October 2009 | Health Asthma

Saturday, October 31, 2009

plus 3 more, “FDA Panel Backs First Non-Drug Asthma Treatment - FOX News”

FDA Panel Backs First Non-Drug Asthma Treatment - FOX News
H1N1 research studies asthma - Badger Herald
Asthma remains a chronic ailment affecting children - Saudi Gazette
Ara » Health & Wellness - Wetumpka Herald

FDA Panel Backs First Non-Drug Asthma Treatment - FOX News

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 04:21 AM PDT

Federal health advisers on Wednesday said a novel technology from a small medical technology firm should be approved as the first non-drug treatment for asthma.

The Food and Drug Administration's panel of respiratory device experts voted 6-1 that Asthmatx's Alair System be approved under certain conditions, including long-term safety monitoring of patients.

The FDA is not required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.

The company's procedure, called bronchial thermoplasty, uses extreme heat to burn away lung tissue that makes it difficult to breath and causes coughing spasms and wheezing. The heat is delivered via a catheter that emits radiofrequency waves, similar to microwaves used to cook food. The procedure would be performed by respiratory specialists known as pulmonologists over the course of three, half-hour sessions.

While roughly 20 million people in the U.S. suffer from asthma, thermoplasty would only be appropriate for about 2 million adults with severe asthma who don't get relief from existing drugs, according to Asthmatx.

Chief Executive Glen French said he was very pleased with the positive review from the panel.

"It's a very interesting and stressful process and we're happy to have it behind us," French said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. He added that the company hopes to launch the technology in the U.S. in the first half of next year. The company already has approval to market Alair in Europe, but has held off due to the logistics of launching a device in multiple countries.

"Our biggest opportunity and the location in which we can most efficiently market the product is in the U.S.," French said.

Asthma medications were among the top-selling drugs in the U.S. last year, with sales of more than $4.8 billion, according to health care data firm IMS Health.

FDA's expert panel recommended the company keep a registry to track the safety of patients who have undergone the procedure. The group also said the procedure should only be performed at facilities that can handle respiratory complications.

The Alair System is Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Asthmatx's only product. The privately-held company planned to make an initial public offering in 2006, but ultimately backed away from the plan.

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H1N1 research studies asthma - Badger Herald

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 06:23 AM PDT

News

H1N1 research studies asthma

UW will work in concert with nationwide clinical trial to find proper vaccine dose

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Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health have begun administering a national clinical trial aimed at determining the proper swine flu vaccine dosage to immunize asthmatic patients against the H1N1 virus.

Evidence suggests the H1N1 vaccination dosage that is administered to the general population does not provide full protection for asthmatics, according to Lisa Brunette, spokesperson for UW Hospital and Clinics. The trial will determine what dosage provides asthmatics with complete immunization.

According to Sarah Van Orman, executive director of University Health Services, many asthmatics take a type of steroid to control their asthma that serves as a "damper on the immune system."

According to a statement released by UW Hospital and Clinics, a 2004 study suggested some steroids used to treat asthma might inhibit the effectiveness of regular dosages of flu vaccines.

UW is one of seven research institutions across the country that will participate in the National Institutes of Health asthma trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in asthma patients.

According to William Busse, UW medical professor and principal investigator of the study, patients with asthma have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to infections that are more prevalent among asthmatics, suggesting they may require a different vaccination strategy.

Asthmatics are four times more likely to be hospitalized due to H1N1 complications, and 25 to 30 percent of all patients hospitalized with H1N1 have asthma, Busse said.

"We don't know exactly why patients with asthma are having so much difficulty with H1N1, but there are a number of situations that raise concern that this is an at-risk group," Busse said.

Asthmatics are particularly at risk for severe viral pneumonia as a result of influenza and are also more likely to suffer from bacterial infections days after becoming infected with influenza viruses, according to Van Orman.

Busse said H1N1 does not exacerbate asthma symptoms but makes complications more likely in people with asthma.

"It's not necessarily worsening their asthma, but it's making them susceptible to the pneumonias and other complications of the influenza," Busse said.

The study's 350 participants will be divided into two groups depending on the severity of their asthma. Researchers will administer two 15-microgram doses to half of the participants in each group, and the other half will receive two 30-microgram doses over the course of the 42-day trial, according to Busse. They will not be administering a placebo in this study.

"I think what it can tell us is we may need to do some modifications in the future as far as vaccination," Busse said. "These are individuals that may either need a larger dose or they may need some other levels of protection."

Van Orman said asthmatics should get the H1N1 vaccination, which is currently available at UHS for health care workers and people at risk for influenza complications.

Flu bug not the only health concern for students this year

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(ARA) - The H1N1 flu virus may be the newest concern this season, but it's not the only health threat for children at school worthy of serious attention. Threats like cockroaches, stinging insects and other types of common pests like rodents are very real, affecting classrooms, cafeterias and school grounds across the country. Controlling pests like these is a daily challenge for school systems at all levels, and to do it effectively, they need access to the right tools to fight, prevent and eliminate these persistent problems.

The best way to safeguard schools against the threats and health risks posed by common, everyday pests is to use an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. IPM is defined by the federal government as a sustainable approach to pest management that combines biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.

Following IPM means using a variety of control methods, not just one. When schools limit the tools available to keep pests at bay, they are limiting the overall effectiveness of pest control programs. Decisions to ban or limit products like pesticides can come at a significant cost to health and safety, as experts agree that the most effective programs are those that include the responsible use of chemical pest control products where necessary.

"There are many different kinds of pests that can show up in a classroom, cafeteria or a schoolyard, and there are usually several options available to deal with these pest problems," says Allen James, president of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, also known as RISE, a national organization representing the manufacturers, formulators and distributors of pesticide and fertilizer products. "The responsible use of pesticides is one of the options needed to keep pests out of the classroom and schoolyards safe, and when applied as part of a broader IPM approach, pesticides are very effective.

"These products are thoroughly tested, regulated and registered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," James says. "They are specifically designed to target the bugs and poisonous plants that can spread disease and pose serious health threats, and they need to be available to school systems for situations where they're the best option available."

Sometimes, pesticides are simply the most practical solution to reduce the risk of injury or illness related to pest infestations, and the control of cockroaches is generally one such case. The presence of cockroaches has been shown to cause significant health problems, especially for young children, and cockroach populations are extremely difficult to manage without the right tools for the job.

In 2005, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, a federal agency funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, published a report identifying cockroach allergens as the primary contributor to childhood asthma in inner-city homes. These allergens - which include roach saliva, fecal matter, secretions, cast skins and dead bodies - were found to foster the development and onset of childhood asthma.

"Cockroaches are a difficult pest to fight without the proper use of pesticides," James explains. "When there are several people in a relatively small space, any contact with roach allergens and bacteria is going to affect more people. That kind of situation arises frequently in homes and also in schools when you get 20 or more kids in the same room for several hours each day. In that type of environment, any kind of exposure to roaches and other causes is going to get magnified."

According to data from the American Lung Association, asthma is the leading serious chronic illness among children under the age of 18 in the United States, affecting approximately 6.8 million children nationwide. Reducing exposure to known allergens is the best way to prevent asthma development and asthma attacks, and prevention starts with the elimination of unnecessary allergens in places where children are going to be for hours on end, like schools and classrooms.

While most of the national conversation might be centered on protecting children from the H1N1 flu virus, the new bug in town is not the only one worthy of attention. With the constant risks of asthma and other pest-related health threats, schools need to carefully consider what pest control tactics make the most sense for their specific situation. Having all of the tools available is the first step toward implementing a successful pest control program that provides the best possible protection each day for children at school - both inside and outside of the classroom.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Friday, October 30, 2009

plus 4 more, “FDA panel backs 1st non-drug asthma treatment - Lincoln Daily News”

FDA panel backs 1st non-drug asthma treatment - Lincoln Daily News
Where to get H1N1 vaccines - Detroit Free Press
The flu watch: Delays and concerns - Dorchester Reporter
Neurotic? It Could Lead to Asthma - ABC News
Stubborn Asthma May Signal Poor Use of Meds - ABC News

FDA panel backs 1st non-drug asthma treatment - Lincoln Daily News

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 06:59 AM PDT

The Food and Drug Administration's panel of respiratory device experts voted 6-1 that Asthmatx's Alair System be approved under certain conditions, including long-term safety monitoring of patients.

The FDA is not required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.

Chief Executive Glen French said he was very pleased with the positive review from the panel.

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Where to get H1N1 vaccines - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 30 Oct 2009 12:02 AM PDT

Vaccines are free of charge, and IDs may be necessary. Unless noted, times are weekly.

In Detroit: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.

• Grace Ross, 313-870-3094, 14585 Greenfield Road.

• Northeast, 313-870-3054, 5400 E. Seven Mile Road.

• Herman Kiefer Pathways Center, 313-876-4826, 1151 Taylor St., and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.

Target population: Pregnant women, children 6 months to 5 years, those living with children 6 months and younger, those ages 5 to 18 with underlying illnesses, health care workers and first-responders.

In Wayne County: 734-727-7000.

• Redford Health Center, 17421 Telegraph Road, 313-537-1708, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Appointment only.

• Taylor Health Center, 26650 Eureka Road, 734-955-3900, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.; 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wed. Walk-ins Mon. and Thu. Appointments only Tue., Wed. and Fri.

• Wayne Health Center, 33030 Van Born Road, 734-727-7100, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.; 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wed. Walk-ins Mon. and Thu. Appointments only Tue., Wed. and Fri.

Target population: Pregnant women, those ages 6 months to 24, those living with children 6 months or younger, adults ages 25 to 64 with conditions like asthma, health care workers and first-responders.

In Macomb County: 586-466-7923, one-time clinics at Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; injectable vaccine only 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.

Target population: Fri. and Sat., pregnant women, those ages 6 months to 24, those living with children 6 months or younger, adults ages 25 to 64 with conditions like asthma, health care workers and emergency medical workers.

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The flu watch: Delays and concerns - Dorchester Reporter

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 09:32 PM PDT

While many health care providers are waiting for additional shipments of both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines, Dorchester has yet to experience large numbers of influenza-like cases this fall.

Still, if the flu season mirrors the spring incidence rate, the number of cases could rise significantly. As a result officials at most health care facilities in Dorchester are advising residents to get both vaccines when they are available.

From April through July, the months when H1N1 first appeared, the incidence of hospitalization due to the H1N1 flu was higher among African Americans and Hispanics in Boston. Of the 72 people hospitalized with severe complications, 35 percent were African American, 28 percent were Hispanics, 15 percent were white and 5 percent represented other groups, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.

African American and Hispanic neighborhoods suffer disproportionately from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma compared to white areas, which makes them more vulnerable to complications from the flu, the commission noted in a report. Also, urban crowding may contribute to the disproportionate spread of the virus.

Dorchester health officials said that they are seeing lower numbers of cases so far this fall and it's difficult to predict what will happen in the coming months.

At the same time, delivery of both seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines has been stalled.

The same pharmaceutical companies are producing both vaccines and experiencing production and distribution pressure, wrote Mass. Department of Health Commissioner John Auerbach in his Oct. 22 blog. "Neither the seasonal nor the H1N1 vaccines are as widely available as we would like," he wrote.

Although Carney Hospital has some seasonal flu vaccine available for its in-patients, the hospital recently had to cancel large-scale clinics because of delays in production for both vaccines. "We still have a limited supply of seasonal flu vaccine for patients, no H1N1 at the moment, and no clear idea when it's going to appear," said Dr. Philip Carling, service chief of infectious disease at Carney Hospital.

Last week, President Obama declared the H1N1 flu a national emergency. The president's action, however, does not change the availability of the vaccine, said Carling, "but it puts people's awareness up a little higher."

The Department of Public Health reported last week that it has already distributed 300,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine statewide. "We estimate that we are expecting about 3.5 million doses of H1N1 that will come throughout the flu season," said spokeswoman Jennifer Manley. "It's all coming in small allotments. We anticipated more at this point, but it's not there. It is a production delay."

The state had indicated to local boards of health to plan for large-scale clinics in mid-November, she said, "but now it's not going to be happening before December."

Of the 885,000 seasonal flu vaccines ordered, as of Oct. 22, the state had received and distributed 631,530 doses. The state distributes about 30 percent of the total flu vaccines dispensed each year and the remaining 70 percent is made available through private-pay sources. The rest of the state's order is expected to come in over the next few weeks and the balance should come in by the end of November.

"Seasonal flu begins around the beginning of December and peaks in January and February," Manley said. "H1N1 is the only type of influenza in the city right now."

Carney Hospital, which held 22 seasonal flu clinics in 2008 and distributed 2,177 doses last year, will likely hold another two dozen or more clinics this year when supplies become available. To date, the hospital has seen few admissions of patients with the H1N1, Dr. Carling said. People should get both vaccines when they can, he added. "I certainly don't see a reason why not. I'm a believer in the flu vaccine. The data is good."

Having the seasonal flu vaccine each year can have an added benefit. "Data have also shown that normal healthy adults have less days missed from work from the flu and due to respiratory infections of any type," Dr. Carling said. "It seems to offer a cross-protectiveness to other viruses. It's been seen over time in the data."

Seasonal flu vaccines are recommended for children ages 6 months to 19; pregnant women; people 50 years or older; people of any age with chronic medical conditions like asthma; health care workers; caregivers of those at high risk of the flu; and those who live in nursing homes, according to the DPH.

The H1N1 vaccine is being made available to such high risk group first, the DPH noted on its website.

Even healthy adults should get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available to them, Dr. Carling said. "We don't know how this is going to evolve over the next year or so," he said. "It's so easy to take the shot. The rate of any complications is so low compared to the risk of influenza itself."

Some believe that those who were born before 1950 may have already been exposed to H1N1 in previous flu seasons. "The probability is that it would not offer a tremendously good immunity." Dr. Carling contends. "It's certainly possible that the illness will be less severe if you had been exposed before. But you still should get the vaccine."

Dr. Robert Hoch, chief medical officer for Harbor Health Services, agreed. "It's very hard to count on immunity. It's hard to know for each individual if they have immunity that is protective or not. The safest thing to do it just to get the vaccine."

Like other health centers, Harbor Health, which operates the Neponset Health Center and Geiger Gibson Health Center, is working with limited supplies.

The Codman Square Health Center is probably seeing about 20 cases of flu each week, said Cecilia Joseph, RN, the center's director of compliance and training. "But we haven't had anyone acutely ill or that would have to go to a hospital," she said. The center has distributed more than 2,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine and nearly 200 doses of H1N1.

The Uphams Corner Health Center has already distributed about 200 H1N1 and more than 500 seasonal flu vaccines, said Ed Grimes, executive director, adding that "as the vaccine comes in we contact patients at risk."

Not all health care providers believe that both vaccines are necessary for all people. Dr. Douglass Bibuld, medical director at the Mattapan Community Health Center, recommends the H1N1 vaccine for people with underlying conditions like asthma, diabetes, respiratory disease or other complications.

"I would also recommend it for children with asthma, or diabetes or other illnesses that could put them at risk," he said. " And for pregnant women. And for young children [in general]. It makes sense for young kids, especially those in day care. But they should also be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. It looks like the seasonal flu is more dangerous than H1N1, especially with younger children."
But he is not convinced that otherwise healthy adults need the H1N1 vaccine. "It seems to be over-hyped. Reports of the H1N1 flu is that it is not as severe as the seasonal flu. Like any virus, flu exists on a spectrum from mild to severe. This particular strain does not appear to be very severe."

He also pointed to cities which had a high incidence rate in the spring and have not seen high rates this fall. "Once we have seen community wide exposure, the incidence is not as high," he said. "The areas who didn't have it in the spring are getting it now. Once you have some exposure, immunity builds up and that slows it down considerably. I think what we've seen so far is probably the worst of it."

For those seeking either or both vaccines, local health officials say stay in touch with doctors, health centers, and the newspapers for announcements. Also, public clinics are listed on websites sponsored by the city.

What to Look For

Symptoms of the flu include a high fever of more than 100 degrees, cough, and sore throat. Some patients also report malaise, tiredness, headache and vomiting. Patients should see a doctor if the fever does not go away quickly with Tylenol or if they have difficulty breathing, she said. For those waiting for the vaccine who are concerned about prevention, all of the health providers encourage people to practice good hand-washing, cough into a sleeve or elbow, and stay home if they do get sick.

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Neurotic? It Could Lead to Asthma - ABC News

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 12:29 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who are neurotic -- they tend to worry a lot and to have emotional ups and downs -- seem to be at increased risk of developing asthma, a new study hints. Those who suffer through a divorce or other relationship conflict are also at risk for asthma, according to the study.

Animal studies have shown that chronic stress alters hormone levels, which can inflame airways making it difficult to breathe. Researchers believe that neurotic character traits may exert similar effects. If so, then helping neurotic people to calm down or "chill out" could, theoretically, reduce their risk of asthma.

Dr. Adrian Loerbroks from Heidelberg University, Germany and colleagues explored associations between neuroticism, stressful life events and asthma by surveying a sample of 5,114 men and women aged 40 to 65 years from Heidelberg and its surroundings.

Right from the start, they noticed a link between asthma and neuroticism in men, and between asthma and unemployment in both sexes. In women, having broken off a life relationship was associated with having asthma.

Among the 4,520 individuals reported to be free of asthma at the start of the study, 63 or about 2 percent, developed asthma during a median follow-up of more than 8 years, they report in the latest issue of the journal Allergy.

According to the investigators, individuals who were highly neurotic were three times more likely to develop asthma than those who were less neurotic, and breaking off a life partnership increased the risk of asthma development by more than twofold.

The link between high neuroticism and the development of asthma was present in women and men, whereas breaking off a life relationship increased asthma risk only in women.

Unemployment and death of a close person were not significantly associated with the development of asthma, the researchers note.

The researchers call for more study on personality traits, stress and asthma.

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Stubborn Asthma May Signal Poor Use of Meds - ABC News

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 11:24 AM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with difficult-to-control asthma are often not taking their anti-asthma medication as prescribed by their doctor, new study findings indicate.

Even when prescribed high doses of steroids, about 5 percent of adults with asthma remain difficult to control, with persistent symptoms and frequent flare-ups, Dr. Liam G. Heaney at Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and colleagues have found.

They thus remain at high risk for fatal or near-fatal asthma attacks. While not taking medication as prescribed is believed to contribute to this problem, its prevalence is unknown.

To find out, Heaney's group studied 182 patients referred to the Northern Ireland Regional Difficult Asthma Service. Nonadherence to anti-asthma therapy was not suspected as a major issue, and all patients denied not taking their medicine at their first visit to the clinic.

Nonetheless, it was found that 35 percent of these patients had filled no more than half their prescriptions for inhaled steroids, and these patients were more likely to have been hospitalized at least 3 times in the previous year.

Women were most apt to be lax in taking their asthma controller medication as prescribed, the researchers note in the latest issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Among 51 asthma patients who were supposed to be using oral prednisolone, blood tests showed that 45 percent were nonadherent.

After being confronted about their prescription data, 88 percent admitted their poor compliance.

"One could speculate that if (patients) took regular preventative therapy (as prescribed) their asthma would probably improve substantially," Heaney and colleagues conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, November 1, 2009.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

plus 4 more, “FDA panel backs first non-drug asthma treatment - PhysOrg”

FDA panel backs first non-drug asthma treatment - PhysOrg
FDA Panel Backs First Non-Drug Asthma Treatment - FOX News
'Americans first' before US donates H1N1 flu vaccine - AlterNet
Fibre keeps asthma, diabetes at bay - Health 24
Asthma patients wait for H1N1 vaccine - WPRI

FDA panel backs first non-drug asthma treatment - PhysOrg

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 03:17 AM PDT

FDA panel backs first non-drug asthma treatment

October 29th, 2009 By MATTHEW PERRONE , AP Business Writer

(AP) -- Federal health advisers on Wednesday said a novel technology from a small medical technology firm should be approved as the first non-drug treatment for asthma.

The Food and Drug Administration's panel of respiratory device experts voted 6-1 that Asthmatx's Alair System be approved under certain conditions, including long-term safety monitoring of patients.

The FDA is not required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.

Chief Executive Glen French said he was very pleased with the positive review from the panel.

"Our biggest opportunity and the location in which we can most efficiently market the product is in the U.S.," French said.

Asthma medications were among the top-selling drugs in the U.S. last year, with sales of more than $4.8 billion, according to health care data firm IMS Health.

The Alair System is Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Asthmatx's only product. The privately-held company planned to make an initial public offering in 2006, but ultimately backed away from the plan.

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FDA Panel Backs First Non-Drug Asthma Treatment - FOX News

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 04:21 AM PDT

Federal health advisers on Wednesday said a novel technology from a small medical technology firm should be approved as the first non-drug treatment for asthma.

The Food and Drug Administration's panel of respiratory device experts voted 6-1 that Asthmatx's Alair System be approved under certain conditions, including long-term safety monitoring of patients.

The FDA is not required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.

Chief Executive Glen French said he was very pleased with the positive review from the panel.

"Our biggest opportunity and the location in which we can most efficiently market the product is in the U.S.," French said.

Asthma medications were among the top-selling drugs in the U.S. last year, with sales of more than $4.8 billion, according to health care data firm IMS Health.

The Alair System is Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Asthmatx's only product. The privately-held company planned to make an initial public offering in 2006, but ultimately backed away from the plan.

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'Americans first' before US donates H1N1 flu vaccine - AlterNet

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 05:11 AM PDT

The United States will not donate swine flu vaccine to poor countries until at-risk Americans have been inoculated against H1N1, an official said Wednesday.

"As vaccine becomes more available, I think evaluation will be made as to when it's appropriate for donation to begin, but I can tell you at this point the priority is getting the vaccine to citizens in this country, and that's what we're working on 24/7," US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

"It has always been the president's intention that the safety and security of the American people be a priority in the production and distribution" of the vaccine against the new strain of H1N1 flu, Sebelius said.

The White House pledged last month to make US stocks of H1N1 vaccine "available to the World Health Organization on a rolling basis as vaccine supplies become available, in order to assist countries that will not otherwise have direct access to the vaccine."

The WHO has said donations of the vaccine from a US-led group of rich nations to about 100 developing countries could begin as early as November.

But since the first doses of vaccine were rolled out in the United States three weeks ago, officials have been forced to admit that H1N1 shots and nasal spray doses were not being delivered as quickly or in the quantities initially projected.

In mid-October, as H1N1 deaths rose and flu spread across the United States, vaccine manufacturers warned of production slow-downs and health officials said supply would fall about 10 million doses short of the 40 million doses they had expected to have by the end of this month.

Long lines formed outside vaccination clinics around the United States, with many people turned away as supplies ran dry.

Sebelius said 23 million doses of vaccine have been made available to state health authorities since the vaccine was first rolled out three weeks ago. Nine million doses came into the distribution pipeline in the past week alone, she said.

The states are giving the vaccine to people in five at-risk groups -- children and young adults, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, health care workers and caregivers of infants younger than six months who cannot themselves be inoculated.

Those five priority groups for vaccination number around 150 million people. Orders have been placed for 250 million doses of vaccine, but "it was never going to be available all at the same time," said Sebelius.

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Fibre keeps asthma, diabetes at bay - Health 24

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 01:58 AM PDT

Created: Thursday, October 29, 2009 Print

An apple a day may keep the doctor away but a fibre-filled diet could also hold the key to keeping asthma, diabetes and arthritis at bay, according to Australian research.

Scientists at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research say that fibre not only helps keep people regular, it boosts the immune system so it can better combat inflammatory diseases.

When foods high in fibre, such as dried fruit and beans, reach the gut, bacteria convert them to compounds known as short chain fatty acids. These acids are known to alleviate some inflammatory disease in the bowel.

Researcher Charles Mackay said that the team, which worked with scientists in Australia, the US and Brazil, was able to draw a clearer picture of this relationship, work which has implications for other diseases.

How the study was done
They demonstrated that a molecule used by immune cells and previously shown to bind short chain fatty acids also functioned as an anti-inflammatory.

"The important point about our work is that we provide the molecular explanation that links fibre in the diet to the micro-organisms in our gut to the affect on the immune response," Professor Charles Mackay said.

The research, published in the latest edition of Nature, indicated that diet may have profound effects on immune responses or inflammatory diseases, he said.

"We believe that changes in diet, associated with western lifestyles, contribute to the increasing incidences of asthma, Type 1 diabetes and other auto-immune diseases," he said.

"Now we have a new molecular mechanism that might explain how diet is affecting our immune systems." – (Sapa, October 2009)

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Asthma patients wait for H1N1 vaccine - WPRI

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 09:19 PM PDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Centers for Disease Control has released guidelines addressing which groups of people should be a priority to receive the H1N1 vaccine first. The list includes children with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, but Rhode Island officials are not placing children with that condition ahead of other kids.

Now many parents of asthmatic children are asking Health Department officials to reconsider their vaccination plans, to give children with special needs quicker access to the vaccines.

Steve Merolla of Warwick is worried about his six-year-old daughter, Isabella, who suffers from asthma. She is not scheduled to receive the shot until December 10th, when the rest of her class is vaccinated. Merolla wants officials here in the Ocean State to consider following the CDC's guidelines.

Rhode Island Department of Health Spokeswoman Annmarie Beardsworth responded by saying although the CDC has laid out the guidelines, individual states are in charge of exactly how they plan to carry out their vaccinating schedules.

Beardsworth also says all children in Rhode Island and pregnant women are first in line to receive the shot. She adds that those two groups are already in front of health care workers, first responders, college students, and adults with underlying medical conditions.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

plus 4 more, “Where to get H1N1 vaccines - Detroit Free Press”

Where to get H1N1 vaccines - Detroit Free Press
Vaccination time - Marietta Times
Dad of 13-year-old killed by swine flu urges parents to watch kids ... - CP24& Canada
'He fell so quicky,' dad says - Winnipeg Free Press
Variety is the spice of CrossFit - Delaware Online

Where to get H1N1 vaccines - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 04:58 AM PDT

Vaccines are free of charge.

In Detroit: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. today.

• Grace Ross, 313-870-3094, 14585 Greenfield Road.

• Northeast, 313-870-3054, 5400 E. Seven Mile Road.

• Herman Kiefer Pathways Center, 313-876-4826, 1151 Taylor St., and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.

In Wayne County: 734-727-7000

• Redford Health Center, 17421 Telegraph Road, 313-537-1708, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Appointment only.

• Taylor Health Center, 26650 Eureka Road, 734-955-3900, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.; 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. today. Walk-ins Mon. and Thurs. Appointments only Tues., Wed. and Fri.

• Wayne Health Center, 33030 Van Born Road, 734-727-7100, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.; 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. today. Walk-ins Mon. and Thurs. Appointments only Tues., Wed. and Fri.

Target population: Pregnant women, those ages 6 months to 24, those living with children 6 months or younger, adults age 25 to 64 with conditions like asthma, health care workers and first-responders.

In Oakland County: 800-434-3358, James R. Geisler Middle School, 46720 W. Pontiac Trail, Commerce Township, 3:30-9 p.m. Thurs.

In Macomb County: 586-466-7923, Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights, nasal vaccine only 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today, noon-7 p.m. Thurs.; injectable vaccine only 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.

Target population: Today and Thurs.: Healthy people ages 2 to 24 who aren't pregnant, ages 25 to 64, those who live with children 6 months or younger, emergency personnel age 25 to 49. Fri. and Sat.: Pregnant women, those ages 6 months to 24, those living with children 6 months or younger, adults age 25 to 64 with conditions like asthma, health care workers and first-responders.

In Livingston County: 517-546-9850, Department of Public Health, 2300 E. Grand River, noon-5 p.m. Thurs.

Target population: Call for details.

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Vaccination time - Marietta Times

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 04:51 AM PDT

Vaccination time

People wrestle with decision about H1N1

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com

Article Photos

Fact Box

What's ahead

- An H1N1 vaccination clinic is scheduled at the Marietta City Health Department at 304 Putnam St. beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, until the allotted vaccine is depleted. The vaccinations are for pregnant women; children 6 months to 24 years; caregivers (parents, grandparents and baby-sitters) of infants less than 6 months old; health care professionals and emergency medical services personnel; and anyone ages 6 months to 64 years with underlying health conditions (i.e. diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or immunocompromised individuals).

- The city health department will continue to administer H1N1 vaccinations at Putnam Elementary School today.

- On Thursday and Friday, the city health department will conduct vaccinations at Harmar Elementary.

- The health department has also scheduled H1N1 vaccinations at Washington Elementary School on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

- The Washington County Health Department expects to begin administering H1N1 vaccinations at county schools outside the city of Marietta by the end of next week.

Nine-year-old John Mannix managed a brave smile as he joined approximately 100 other Putnam Elementary School students who were vaccinated against the H1N1 virus Tuesday.

John and his brother, Ryan, 7, will return in a month for a booster vaccination.

"Anyone under 10 years of age has to get a booster after 30 days," explained Cindy Farr, registered nurse with the Marietta City Health Department, which began administering the vaccinations at city schools this week.

The boys' mother, Holli Mannix, said the decision to have her sons innoculated wasn't made quickly.

"My husband, Bill, and I just decided yesterday," she said. "We've talked to a lot of parents since we heard they would be offering vaccinations in the schools.

"I would say about 50 percent were going to have their children vaccinated, and the other 50 percent were not," Mannix added. "Even some doctors were not going to have their kids vaccinated."

She said many parents were not sure if the vaccine had been tested enough or whether there could be side effects.

"But my pediatrician was for it, so we decided to have the boys vaccinated," Mannix said.

Putnam Elementary Principal Joe Finley said less than half of the school's 257 students received the H1N1 vaccine. He noted that the decision of whether to vaccinate was left up to parents who filled out permission forms provided in advance by the city health department.

"Everything went smoothly today," Finley said. "And this was a real cooperative effort that included the school, city health department, Washington State Community College and the Washington County Career Center."

Nursing students from Washington State and the career center assisted with the inoculations.

Marietta schools nurse Renea Ball, who also helped with the Putnam Elementary vaccinations, said some parents were seeking her advice about the vaccine.

"They asked what I would be doing with my own children," she said. "I told them I had checked with my pediatrician, and I will have them vaccinated."

Vickie Kelly, director of nursing for the city health department, said Tuesday's vaccinations at the school went very well, and noted that the innoculations would continue today.

"We're also scheduled to do vaccinations at Harmar Elementary on Thursday and Friday, and I have sent letters to parents of students at Washington Elementary, where we will administer vaccinations next week," she said.

Health department nurse Jonni Tucker said a limited supply of H1N1 vaccine would be available during a clinic for those most at risk from catching the virus at the city health department starting at 8 a.m. Monday until all of the allotted vaccine is depleted. She added that other clinics would be scheduled as vaccine becomes available.

"Weekly shipments of the vaccine are being released, and we're distributing it as quickly as possible, so if people miss Monday's clinic, there will be other opportunities," Tucker said.

She noted that the city health department began administering H1N1 vaccinations earlier this month to health care workers, including physicians, dentists and fire and emergency medical personnel.

"We probably vaccinated around 100 health workers in all," she said.

Tuesday was also the first H1N1 vaccination clinic for pregnant women at the Washington County Health Department.

"I like this setup much better than the one in Parkersburg last week," said Danny Dean, of Parkersburg. "One of my daughters took her children to be vaccinated (Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department), and they stood for more than three hours in the rain before getting the vaccine."

The line of expectant mothers at Tuesday's Washington County clinic was not that lengthy, but it extended through a couple of long hallways at the health department as women patiently waited their turn for a vaccination.

"We started just before 2 p.m., and at that time there was a short line along the wall outside the building," said Kathleen Meckstroth, county health commissioner.

She said doors would be closed at 6 p.m. sharp, although anyone in line at that time would receive the vaccine.

Meckstroth said she believed there was plenty of vaccine for Tuesday's clinic.

"There are about 600 to 700 births in Washington County every year, and I'm certain we have enough to cover those," she said.

"We hope by the end of next week to begin conducting vaccinations in the county schools outside of Marietta," Meckstroth said. "No schools have been scheduled yet, but we're trying to cover pre-school and kindergarten through elementary schools."

She wasn't sure if there would be another clinic scheduled for pregnant mothers only, but added that there would be other clinics depending on when vaccine becomes available.

Denine Stewart, 29, of Little Hocking is eight months pregnant and received her first-ever flu vaccine during Tuesday's clinic at the county health department.

"I have two other children, and I've never had any flu vaccinations," she said. "So I wasn't sure about this, but I talked to my doctor and he strongly recommended it."

The baby's father, Chad Westbrook, said he's still not certain about getting the shot for himself.

"But her doctor said one in three pregnant women who get this virus will die, so she needs this vaccination," he said.

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Dad of 13-year-old killed by swine flu urges parents to watch kids ... - CP24& Canada

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 03:32 AM PDT

The Canadian Press

Paul Frustaglio reacts while talking to the media about the death of his thirteen-year-old son Evan Frustaglio in Toronto, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. A grief-stricken father whose otherwise healthy teenage son died suddenly from the swine flu struggled to make sense of the tragedy Tuesday and urged other parents to keep a close eye on their ill children. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

TORONTO — The swine-flu death of an otherwise healthy hockey-playing teen came without warning and should serve as a lesson to parents to keep a close eye on their ill children, the boy's grief-stricken father said Tuesday.

Paul Frustaglio said it took barely more than a day for the H1N1 flu virus to kill Evan -- his "best friend" -- who turned 13 last month, a fatality that public health officials called rare.

"He fell so quickly," Frustaglio told The Canadian Press. "I was watching him. I was there when he died."

Evan's death Monday came on the same day health authorities across Canada began rolling out a vaccination program against H1N1.

The teen would not have been considered a priority for the flu shot because he wasn't in a high-risk group.

The Grade 8 student began feeling ill over the weekend during a hockey tournament. His symptoms included fever and some vomiting.

His dad took him to a walk-in clinic on Sunday afternoon, where he was seen and sent home with advice to take over-the-counter medication.

The family felt confident it was a simple case of flu that would soon pass.

That seemed to be happening. By Monday morning, his fever had broken and he was no longer nauseated. The family thought he was on the mend.

Evan asked to take a bath. Ten minutes later, as his horrified father watched, he suddenly went limp.

His father tried CPR as paramedics rushed to the west-end home.

"They worked on my son feverishly for over two hours," Frustaglio said. "His heart wasn't responding. The disease had taken over his heart."

The tragedy follows the death Saturday of a 10-year-old eastern Ontario girl from H1N1. Vanetia Warner of Cornwall, Ont., was sick for several days before her condition rapidly deteriorated.

She died Saturday in Ottawa. It was not immediately known if she had any underlying medical conditions.

The swine flu has now killed close to 100 people across Canada. Ontario has had close to 30 deaths, six of them children, since April.

Three more deaths in British Columbia over the past week raised that province's total to 12.

Most victims -- about 90 per cent -- had underlying health conditions.

"Death is a rare event, and it's a particularly rare event in young people," said Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's medical officer of health.

Why the same strain of virus can cause mild symptoms in one healthy person and be lethal in another is a mystery, although its newness may be a factor.

"We don't have all of the answers," King said. "The key thing for all of us is to try to prevent ourselves from getting infected to begin with."

Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, said Evan had "mild asthma," something his father disputed.

"Evan didn't have asthma; he had been prescribed puffers a few years ago when he had a cold," Frustaglio said.

A spokeswoman for Toronto public health later said the boy did not have asthma and the earlier statement had resulted from some confusion concerning his medical records.

Mary Margaret Crapper said Evan had no underlying health issues that public health was aware of.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed sympathy for the family, calling it a "terrible tragedy."

The province, he said, was doing everything it could to provide a vaccination program as quickly as possible.

"I continue to have confidence in our public health officials," McGuinty said.

"They're making the right decisions, getting the vaccine into the communities as quickly as they can and respecting the order of priorities that they've put in place."

Frustaglio refused to criticize the walk-in clinic, saying he was in too much grief to think about what might have been done differently.

However, he did warn parents against complacency or thinking that patients with swine flu will show symptoms for many days before deteriorating gradually.

"This didn't even take a day and a half -- it hit my son within 10 minutes," he said.

"If any one of your children has any kind of flu-like symptoms, please don't take your eyes off of them. Make sure you get the medical attention you need and, if at any time, they don't seem right, especially with their breathing, just get medical attention."

Evan's family began taking Tamiflu after his death as a precaution and immediately informed Evan's teammates of what had happened so they, too, could seek medical attention.

Evan is survived by his brother Will, 10, and his mom, Anne-Marie, who was too distressed to speak about her loss.

"I'm really having a hard time with this," she said.

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews said the "very sad case" should impress on people the need to get inoculated.

"It doesn't protect just you, it protects all the people around you," Matthews said.

Evans' death sparked an outpouring of sympathy and tributes on Facebook and YouTube, with numerous pictures and even a tribute video.

One Facebook writer said she hoped the tragedy would heighten awareness of the dangers of H1N1.

"I feel for your loss; my heart aches for your sorrow," Tracey Parr wrote.

"Hope Evan's passing will heighten the awareness of this flu, and preventative measures needed to be taken."

Frustaglio called Evan a "wonderful" boy who was "full of spirit." His son had switched this year to the Hill Academy north of Toronto -- a small school with an emphasis on athletics -- because "it was all about hockey."

"My son is gone. He was here just 24 hours ago and now he's not here. He was 13. He didn't deserve to die," he said.

"Whenever you hear stories like this in the press, I say to myself, 'Oh my god, I can never imagine how I could ever live without one of my kids,' and now I'm asking myself that question."

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'He fell so quicky,' dad says - Winnipeg Free Press

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 06:10 AM PDT

Enlarge Image

Paul Frustaglio (NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Enlarge Image

Evan Frustaglio, 13, began feeling sick over the weekend and even though he appeared to be recovering, he died on Monday. (FAMILY PHOTO / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- The H1N1-flu death of an otherwise healthy hockey-playing teen came without warning and should serve as a lesson to parents to keep a close eye on their ill children, the boy's grief-stricken father said Tuesday.

Paul Frustaglio said it took barely more than a day for the H1N1 flu virus to kill Evan -- his "best friend" -- who turned 13 last month, a fatality that public health officials called rare.

"He fell so quickly," Frustaglio told The Canadian Press. "I was watching him. I was there when he died."