH - Channel News Asia - "Santa is in town to help keep the flu bug away this Christmas. He and his helpers dropped by Ward 45 at the National University Hospital (NUH) on Thursday to deliver a batch of influenza vaccine, donated by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Dr Teoh Yee Leong, director of clinical research, development and medical affairs in GSK, donated the vaccines to NUH as a gesture of good will."

►December 21, 2006 - Are you on Medicare? Get your flu vaccine for free - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

►December 21, 2006 - Planning Is Medicine For Success At Harwich Flu Clinic - Cape Cod Chronicle

* ►December 21, 2006 - Experts: It is still too early to stockpile an H5N1 vaccine - Bangkok Post

* ►December 21, 2006 - H5N1 virus found in Viet Nam's poultry - China Daily via People's Daily Online

* ►December 21, 2006 - New outbreak of bird flu hits duck farm in South Korea - AP via International Herald Tribune

* ►December 21, 2006 - IRAQ: Salwa Muhammad, Iraq “This will be the last polio campaign of my life” - IRIN News

* ►December 21, 2006 - Outbreak raises question about LA hospital's cleaning policy (requires registration or subscription) - AP via San Jose Mercury News - "White Memorial closed off its neonatal intensive care unit Dec. 4 following the outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that sickened five infants. Officials believe the subsequent deaths of two of the babies may be linked to the pathogen, which is a common but potentially deadly bacterium, particularly to people with weak immune systems."

►December 21, 2006 - 43 children catch chickenpox in east China - Xinhua via People's Daily Online - "The department has also begun vaccinating all students in the school, the official said."

►December 21, 2006 - EVH-1 Vaccination Essential - Management at Pompano Park Harness Track in cooperation with the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association has announced to all horsemen stabled on the grounds of the racetrack and to everyone planning on shipping horses to the racetrack, that they must have proof of a Equine Herpes Virus (EVH-1) vaccination for each horse within the past 60 days starting January 3, 2007. - Harness Racing Portal

►December 21, 2006 - VaxGen loses vaccine contract - Its failure to meet an anthrax trial deadline costs it an $878-million pact, but its shares rise. (requires registration or subscription) - Bloomberg News via Los Angeles Times

►December 21, 2006 - Struggling with autism care - Report: Ky. resources inadequate; families pay price - The Courier-Journal

* ►December 21, 2006 - Scientists Link Weight to Gut Bacteria - Weight may be linked to bacteria in your gut, say scientists who foresee new treatments - AP via CBS News - "According to two studies being published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, both obese mice and people had more of one type of bacteria and less of another kind."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Court Orders Lawyer to Return Documents About an Eli Lilly Drug (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times - "A federal court in Brooklyn overseeing product liability lawsuits against Eli Lilly’s best-selling drug Zyprexa has ordered the lawyer who provided company documents to The New York Times and other organizations and individuals to return the documents. The internal Eli Lilly documents and e-mail messages detailed efforts by the drug maker to play down the health risks of Zyprexa, a medication to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as to encourage primary care physicians to use it in patients who did not have the disorder."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Are Your Painkillers Actually Killing You? - FDA Proposal Aims to Strengthen Warning Labels for Common Over-the-Counter Medicines - ABC News - "Considering the familiarity of these medicines, many consumers assume they are safe. However, the FDA estimates that 200,000 Americans are hospitalized every year because of overdoses and side effects of normal doses of these drugs, and they are the cause of thousands of deaths per year."

* ►December 20, 2006 - FDA: Pain pills can kill - Agency warns that common drugs Tylenol, Advil, aspirin can result in stomach ailments and even death - Chicago Sun-Times - "'I've been waiting for this for four years,' said Kate Trunk of Ft. Myers, Fla. Trunk's 23-year-old son, Marcus, died of acetaminophen poisoning. After spraining his wrist, Marcus took acetaminophen with codeine, as prescribed by his doctor. He then developed flu-like symptoms, dark urine and severe aches. He was admitted to the hospital, where he received more acetaminophen. Marcus was put on a liver transplant waiting list, but died before an organ became available."

* ►December 20, 2006 - The FDA's Painkiller Warning: How to Avoid Taking Too Much - An overdose of Tylenol can damage the liver. The problem is, we're often taking it when we don't even realize it - TIME Magazine

* ►December 20, 2006 - How Environmental Pollutants Are Causing Reproductive Problems - Across the U.S., female animals exposed to toxic chemicals are suffering from a flurry of health problems, from shrunken ovaries to spontaneous abortions. What does this mean for female humans? - AlterNet

* ►December 20, 2006 - Brandon woman charged in distributing flu shots - AP via Biloxi Sun Herald - "DeAnna Dominski, 33, of Brandon, was arrested on three counts of felony false pretense for allegedly distributing flu shots to schools, churches and businesses, authorities said."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Woman says she's innocent of faking credentials to give flu shots - Jackson Clarion-Ledger

* ►December 20, 2006 - MedImmune Licenses Reverse Genetics Technology to CSL for Use in Influenza Vaccine Production - press release - MedImmune, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►December 20, 2006 - Experts Urge Nations To Report Flu Cases Immediately, Share Data - Flu meeting delegates also call for increased veterinary, human health services - Washington File via http://usinfo.state.gov

* ►December 20, 2006 - School-based Vaccination Study with FluMist® Lowers Rates of Flu Among School, Community and Families - Households with Children in Vaccine-Program Schools Report Fewer Doctor's Office Visits, Less Absenteeism from School and Work - press release - MedImmune, Inc. via PRWeb - "The study of 28 schools in four states was led by researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and supported by a grant from MedImmune, Inc."

►December 20, 2006 - No shortage of flu vaccine this year (includes video) - www.kswo.com

►December 20, 2006 - U.S. Has Made Progress in Flu Pandemic Preparedness Efforts, Officials Say - www.kaisernetwork.org

►December 20, 2006 - Flu shots still available - Saanich News - "'It’s certainly worth getting the vaccine anytime through to January, February and even into March,' Gilbert said."

►December 20, 2006 - Arizona has plan for flu pandemic; gaps remain - Casa Grande Valley Newspapers

►December 20, 2006 - Fresh Bird Flu Concerns in Nigeria - Experts say a fresh outbreak of avian influenza in Nigeria is more widespread than thought.  As Gilbert da Costa reports from Abuja, this has provoked fears of long-term risks. - Voice of America

►December 20, 2006 - Don't risk health - get flu jab - This is Cheshire, UK

►December 20, 2006 - Flu shots still available - for a price (includes video) - www.kristv.com

►December 20, 2006 - Vulnerable urged to get their flu jab now - The Scotsman

►December 20, 2006 - Not too late for a flu jab - York Press, UK

►December 20, 2006 - Children on Medicaid to get faster flu treatment - The change in state policy comes after pressure from the Florida Pediatric Society - Naples Daily News

* ►December 20, 2006 - Ten dead in nursing home flu outbreak - The final number of deaths following a flu outbreak at a Canberra nursing home has been finalised at 10. - www.news.com.au - "The final number of infections at Jindalee since October 11 this year total 77 cases - 55 residents and 22 staff. Of these cases, 20 have been laboratory confirmed as being influenza positive."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Cincinnati Children's Researchers Publish Positive Findings from Clinical Study of Investigational Treatment for Debilitating Allergic Disorder - First study indicating the potential to reverse the effects of eosinophilic esophagitis published in Journal of Allergy and Immunology - press release - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center via PRNewswire via Yahoo! - "Allergic disorders are a major public health problem, affecting 50 million people in the United States. Nine million children under 18 have been diagnosed with asthma, and asthma rates in children under the age of five increased more than 160 percent from 1980-1994."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Funding for autism battle could come in '07 - www.northjersey.com - "President Bush on Tuesday signed into law the Combating Autism Act, authorizing a $1 billion effort to wipe out a devastating neurological condition. The law calls for screening every child in America, $643 million for research, tens of millions of dollars more for public education and the presentation of an annual report to Congress."

►December 20, 2006 - Nation's Leading Provider of Special and Alternative Educational Programs Praises House and Senate Passage of Combating Autism Act - Educational Services of America via PRNewswire via www.earthtimes.org

►December 20, 2006 - DOE Might Slash Autism Program - www.khnl.com

►December 20, 2006 - Farmer: Cloned cows might become burgers - St. Petersburg Times

* ►December 20, 2006 - What demise of anthrax vaccine contract means for VaxGen, US (requires registration or subscription) - San Jose Mercury News

►December 20, 2006 - Bono plays part in securing autism, AIDS research funding - The Desert Sun - "Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, sponsored the House versions of those bills."

* ►December 20, 2006 - President Bush Signs Health Bills To Reauthorize Ryan White CARE Act, Fund Autism Research, Facilitate Emergency Preparedness - www.kaisernetwork.org

* ►December 20, 2006 - New law may benefit NC's Research Triangle - Private firms, schools could see tax money to develop biodefenses - (Raleigh) News & Observer via Charlotte Observer - "The bill was shepherded through Congress by Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican from Winston-Salem, who spent two years trying to shape a program acceptable to both biotech companies and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt. 'I think this may be one of the most significant things I do while I'm in Washington,' Burr said. The law creates the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, known as BARDA. Its director would dole out funds for advanced research on a host of vaccines and countermeasures."

►December 20, 2006 - Emergent BioSolutions Applauds Passage and Signing of BARDA Legislation - Genetic Engineering News

►December 20, 2006 - Center offers treatment, education, hope to families coping with autism - The Seattle Times

* ►December 20, 2006 - Uganda: Cervical Cancer Meet Calls for Vaccine Access - New Vision (Kampala) via http://allafrica.com - "The conference, titled 'Stop Cervical Cancer: Accelerating Global Access to HPV Vaccines,' is the first international forum to address issues that will speed global access to HPV vaccines, including funding, delivery and political challenges."

►December 20, 2006 - New HPV vaccine hits the shelves - Taipei Times

►December 20, 2006 - Likelihood of HPV Vaccination Affected by How Information Is Presented, Penn Study Reveals - University of Pennsylvania

►December 20, 2006 - Immunisation Grants: EU to Delist Abia - ThisDay - "The EU-PRIME country coordinator pointed out that the state has only recorded a mere 45% coverage till date despite marked improvement recorded in other benefiting states, adding that such a situation leaves much to be desired."

►December 20, 2006 - FG spends N3.5bn on immunization in 2006 - The Tide

►December 20, 2006 - Too few toddlers get MMR jab - Evening Times, UK

* ►December 20, 2006 - MMR Fears Still Gripping - Some Scots parents are still reluctant for their kids to get the MMR vaccine. - Daily Record, UK

* ►December 20, 2006 - NFL Superstar Deion Branch Partners With Meningitis Foundation of America to Raise Awareness About Importance of Vaccines - The Meningitis Foundation of America via PRNewswire
 
* ►December 20, 2006 - Not enough kids have their shots: province - CBC Manitoba - "Dr. Greg Hammond said that ideally, 90 to 95 per cent of children should be getting their vaccines. However, Manitoba children are at about 10 to 15 per cent below that mark, depending on the disease."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Four Connecticut Schools Affected By Chickenpox - www.nbc30.com - "The state Department of Public Health has been notified and local pediatricians are providing booster shots to prevent the onset of new infections."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Chickenpox hits 26 in Monroe schools - Connecticut Post - "Most children are vaccinated against chickenpox, the nurses said, but 20 percent of the inoculations fail."

►December 20, 2006 - There has been an increase of chicken pox both nationally and locally - http://wjbdradio.com

* ►December 20, 2006 - Angola: Anonymous disease kills seven - SomaliNet News - "Angola’s Health Minister, Sebastiao Velaso, said that, 'there have been 15 cases, including seven deaths. All have been affected by the contagious illness which was first recorded 30 days ago in Uige.'"

►December 20, 2006 - 64 college students diagnosed of hepatitis A in Jiangxi - Xinhuanet via CCTV International

►December 20, 2006 - Equine Virus Spreads From South To Central Florida - www.news4jax.com

►December 20, 2006 - East Africa: UN Musters Partners to Fight Health Risks Threatening Millions in Floods - UN News Service (New York) via http://allafrica.com

►December 20, 2006 - Dengue, Chikungunya, Polio dominate health scene in 2006 - PTI via The Hindu

►December 20, 2006 - Polio programme successful: CDCP chief - Emergence of cases neither alarming nor surprising - The Hindu

►December 20, 2006 - Sultan supports polio eradication - The Tide

►December 20, 2006 - Polio scare in Assam again - WHO confirms second case in state - Calcutta Telegraph

►December 20, 2006 - New Drugs Declining, Research Costs Increasing, GAO Says (requires registration) - Washington Post

* ►December 20, 2006 - Pipeline Insight: Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines - A turbulent path from bench to bedside - Pharmaceutical Business Review

►December 20, 2006 - Biopure Announces Next Steps for Navy's Proposed 'Resus' Trauma Trial of Hemopure(R) - Previously Proposed 1100-Patient Phase IIb/III Trial to be Adapted as Smaller, Phase II Trial - press release - Biopure Corporation via PRNewswire-FirstCall

►December 20, 2006 - Treating the symptoms - commentary - WorldNetDaily - "The next great globalist scam to steal your money and make you feel good about it has to do with fighting malaria in Africa."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Researchers optimistic on valley fever (requires registration or subscription) - AP via San Jose Mercury News - "President Bush is expected Wednesday to sign a tax and health care package approved by Congress earlier this month that includes a measure authorizing a $40 million research program aimed at developing a vaccine for valley fever."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Libya Sentences 6 to Die in H.I.V. Case (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times

* ►December 20, 2006 - Drugmakers to receive tax dollars to boost fight against bioterrorism - McClatchy Newspapers via Columbus Dispatch

►December 20, 2006 - SIGA wins US orphan-drug status on smallpox drug - Reuters

►December 20, 2006 - FDA OK's Newborn 'Cooling Cap' - AP via Forbes

►December 20, 2006 - Quality not quantity important for immune response to HIV - The Hindu

►December 19, 2006 - Flu Shot Supplies Plentiful This Year - Medical Officials Urge People To Still Get Vaccinated - www.thehawaiichannel.com

* ►December 19, 2006 - Nutrients may help older people fight flu - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society via Reuters, UK

* ►December 19, 2006 - Many Autistic Kids, Few Schools To Help - Boston School Offers One-On-One Therapy, But Most Public Schools Lack Resources - CBS News

* ►December 19, 2006 - ASA Applauds President Bush's Signing of Combating Autism Act - Landmark Bill Provides Nearly $1 Billion for Autism Research and Education - press release - The Autism Society of America via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►December 19, 2006 - Muslim clerics to join hands against polio - IANS via Telugu Portal

►December 19, 2006 - 2006 and Global Polio Eradication - Daily Trust (Abuja) via http://allafrica.com

►December 19, 2006 - Sick FSU student still in intensive care - Unnamed student was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis last week - Tallahassee Democrat

►December 19, 2006 - School Vaccination Deadline Fast Approaching - NBC 25

►December 19, 2006 - Painful shingles now be prevented with vaccine - Practical Prevention - HeraldNet

►December 19, 2006 - Lurking on the Horizon: Experts predict the bird flu to be the next global pandemic - Asian American Press

►December 19, 2006 - HMSA has Vials of Unused Flu Vaccine - http://kgmb9.com

►December 19, 2006 - Los Angeles Times Examines Potential Conflict of Interest After FDA Official Granted Contracts to Husband's Firm - www.kaisernetwork.org

►December 19, 2006 - Illness of 77 cruise ship passengers is confirmed - The precise nature and cause have not yet been determined - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

* ►December 19, 2006 - A mercury story, with woodchucks The words "mercury poisoning" resonated through the hatting industry back in the days when Danbury crowned them all. - letter - Danbury News Times - "Hatters were directly exposed and contaminated by the vats of a mercury mixture. Insidiously, their neurological system commenced to suffer. They could no longer work because they developed what came to be known as 'Hatters' Shake.' The expression 'Mad as a Hatter' was one description for the debilitating condition."

* ►December 19, 2006 - Bush developing illegal bioterror weapons for offensive use, book says - In violation of the US Code and international law, the Bush administration is illegally developing offensive germ warfare capabilities on an unprecedented scale. In fact, it is spending more on such weapons (in inflation-adjusted dollars) than the $2 billion spent on the "Manhattan Project" that made the atomic bomb in World War II. - Middle East Times

* ►December 18, 2006 - Many of the 'ADD generation' say no to meds - Newly minted grown-ups are carrying out a massive natural experiment by choosing to do without the drugs that profoundly affected their experience of childhood. (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times

* ►December 18, 2006 - In their own words (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times - "The nearly 2 million children first diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder in the 1990s are reaching adulthood now. Their opinions about ADD and the medication of children reflect the nation's deep ambivalence on the subject, and their own medication decisions range widely. Here, four young adults share their thoughts."

►December 18, 2006 - Pandemic preparations vary widely by state - AP via CNN

* ►Winter 2006 - Questions on the Independence and Reliability of Cochrane Reviews, with a Focus on Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine (pdf) - journal article (Journal of the American Physicians and Surgeons)

* ►December 20, 2006 - US Cancels Order for 75 Million Doses of Anthrax Vaccine (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times- "VaxGen, which has no other major customers and has never made a successful vaccine or drug, was supposed to deliver enough vaccine to inoculate 25 million Americans after an anthrax attack, each with three doses. Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services terminated the $877 million contract Tuesday after VaxGen failed to start required clinical trials, a delay caused by troubles with the vaccine formula."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Anthrax Vaccine Contract Voided, Thwarting Administration (requires registration) - Washington Post - "The cancellation means the government will continue to depend on a controversial anthrax vaccine, used by the military and made by Emergent BioSolutions of Gaithersburg, years longer than expected."

* ►December 20, 2006 - Eli Lilly and the Dangers of a Drug (5 Letters) (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times

►December 20, 2006 - New Drugs Declining, Research Costs Increasing, GAO Says (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post

►December 20, 2006 - Doctors urge more elderly to get winter flu jab - The Herald, UK

* ►December 20, 2006 - Sanofi, Merck's cervical cancer vaccine to be reimbursed in Austria, Germany - AFX via Euro2day

* ►December 20, 2006 - Autism Speaks and Cure Autism Now Applaud Presidential Signing of the Combating Autism Act - Landmark Legislation Authorizes Nearly $1 Billion in Autism Funding - www.autismspeaks.org

* ►December 19, 2006 - Fact Sheet: Combating Autism Act of 2006 - President's Statement on Combating Autism Act of 2006 - President Signs H.R. 5466, H.R. 6143, S. 843, and S. 3678 - The White House

* ►December 19, 2006 - Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation and Speedway Children's Charities Grant NAA $30,000 for Burbacher/Charleston Study - Funds to support research on effects to the brain following mercury exposure - press release - National Autism Association

* ►December 19, 2006 - Ped Med: The many faces of autism - United Press International

►December 19, 2006 - French Scientists Find Autism Origin - Prensa Latina

* ►December 19, 2006 - Zyprexa Cat Out Of The Bag - OpEdNews - "Mr Gottstein is an advocate for patient rights and sits at the helm of, 'The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights),' a public interest law firm that has mounted a legal campaign against forced psychiatric drugging all around the country. His only interest in disclosing the documents appears to be a noble one; to alert unwitting doctors and Zyprexa patients about the high risk of injuries and death associated with the drug that Lilly has been successfully concealing for a decade. However, it now looks like Lilly's has not been acting alone, but rather with a few accomplices embedded in the US court system."

* ►December 19, 2006 - President signs NC senator's bill on bioterrorism - AP via Charlotte Observer - "Critics say the new law may prevent the public from getting enough information about new medicines that may be offered during a pandemic or bioterrorism attack. Burr's office said those concerns were addressed in the latest version of the law, though critics remain skeptical. 'I know they're saying it has been taken care of, but only time will tell if it's true when people try to get information about these vaccines,' said Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center."

* ►December 19, 2006 - Legislation would reward drug companies for combating bioterror (requires registration or subscription) - McClatchy Newspapers via San Jose Mercury News - "President Bush signed legislation Tuesday that creates a somewhat controversial bureaucracy that would give tax dollars to private companies and universities to develop vaccines and treatments...But some of the new program's work also would be shielded from public scrutiny, which critics say could stymie necessary oversight and lend the false impression internationally that the United States is developing biological weapons."

* ►December 19, 2006 - Vaccines save lives but Canadians are falling behind - press release - Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation via CNW Telbec - "'The evidence for mass immunization for once-common childhood diseases is irrefutable,' says Dave Clements of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. 'That many parents have become complacent about getting their children properly vaccinated is scandalous, and we are doing our part to clear away some of the confusion surrounding the issues.'"

* ►December 19, 2006 - Md. Schools Plan to Enforce Immunization Requirement - www.wtopnews.com

* ►December 19, 2006 - Family tie helps win FDA contract - Federal work goes to the client of an official's husband. The couple say they acted properly. (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times

►December 19, 2006 - Testing of Anthrax Vaccine Still on Hold (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post - "VaxGen said yesterday that it did not meet a federal deadline to begin human testing of its anthrax vaccine."

►December 19, 2006 - Health department urges Kentuckians to get holiday flu shots; Flu vaccine widely available - News-Democrat & Leader

* ►December 19, 2006 - Video: School-Based Vaccination Program Is Effective at Reducing the Impact of Influenza in Students and Their Families - Children and Their Families in a Multi-State Study Displayed Fewer Flu Symptoms - press release - University of Maryland School of Medicine via PRNewswire-USNewswire

* ►December 19, 2006 - UMd. Testing Bird Flu Vaccine, Looking For Volunteers - www.thewbalchannel.com

* ►December 19, 2006 - US ready to face flu crisis -- almost - More vaccine and coordination among governments is needed, a security official says. (requires registration or subscription) - Chicago Tribune via Los Angeles Times

* ►December 19, 2006 - What to do with hundreds of flu doses? a Sale... - Public health urges flu prevention - Storm Lake Pilot Tribune

►December 19, 2006 - Systems get ready for flu after outbreak - Gwinnett Daily Post

►December 19, 2006 - City to give 500 free flu vaccines - Middletown Press

►December 19, 2006 - UMd testing bird flu vaccine cultured in cells, not eggs - AP via www.wdbj7.com

►December 19, 2006 - Administration reports progress in flu preparedness - AP via www.wwaytv3.com

►December 19, 2006 - Health Officials Report Flu Vaccine Surplus - Experts Say People Can Still Get Vaccinated - www.channel3000.com

►December 19, 2006 - Catch the holiday spirit, not the flu: pediatricians - Murfreesboro Post

►December 19, 2006 - Regulators allowing doctors to bill for flu vaccine - Naples Daily News

►December 19, 2006 - Pandemic strategy unveiled - CBC Prince Edward Island

►December 19, 2006 - Quidel gets license to flu test - AP via BusinessWeek

►December 19, 2006 - Quidel Announces Worldwide, Exclusive License for Novel DNA Microarray (MChip) for Global Influenza Surveillance - MCHIP Developed by University of Colorado and Validated by CDC - press release - Quidel Corporation via Business Wire

►December 19, 2006 - Bird flu ruled out in France chicken deaths - ITV News

* ►December 19, 2006 - Vaccine shortage lowers jab rate - A shortage of flu vaccine triggered a drop in people getting vaccinated, according to new NHS statistics. - BBC

* ►December 19, 2006 - PSS World Medical lowers EPS view for fiscal 2007 - Reuters - "The company said it expects to distribute about 4.25 million doses of influenza vaccine during the year, compared with its previous estimate and purchases of about 5 million doses, leaving about 78,000 vials of flu vaccine unsold and on-hand. The company cited a significant oversupply of vaccine in the market and a mild influenza season."

►December 19, 2006 - FDA Approves Rotavirus Vaccine - KGO ABC 7 - "Infectious disease experts like Dr. Paul Offit administer RotaTeq orally when children are two, four and six-months old."
 
►December 19, 2006 - India says will be polio-free in three years - Reuters AlertNet

►December 19, 2006 - Giving back: Rotary members continue push to eradicate polio - Santa Cruz Sentinel

►December 19, 2006 - Yellow fever in Togo - World Health Organization (WHO) via ReliefWeb

►December 19, 2006 - GlaxoSmithKline says EU clears variation to Rotarix marketing authorisation - AFX via Forbes - "Following the decision of the EU Commission, the protection against all five RV types have now been included in the European label of GSK's rotavirus vaccine."

* ►December 19, 2006 - Health dept. issues fluoridation warning - Brattleboro Reformer - "The Vermont Department of Health is warning parents not to give any fluoridated water to infants under 12 months of age. The recommendation comes on the heels of a recent statement from the American Dental Association that also asks parents not to mix infant formula with fluoridated water because of the risk it poses to the children."

* ►December 19, 2006 - Prophylactic Staphylococcus aureus subunit vaccine shows promising results - www.faz.net - "Intercell AG (VSE, "ICLL") has been informed by its strategic partner Merck & Co., Inc. that a Phase I study of a recombinant subunit vaccine to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections is progressing with promising results."

* ►December 19, 2006 - Crucell gains regulatory approval to test AdVac-based malaria vaccine in US - AFX via Forbes - "The company, which is developing the vaccine in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the US, said Phase I clinical trials will begin shortly on 96 healthy volunteers. The trials will be funded by NIAID and conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University, one of NIAID's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units, Crucell said."

►December 19, 2006 - MediGene and Sanofi Pasteur Agree to Undertake a Collaborative Research Agreement to Develop High Affinity Monoclonal T cell receptors (mTCRs) for Vaccine Validation (requires registration for full article - PharmaLive via Therapeutics Daily

►December 19, 2006 - The Challenge of Global Health - Foreign Affairs Magazine

►December 19, 2006 - E. Coli's Enablers - National Center for Policy Analysis

►December 19, 2006 - Virus bank to be set up in Hungary - www.caboodle.hu

►December 19, 2006 - Havoc On Horizon As Government Builds Virus Bank - Pestiside, Hungary

►December 19, 2006 - New grant for water virus test research - Water Technology Online

►December 19, 2006 - Clues about how deadly bacterium gains foothold - SpiritIndia - "This bacterium, Francisella tularensis, is found naturally in the Northern Hemisphere and can be contracted through certain insect bites, contact with infected rabbits or ingesting contaminated food, water or air."

►December 19, 2006 - Many probiotics may be dead on arrival - Reuters, UK

* ►December 19, 2006 - Farmer says he may be forced to sell cloned cows for meat - Boston Herald

* ►December 19, 2006 - Update 2-US wants prominent warnings on pain relievers - Reuters - "But consumer group Public Citizen said the FDA's action was 'decades late,' citing FDA panels that urged new warnings for acetaminophen in 1977 and 2002."

►December 19, 2006 - FDA Warns of Deaths Linked to Rituxan - 2 Died of Viral Brain Infection After Taking Rituxan to Treat Lupus, FDA Says - WebMD

►December 19, 2006 - Northfield to review PolyHeme study - AP via BusinessWeek

►December 19, 2006 - Rockier road for blood product - Northfield's Polyheme faces tighter scrutiny (requires registration or subscription) - Chicago Tribune

* ►December 19, 2006 - Expert witness says HIV 'doesn't exist' - A Perth medical researcher has told an Adelaide court that Africa does not have an AIDS crisis because HIV does not exist. - Melbourne Herald Sun

* ►December 19, 2006 - HIV Verdict Lacks Medical Support - International Scientists Suggest Court Refused Scientific Evidence - ABC News

►December 19, 2006 - Libyan HIV case verdict condemned - Financial Times via MSN Money

►December 19, 2006 - HIV/AIDS Treatment Should Target Gut Lining, Researchers Say - www.kaisernetwork.org

►December 19, 2006 - Gene chip technology shows potential for identifying life-threatening blood infection - Washington University School of Medicine via www.eurekalert.org
 
►December 19, 2006 - Study gives clues about how deadly bacterium gains foothold - University of Iowa via www.eurekalert.org
 
►December 19, 2006 - Testing of Anthrax Vaccine Still on Hold - VaxGen Misses Deadline for Clinical Trial; FDA Concerns Remain (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post
 
►December 19, 2006 - Antibiotics as intermicrobial signaling agents instead of weapons - www.pnas.org
 
►December 19, 2006 - FDA Proposes Labeling Changes to Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers - U. S. Food and Drug Administration
 
►December 18, 2006 - Study Finds the Air Rich with Bacteria - U.S. Department of Energy-Berkeley Lab
 
►December 18, 2006 - Malaria vaccine prompts victims' immune system to eliminate parasite from mosquitoes - NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development via www.eurekalert.org
 
►December 18, 2006 - Herbal Supplement Fails to Relieve Hot Flashes in Large NIH Trial - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
 
►December 18, 2006 - Lobbyists focus on safety in debate over generic drugs - Critics say profits are the real issue - www.boston.com
 
►December 18, 2006 - Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice associated with increased risk of skin moles in childhood - JAMA and Archives Journals via www.eurekalert.org
 
►December 18, 2006 - Biovail Sues FDA Over Impax's Generic Wellbutrin XL - Bloomberg
 
►December 18, 2006 - FDA issues alert on Genentech drug - www.businessweek.com
 
►December 18, 2006 - FDA Warns of Safety Concern Regarding Rituxan in New Patient Population - U. S. Food and Drug Administration

* ►December 18, 2006 - Researchers making progress to create men's HPV vaccine - Salt Lake Tribune

►December 18, 2006 - New vaccine a breakthrough in cancer prevention - Salt Lake Tribune

►December 18, 2006 - Rabies Cases Drop, But Pet Vaccination Vigilance Still a Must - press release - American Veterinary Medical Association via PRNewswire via Yahoo!

►December 18, 2006 - The Top 10 Health Stories of 2006 - Vaccines, Unsafe Food, Inhaled Insulin: WebMD Picks the Most Important Medical News of the Year - WebMD

►December 18, 2006 - Infections Cause 36% of Illnesses Among Pilgrims - Arab News

►December 18, 2006 - WB converts loan into grant for polio eradication project - Daily Times, Pakistan

* ►December 18, 2006 - Health workers reach remote villagers in Ethiopia with tetanus vaccine - United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) via ReliefWeb - "The children were there with their mothers to receive a life-saving package of health and nutrition interventions – de-worming tablets, measles vaccinations, vitamin A supplementation and nutritional screening – funded and supported by UNICEF and its partners. The boisterous young women had come along to receive an extra treatment – a vaccination designed to protect them, and any soon-to-be-born babies they might be carrying, against the scourge of maternal and neo-natal tetanus."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Flu-Like Symptoms Plague Schools and Homes - The Davidson County Health Department sent out a warning to people in that county about flu-like symptoms that are leading to absences across the county. (includes video) - WFMY News 2 - "A five-year-old Davidson County student died of an unknown, sudden illness last week. The student experienced the illness at home and later died. His family members say it was not flu related."

►December 18, 2006 - We need straight talk about flu pandemic - Charlotte Observer

►December 17, 2006 - Pandemic planning involves isle hotels - Site conversion into makeshift hospitals may happen if more beds are needed - AP via Honolulu Star-Bulletin

►December 15, 2006 - FDA Approves Drug to Treat Cyanide Poisoning - U. S. Food and Drug Administration
 
►December 14, 2006 - PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative announces partnership to develop novel malaria vaccine - MVI and Sanaria Inc. to conduct initial safety and test-of-concept trial - PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative via www.eurekalert.org
 
►December 14, 2006 - Wide variation seen in kids given flu shots in U.S. - Reuters Health

►December 25, 2006 - Doctors explore expanding age groups for HPV vaccine - Some physicians are already administering this shot off-label to women older than 26, and studies are ongoing. (requires subscription for full article) - American Medical News

* ►December 19, 2006 - Playing down drug risks - editorial - New York Times via International Herald Tribune

* ►December 19, 2006 - Foreign medics sentenced to die in Libya HIV case - Reuters Canada

* ►December 19, 2006 - Stopping malaria before the bite - Researchers are developing a malaria vaccine which blocks development of the disease-causing parasite while it is still inside the mosquito. - BBC - "However, Dr Ron Behrens, a malaria expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the potential problem with the vaccine was that it would protect communities, but not the individual to whom the jab was administered. 'Until now all other vaccines that have been developed have offered the individual some form of protection,' he said. 'In this case, the individual has got to make a sacrifice in order to protect the community, and that might make it very difficult to sell.'"

►December 19, 2006 - Physician Focus: The Power of immunization - Daily News Tribune

►December 19, 2006 - RI gearing up to produce bird flu vaccines - Antara News

►December 19, 2006 - 2 Geese Die of Bird Flu - St Petersburg Times

►December 19, 2006 - CD4 cell loss in gut is not restored by HIV treatment, may have long-term consequences - Aidsmap

►December 19, 2006 - Most HIV-positive patients do as well as HIV-negative counterparts following surgery - Aidsmap

►December 19, 2006 - Uncle Jay, pertussis, mounted butterfly - Austin American-Statesman

* ►December 18, 2006 - Vaccine ruined his health, career, former airman claims - Army Times - "When Staff Sgt. Jason Adkins joined the Air Force, he never expected to end up a pariah. Especially not when he followed orders to the letter. In 1998, Adkins, a C-5 flight engineer, was transferred to Dover Air Force Base, Del., and ordered to take the anthrax vaccine. Other service members and civilian employees refused the inoculations, but Adkins wasn’t one of them. Between September 1998 and October 2004, he received eight shots — the initial six-shot regimen and two boosters — which he said subsequently left him with debilitating side effects. When he tried to speak out about a possible link between his health problems and the vaccine, he said, his chain of command came down on him hard and left a promising 14-year military career in shambles."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Critics question safety of vaccine additives - Army Times - "But a study to be published in the February 2007 issue of Neuromolecular Medicine says aluminum hydroxide at levels normally found in vaccines killed neurons in the brains of mice and sparked serious side effects...In the study to be published in February, a collaboration by one American and four Canadian scientists, mice were injected with two doses of adjuvants, chemicals that boost immune response, at a level normally expected in vaccines, scaled down to mouse-sized proportions. Some mice received aluminum hydroxide, some got squalene, and others received both. 'The greatest overall effects were seen in mice injected with aluminum hydroxide,' the study states. The substance killed brain neurons and led to 'progressive and significant decrease in muscular strength and endurance,' loss of long-term memory and motor control, and behavioral problems."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Your guide to anthrax shots - Here’s what you should know about mandatory vaccinations - Army Times

* ►December 18, 2006 - FDA Maintains Clinical Hold on VaxGen's Anthrax Vaccine Trial - press release -  VaxGen, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall via Yahoo! - "The hold is due to CBER's continued concerns about the vaccine candidate's stability."

* ►December 18, 2006 - VaxGen anthrax vaccine still doesn't satisfy FDA - Reuters

* ►December 18, 2006 - Big Pharma Juggernaut Rolls To Victory - Health Freedom Reels - Part 2 - www.newswithviews.com

* ►December 18, 2006 - Eli Lilly's Zyprexa Prompts Debate About "Off-Label" Use - Medical News Today

* ►December 18, 2006 - Eli Lilly said to encourage use of pill for unapproved illnesses - Marketing materials detail Lilly push on dementia treatment - New York Times via International Herald Tribune

* ►December 18, 2006 - Statement from Eli Lilly and Company: Response to The New York Times Article from December 18, 2006 - press release - Eli Lilly and Company via PRNewswire-FirstCall via Yahoo! - "'At Lilly, we do not engage in off-label promotion - as alleged in The Times article,' said Dr. Steven Paul, Lilly's executive vice president, science and technology. 'Lilly is committed to the highest ethical standards and to promoting our medications only for approved uses."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Lilly denies report of Zyprexa wrong-doing - Eli Lilly & Co. vehemently defended itself on Monday against allegations raised in a recent New York Times story that said the drugmaker had inappropriately promoted its anti-psychotic medication Zyprexa. - MarketWatch

* ►December 18, 2006 - Eli Lilly Hit by Sales Scandal - Big Pharma reportedly hid diabetes risk from schizophrenia meds. - Red Herring - "And Eli Lilly has settled more than 10,000 'injury' claims from patients taking Zyprexa, with 9,700 more pending."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Undermining drug safety - editorial/Op-Ed - Washington Times

* ►December 18, 2006 - FDA must do more to monitor side effects - Hormone replacement therapy, prescribed to lessen the symptoms of menopause, apparently led to increased incidences of breast cancer. - editorial - Roanoke Times

* ►December 18, 2006 - Letter: FDA deserves scrutiny for problematic drugs - Billings Gazette

* ►December 18, 2006 - Pregnant Women Can Minimize Risk Of Rodent-Based Virus - University of Iowa (Health Sciences) via Medical News Today - "Pregnant women can minimize their risk of becoming infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), an infectious agent carried by house mice and other rodents that can cause severe brain damage in a fetus."

►December 18, 2006 - IAC EXPRESS Issue #637 - Immunization Action Coalition

►December 18, 2006 - Study: Autism May Result From Slight Changes in Brain Genes - Autism disorders result from slight changes in genes that govern brain structure, suggests a study from France's Pasteur Institute. - WebMD via FOX News

* ►December 18, 2006 - Bird Flu Risk Bottoms Out - Weekly Standard: Hysteria About Pandemic Unnecessary; Too Much Money Spent - CBS News

* ►December 18, 2006 - Adverse effects alarm in US and Canada over Tamiflu ordered for Ireland - Irish Medical News - "Ireland’s main defence against a flu pandemic, Tamiflu, has been linked to 25 deaths worldwide and several hundred cases of serious neuropsychiatric events in young people, including delirium, hallucinations, convulsions and suicidal behaviour."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Favorable Research Outcomes Prompt Expansion of HepaLife's Influenza Vaccine Initiative - Genetic Engineering News - "Especially exciting are the implications of developing our PBS-1 cell technology for more flexible cell-culture-based vaccine production with the ability to quickly address prospective mutations in the avian influenza virus, and replace cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly vaccine production processes, which currently rely on chicken eggs."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Many doctors face difficulties, frustration in trying to get flu vaccine - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

* ►December 18, 2006 - UMd tests cell-cultured bird flu vaccine - AP via BusinessWeek - "The vaccine being tested is made from virus grown in a line of kidney cells originally taken from African green monkeys, but which are now self-propagating. Because of that ability to culture as many of the kidney cells as needed as much vaccine as needed can be made, said Dr. James Campbell, the lead investigator on the study...The study is also the first U.S. test of a vaccine made from the whole avian flu virus...While the vaccine may cause more minor side effects 'it may be worth the additional discomfort if we are able to provoke better immune responses in more people.'"

* ►December 18, 2006 - Fact Sheet: Implementation of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Six-Month Status Report - The White House

►December 18, 2006 - Flu season under way in Florida; vaccinations encouraged locally - The Eureka Reporter

►December 18, 2006 - Blood Service donates flu vaccines - West Fargo Pioneer

►December 18, 2006 - France testing dead birds for flu - French authorities say they cannot rule out bird flu after 4,000 chickens died on a French farm on Saturday. - BBC

►December 18, 2006 - Northwest Georgia county's schools reopen after flu outbreak - AP via Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

►December 18, 2006 - 'It's your best shot' - The Columbian

►December 18, 2006 - Attention shoppers: flu shots in Aisle 3 - National Post via www.canada.com

►December 18, 2006 - Flu Season Prompts Preventative Measures - Residents look to stay healthy through use of vaccines and healthy lifestyles. - Arlington Connection

►December 18, 2006 - Flu vaccination saves money and resources - study (requires subscription) - Interfax China

►December 18, 2006 - Tuesday Edition: Flu Vaccine Glut - Graffiti laws... Goodbye old blue mailboxes. - Poynter Online

►December 18, 2006 - Flu Clinic Attendance Down - 580 CFRA Radio

►December 18, 2006 - Japanese hit by stomach virus - Independent Online - "Norovirus has caused mass infections in other countries, including the United States, where hundreds of passengers on a cruise ship fell ill to it in two separate incidents in early December and in November."

►December 18, 2006 - FSU student in a battle with meningitis - Tallahassee Democrat

►December 18, 2006 - School hit by hepatitis outbreak - China Daily

►December 18, 2006 - Norwalk virus forces closure of hospitals to visitors on south shore of N.S. - Canadian Press via CBC

►December 18, 2006 - Ulema to join anti-polio drive - Hindustan Times

►December 18, 2006 - UNICEF helps Uzbekistan’s capital to immunize youth against measles, rubella - UN News Centre

►December 18, 2006 - More than 300,000 enroll in All Kids - AP via www.wqad.com - "The goal of All Kids, which replaced Kid Care, is to improve immunization rates and encourage preventive care."

►December 18, 2006 - Health region to immunize homeless - Offering pneumonia vaccinations at shelters - Calgary Sun

* ►December 18, 2006 - Panacea plans facility for thermostable vaccines - Moneycontrol India - "Following its recent joint venture with Cambridge Biostability Ltd, wherein Panacea has earned access to its partner's stable liquid technology for producing vaccines that won't require cold chain storage, the company will start marketing its pentavalent vaccine in this new technology from mid-2009."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Pevion Biotech Announces Its Hepatitis C Vaccine Enters Clinical Phase I - PharmaLive

* ►December 18, 2006 - Pneumococcal Vaccines In Development Pipeline May Offer More Options To Save Lives And Prevent Disease In Latin America - Sabin Vaccine Institute via Medical News Today

►December 18, 2006 - Bharat Biotech launches anti-rabies vaccine - IANS via Telugu Portal

* ►December 18, 2006 - Malaria vaccine prompts victims' immune system to eliminate parasite from mosquitoes - NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development via www.eurekalert.org - "The vaccine, so far tested only in mice, would prompt the immune system of a person who receives it to eliminate the parasite from the digestive tract of a malaria-carrying mosquito, after the mosquito has fed upon the blood of the vaccinated individual. The vaccine would not prevent or limit malarial disease in the person who received it."

►December 18, 2006 - Bavarian Nordic A/S Receives US Notice of Allowance for New MVA-BN(R) Patent - Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance on one of its patent applications which, when it issues, will further strengthen the coverage of IMVAMUNE(R), the company's MVA-BN(R) based smallpox vaccine. - press release - Bavarian Nordic A/S via PRNewswire

►December 18, 2006 - A boy's best friend - National Service Dog 'a blessing' to autistic little boy - The Daily News

►December 18, 2006 - Less Sugary Drinks During Childhood May Cut Disease Risk - Penn State Live

* ►December 18, 2006 - China arrests one over fake, toxic birth-control pills - Reuters AlertNet - "Last week the government said it would crack down on companies producing fake and poor quality rabies vaccines after reports that several people had died from substandard vaccines. Officials have also expressed concern about fake or poor quality bird flu vaccines used on domestic poultry."

►December 18, 2006 - Two-week quarantine for 30 pig farms caught using growth enhancer - Thirty pig farms were placed under two weeks quarantine today after the animals were found to have high levels of banned growth enhancer beta agonist. - New Straits Times

►December 18, 2006 - Wellington may close at least part of its trail system due to virus - Palm Beach Post

* ►December 18, 2006 - China to test new AIDS vaccine on humans - Xinhua via China View

►December 18, 2006 - Is HIV causing cardiovascular disease by its own effects on cholesterol? - Aidsmap

►December 18, 2006 - For Many HIV-Positive In Zimbabwe, Immune System Tests Unaffordable (includes audio) - Voice of America

►December 18, 2006 - Vertex HIV candidate dropped by Glaxo - AP via BusinessWeek

►December 18, 2006 - Kenya: Data On HIV/Aids Queried - The East African Standard (Nairobi) via http://allafrica.com

►December 18, 2006 - Needle Exchange And Drug Treatment More Effective HIV Prevention - American Journal of Public Health via Medical News Today

►December 18, 2006 - Male Circumcision Should Be 'Central Strategy' To Fighting HIV/AIDS, Editorial Says - www.kaisernetwork.org

►December 18, 2006 - Kraft drinks escape benzene lawsuit - Lawsuits alleging soft drinks made by Kraft Foods may contain the cancer-causing chemical, benzene, have been dismissed after the group said it had reformulated products. - www.foodproductiondaily.com

* ►December 17, 2006 - Drug maker seen playing down risks of schizophrenia medication - New York Times via International Herald Tribune

* ►December 17, 2006 - Military wants to secretly test product on civilians - Blood substitute may be used in Iraq war - AP via Concord Monitor

►December 17, 2006 - Drills show vulnerabilities (requires registration) - AP via In-Forum

►December 17, 2006 - New research suggests HIV treatment focus on guts - Xinhua via China View

►December 17, 2006 - Vaccine new way to fight cancer - Mobile Register via www.al.com

►December 17, 2006 - State's influenza plan has holes - Strategy for fighting potential pandemic still evolving - AP via Pioneer Press

►December 16, 2006 - House-to-house polio campaign in Iraq - Special Call to Support Vaccinators in Baghdad - World Health Organization (WHO) via ReliefWeb

►December 15, 2006 - Government Accountability Office Blasts FDA - Report Criticizes How Agency Handles DTC Prescription-Drug Advertising - Advertising Age

* ►December 15, 2006 - Parents blame police for son's coma - Miami Herald via www.centredaily.com - "It wasn't the first time the Colindres family had to call police because their severely autistic son, Kevin, had become aggressive. Twice before, Miami police took the 18-year-old to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. But Tuesday night, the family says, officers especially trained to calm people with mental illness 'hogtied' Kevin, sat on him until he stopped breathing, then resisted the family's entreaties to call an ambulance."

* ►December 4, 2006 - End of Drug Trial Is a Big Loss for Pfizer (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times - "The news came to Pfizer’s chief scientist, Dr. John L. LaMattina, as he was showering at 7 a.m. Saturday: the company’s most promising experimental drug, intended to treat heart disease, actually caused an increase in deaths and heart problems. Eighty-two people had died so far in a clinical trial, versus 51 people in the same trial who had not taken it."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Drug Files Show Maker Promoted Unapproved Use (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times - "Eli Lilly encouraged primary care physicians to use Zyprexa, a powerful drug for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in patients who did not have either condition, according to internal Lilly marketing materials. The marketing documents, given to The New York Times by a lawyer representing mentally ill patients, detail a multiyear promotional campaign that Lilly began in Orlando, Fla., in late 2000. In the campaign, called Viva Zyprexa, Lilly told its sales representatives to suggest that doctors prescribe Zyprexa to older patients with symptoms of dementia."

* ►December 18, 2006 - David Kirby: Help the Environment, Get a Flu Shot - Huffington Post - "But now it seems that 'drumming up demand for so much vaccine,' as The New York Times put it on Sunday, has been too great a challenge for the CDC, leaving medical officials like Matthew Stefanak, health commissioner of Mahoning County, Ohio, to give flu shots away 'by the carload.' Because flu vaccine can only be used in a single year, one official was 'concerned that we'll throw away 20 million doses' this year, a number that could go much higher if the current flu season remains mild. But you can't just 'throw away,' flu vaccine. You practically need a hazmat team."

* ►December 18, 2006 - Research Could Mean Improved Vaccines in Fight Against Chicken Pox -  Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London have identified the genes which allow some viruses to survive better in the human body than others, and then go on to affect other individuals. - press release - Queen Mary, University of London via PRWeb - "This weakened, or attenuated, vaccine virus is made up of a mixture of genetically different viral strains. Consequently, the millions of vaccine doses administered in the vaccination campaign introduced the same mixture into each patient - thereby starting an evolutionary competition between them within every patient's body. Occasionally the viruses from the vaccine are so successful that they actually cause an unwanted rash resembling mild chicken pox."

* ►December 18, 2006 - VaxGen (VXGN) Says FDA Maintains Clinical Hold on Company's Anthrax Vaccine Trial - www.streetinsider.com

* ►December 18, 2006 - Autism fuels call for school vouchers - State lawmaker and families push for legislation to open the doors of private programs - Houston Chronicle - "The number of Texas children diagnosed with various degrees of autism has nearly doubled over the past five years, increasing from 8,972 students to 17,282 in the 2005-06 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency."

►December 18, 2006 - Drug resistant TB cases higher than once estimated - Reuters

►December 18, 2006 - Monkeys found to have lethal B virus - The Yomiuri Shimbun

►December 18, 2006 - State of Science, 2006 - AP via The Casper Star-Tribune

* ►December 18, 2006 - This won't make us sleep better - editorial - Wilmington Morning Star-News - "The Food and Drug Administration is doing a lousy job of reining in drug companies that advertise their products to regular Joes and Janes. That assessment comes not from outspoken consumer groups but from those busybodies at the Government Accountability Office, the federal agency that's supposed to help keep other federal agencies honest."

* ►December 17, 2006 - Newton County Vaccines - AP via www.wtok.com - "Health officials say many Newton County residents who've had their shots may need to get another vaccination. The state department of health says some vaccines were exposed to freezing temperatures that would make them useless in preventing disease. Officials say affected vaccines would have been distributed between July 22, 2005 and October 13, 2006."

* ►December 17, 2006 - Medics face death while Libya uses HIV children as diplomatic pawns - The Observer via The Guardian, UK

* ►December 17, 2006 - Libya court to deliver nurses' HIV case verdict - Reuters, UK - "Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor could face the firing squad if a Libyan court convicts them on Tuesday on charges of deliberately infecting hundreds of Libyan children with the virus that causes AIDS."

* ►December 17, 2006 - Disclosures, records faulted in research - AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Regulators say a university surgeon failed to disclose adequate information about his financial relationship with a company that makes a device involved in the doctor's research trials, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning letter."

* ►December 17, 2006 - Scientists identify gene mutation in autism - Reuters, UK

* ►December 17, 2006 - Flu vaccine glut developing 2 years after shot shortage - With a shelf life of one season, millions of doses risk being tossed - New York Times via Houston Chronicle

* ►December 17, 2006 - Flu and far between - Standard Speaker - "Nan L. Smith didn’t turn down 100 doses of the flu vaccine when offered surplus from the state Department of Health via Hazleton General Hospital. Manager of Hazleton’s Free Clinic at Christ Lutheran Church, she accepted the supply and set up a free flu shot clinic for Saturday morning. However, only 15 people showed up, she said."

►December 17, 2006 - 2,578 get flu shots - DPH exceeds target in Flu Vaccine Drive - Saipan Tribune

►December 17, 2006 - Washington uses flu pandemic money to prepare for any disaster - AP via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

►December 17, 2006 - Iowa pandemic plan: surveillance, education, vaccine stockpiles - AP via www.woi-tv.com

►December 17, 2006 - State faces challenges preparing for flu pandemic - Columbia Daily Tribune

►December 17, 2006 - Wisconsin plans for a pandemic show progress, but gaps remain - AP via www.wbay.com

►December 17, 2006 - Texas prepares for possible pandemic flu outbreak - AP via Star-Telegram via www.dfw.com

►December 17, 2006 - Avian Flu Preparations - Human outbreak called likely - www.wowt.com - "Nebraska health officials continue to gear up for what many experts say is inevitable -- a human outbreak of avian flu."

►December 17, 2006 - Utah pursues preparedness in a pandemic - AP via Deseret News

►December 17, 2006 - Wyo stresses local control in pandemic planning - Jackson Hole Star-Tribune

►December 17, 2006 - State readies emergency plan for treating killer flu pandemic - The Tennessean

* ►December 17, 2006 - Beating all the odds: Infant fights meningococcal disease, starts recovery from amputations - King County Journal

* ►December 17, 2006 - Community Briefing - Boston Globe - "Chickenpox Scare -- The Board of Health and the School Department are working together after 10 Bishop Elementary School students came down with chickenpox in just 17 days. According to a statement released by the Health Department, the students became sick even though they had been vaccinated against chickenpox.

►December 17, 2006 - Immunization will Affect Thousands of Md. Students - AP via www.wtopnews.com

►December 17, 2006 - Immunizations For Traveling Abroad - Medical News Today

►December 17, 2006 - Effective HIV control may depend on viral protein targeted by immune cells - Specific protein targeted may be more important than breadth of CD8 response - Massachusetts General Hospital via www.eurekalert.org

►December 17, 2006 - UN official calls for more "social vaccine" against AIDS - Xinhua via People's Daily Online

►December 17, 2006 - 'Lethal' Baby Care Kit Leaks Toxic Mercury - Sunday Mail, UK

►December 17, 2006 - Chemical engineer's device screens for E. coli in minutes - The Philadelphia Inquirer via Monterey County Herald

►December 17, 2006 - Schumer wants FDA to track produce after E. coli outbreak - AP via www.wstm.com

►December 17, 2006 - Six-year toil pays off for vaccine researcher - Kuala Terengganu: The six long years Associate Professor Dr Effendy Abd Wahid took to develop a vaccine for prevention of the haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) disease in livestock have been worthwhile. - New Straits Times

►December 16, 2006 - Area health official says closing schools was right decision - Southeast Missourian

►December 16, 2006 - District, northern Virginia prepare for a flu pandemic - AP via www.examiner.com

►December 16, 2006 - Flu season 'worst ever' - Andalusia Star-News

►December 16, 2006 - Absentee rate in Baldwin blamed on flu-like illness - Press-Register via www.al.com

►December 16, 2006 - Oklahoma Prepares for Flu Pandemic (includes video) - www.kten.com

►December 16, 2006 - Del. on guard for avian flu - Scientists out in force statewide in effort to identify deadly strain - The News Journal

►December 16, 2006 - 14 more polio cases surface - Chennai Online - "A decision has also been taken to use a monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine, which has improved effectiveness against type 1 virus, instead of the current usage of the trivalent polio vaccine that targets all strains."

►December 16, 2006 - Alzheimer's Vaccine Under Development - Medical News Today - "A recently approved project of the sixth EU Framework Programme - MimoVax - is focussing on a new target for an Alzheimer's vaccine."

►December 16, 2006 - New Edition Of 'Immunisation Against Infectious Disease' Now Being Distributed, UK - Medical News Today

* ►December 16, 2006 - Son's meningitis death sends mom on a mission - On Monday, hundreds of soccer players will take the field at Sabino High School in memory of champion player Chris Maier.  (includes video) - http://kvoa.com - "'I never knew there was a disease that would kill a healthy child within 24 hours.' Leslie is now on a mission to educate everyone that there is a vaccine, 'Because we didn't know about it, we couldn't save our son. We do know about it so we have a responsibility to save other families the loss that we suffered.'"

►December 15, 2006 - Slow season curbs flu shot demand - San Antonio Express-News

►December 15, 2006 - SABCS: Breast Cancer Vaccine Seen Promising - MedPage Today

►December 14, 2006 - Troops Sue to Avoid Anthrax Vaccines - AP via www.military.com

* ►December 17, 2006 - Eli Lilly Said to Play Down Risk of Top Pill (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times - "The drug maker Eli Lilly has engaged in a decade-long effort to play down the health risks of Zyprexa, its best-selling medication for schizophrenia, according to hundreds of internal Lilly documents and e-mail messages among top company managers...'The Zyprexa documents were provided to the Times by James B. Gottstein, a lawyer who represents mentally ill patients and has sued the state of Alaska over its efforts to force patients to take psychiatric medicines against their will. Mr. Gottstein said the information in the documents raised public health issues. 'Patients should be told the truth about drugs like Zyprexa,' Mr. Gottstein said."

* ►December 17, 2006 - 25,000 infants die of tetanus every year in Pakistan - Health Ministry has done little to provide free anti-tetanus vaccines to infants, says SAARC Medical Association - Daily Times

►December 17, 2006 - Vaccine for cervical cancer offers hope - Times of India

* ►December 17, 2006 - Washington uses flu pandemic money to prepare for any disaster - AP via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

* ►December 16, 2006 - Suffolk County Legislature Stands Fast for Mercury-Free Vaccines - Parent-Advocates Make Their Case Against Health Dept. Attempt to Dilute Mercury-Free Vaccine Law - www.A-Champ.org - "After a powerfully moving presentation by parent Bruce Gorgone about the difficulties of raising a vaccine-injured child, the Health and Human Services Committee, led by Chair Elie Mystal, unanimously defeated the amendment, rejecting outright the Health Department's justification for its proposal. 'I don't see any reason for this county, at any time, to expose a child to mercury, that may or may not be the cause of autism,' said Mystal. 'The motion is defeated and I hope it never comes back.'"

* ►December 16, 2006 - Switch to MMR blamed for mumps outbreak - The Herald, UK - "The transition from single dose immunisation to the MMR triple jab in the early 1990s and failure to give booster jabs to children may be behind a massive rise in mumps in Scotland, claims Health Protection Scotland."

* ►December 16, 2006 - Tetanus issue to topple immunisation drive in Malabar (requires registration) - Newindpress - "The controversial death of a school girl at Vattoli in the rural district of Kozhikode after she was administered Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine, is set to topple the national immunisation schedule in north Kerala, where the coverage is already a low on par with states like Bihar."

►December 16, 2006 - Required Vaccinations - Starting Jan. 1, Maryland will require students through ninth grade to be vaccinated against chickenpox (varicella) and hepatitis B. Here's a look at the shots required to attend schools in the region. (requires registration) - Washington Post

* ►December 16, 2006 - Market batters Biopure after FDA panel setback - Boston Globe - "Biopure Corp., the Cambridge company trying to develop an artificial substitute for human blood, was battered in the stock market yesterday after a federal advisory council recommended against its effort to test the product on more than 1,000 trauma patients."

* ►December 16, 2006 - Pfizer, Merck painkillers win decisions - Feds OK marketing Celebrex for kids' arthritis; 2nd jury this week clears Vioxx in heart attack - Indianapolis Star

►December 16, 2006 - Unique malaria vaccine on the anvil - Zee News

►December 16, 2006 - Flu vaccine is going unused - Last year's shortage led to increased production - New York Times News Service via Deseret News

* ►December 16, 2006 - State prepares for flu pandemic it hopes will never happen - AP via Durant Daily Democrat - "And health care workers are experimenting with new ways to quickly vaccinate large numbers of Oklahomans against the flu. More than 22,000 doses of the flu vaccine have been administered through a series of exercises across the state in which up to 1,000 people received the vaccine in a single hour, said Dr. Brett Cauthen, Oklahoma's epidemiologist."

* ►December 16, 2006 - State by state: Some steps that states have taken to prepare for a flu pandemic - AP via Boston Globe

* ►December 16, 2006 - State pandemic preparations vary widely (requires registration or subscription) - AP via San Jose Mercury News

►December 16, 2006  - Preparing for a pandemic (requires registration or subscription) - Globe and Mail

►December 16, 2006 - Pa. pandemic flu planning a work in progress - AP via www.whptv.com

►December 16, 2006 - Rhode Island making preparations for pandemic flu (requires registration) - AP via Boston Globe

►December 16, 2006 - Alabama getting ready for pandemic flu, other disasters - AP via Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

►December 16, 2006 - Kansas health officials plan for pandemic influenza epidemic - AP via www.kansas.com

►December 16, 2006 - Pandemic Flu Drill Planned For Next Year In Texas - www.kwtx.com

►December 16, 2006 - Snow, floods and drills test state's flu preparations - AP via Newsday

►December 16, 2006 - Survivors Recall Horror of Flu Pandemic - AP via Forbes

* ►December 16, 2006 - Local babies sickened with deadly bacterium - Los Angeles Times - "White Memorial Medical Center near downtown Los Angeles has closed its neonatal and pediatric intensive care units to new admissions after seven children became infected with a virulent bacterium, including one baby who probably died as a result, hospital officials said Friday. The Boyle Heights hospital shut its busy neonatal unit Dec. 4 after identifying an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is believed to have infected five babies."

* ►December 16, 2006 - Hundreds at schools sickened by virus - Specialists suspect aggressive germ - Boston Globe

* ►December 16, 2006 - Whooping cough threat sends kids home - School chief acts after 4 students diagnosed with disease - The Union - "Many people in Nevada County and the Sierra who use alternative medicine do not believe in immunizing their children, fearing adverse reactions as well as the chemicals in the vaccines. Buckley said he respected parents’ choices not to immunize their children. 'But when you get four cases of whooping cough, you have to exclude those children,' he said. Their parents had signed prior agreements for exclusion in exchange for not immunizing their children."

►December 16, 2006 - Himachal to start 1st Phase of Pulse Polio Campaign on 7th January, 2007 - http://himachal.us

►December 16, 2006 - The Drive To Conquer Autism - Hartford Courant

►December 16, 2006 - 'With one foot in each world,' autistic man earns MU degree - Lancaster Newspapers

►December 16, 2006 - Retrieved from a world of silence - Loving pup Henry gave autistic Dale new life - Daily Record, UK

* ►December 16, 2006 - News in brief - The News Journal - "The Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology in Newark announced it has received two recent grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation totaling $6.2 million. A $3.5 million grant will support research in developing transmission-blocking vaccines against malaria. A $2.7 million grant will help develop a novel technology for producing influenza vaccines. Fraunhofer received a $1.2 million Gates Foundation grant in 2005 for development of a vaccine to treat sleeping sickness."

* ►December 16, 2006 - Feature-Bulgarian nurses face new verdict in Libya HIV trial - Reuters AlertNet

►December 16, 2006 - Kenya: Mandatory HIV Test Stirs Controversy - The East African Standard (Nairobi) via http://allafrica.com

►December 16, 2006 - New research suggests HIV treatment focus on guts (requires registration) - Xinhua via Comtex via Therapeutics Daily

►December 16, 2006 - False anthrax alarm closes NJ school - United Press International

* ►December 15, 2006 - Breast Cancer Vaccine Moving Forward Despite Lack of Significant Findings in Pilot Study: Presented at SABCS - Doctor's Guide

* ►December 15, 2006 - Merck's Durham project grows - The (Raleigh) News & Observer via Charlotte Observer - "Work on the 115,000-square-foot expansion announced Thursday would begin next year and is expected to be completed in 2010. Merck plans to produce vaccines for mumps, measles, rubella, chicken pox and shingles in Durham. During the first nine months of this year, Merck rang up $1.18 billion in vaccine sales, up from $809.5 million a year earlier. The introduction of three new vaccines this year contributed to that growth."

* ►December 15, 2006 - Congress passes public health preparedness bill - CIDRAP News

* ►December 15, 2006 - Bayer drug can cause kidney damage, FDA warns - Reuters

►December 15, 2006 - Measles immunization campaign targets over 620,000 young people in Tashkent - UNICEF

►December 15, 2006 - What you need to know about Norovirus - Cause of outbreaks not exclusive to cruise ships ... Cruise Critic explains - MSNBC

►December 15, 2006 - CDC: Taco Bell E. Coli Outbreak Over - FDA Is Investigating Lettuce As Possible Source Of Outbreak via WebMD via CBS News

►December 13, 2006 - Lawmakers demand anthrax briefing by FBI - Washington Times via World Peace Herald

* ►Dr. Peter Rost - http://peterrost.blogspot.com - "Peter Rost, M.D., is a former Vice President for Pfizer and the author of 'THE WHISTLEBLOWER, Confessions of a Healthcare Hitman.'"