Epidemiology: April 2005 Archives

Congressional and Public Affairs
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Steven Cohen
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2005 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) isssuing a public health alert to remind consumers to ensure that frozen meat and poultry products are fully cooked before they are consumed. Using a food thermometer is the only sure way of knowing if your food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria.

Full Article: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_042005_01/index.asp

After decades of under-investment, our public health system lacks the resources it needs to tackle the full range of health threats -- from preparing for potential chemical or biological attacks, to addressing the serious chronic disease epidemics of cancer or asthma, or responding to emerging infectious diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Avian Flu. As the leading federal agency responsible for protecting the public’s health, the CDC’s budget must reflect the vital role it plays in the lives of every individual, every day, and its increasing responsibilities for homeland security.

Full Article: http://healthyamericans.org/policy/criticalcare/

Washington -- Three vaccine scenarios are being eyed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the upcoming flu season: rain, shine or hurricane.

A "rainy" scenario, the one the agency considers realistic, would mimic last season's scattered storms of accessibility. The supply would be about 60 million doses of injectable flu vaccine and 3 million doses of nasal vaccine, said Lance E. Rodewald, MD, director of the CDC's Immunization Services Division, speaking during last month's 39th National Immunization Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference, sponsored by the CDC, brought officials together to assess the most recent flu season and look to the upcoming one.

Full Article: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/04/18/hlsc0418.htm

MONDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- An antibody called Sphingomab shows promise in treating some of the most deadly kinds of tumors, according to studies presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Anaheim, Calif.

Researchers say Sphingomab has been tested in several animal models of human cancer and was found to significantly slow cancer growth on a consistent basis. In some cases, it eliminated the tumor.

The antibody, developed by San Diego-based Lpath Therapeutics Inc., targets sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a compound thought to play a role in cancer cell growth and spread. In animal studies, Sphingomab blocked the effects of S1P on cancer cells and also prevented formation of new blood vessels that feed growing tumors.

Full Article: http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=525131