PROFNET WIRE: HEALTH & MEDICINE: Bird Flu

Feb. 24, 2006

_________ ROUND-UPS

Bird Flu (continued, 15 experts) Treatments for ADHD (continued, 1 expert) Emergency Care System (continued, 1 expert) Juveniles with Adult-Onset Diabetes (continued, 1 expert)

_____ LEADS

1. Fitness: Fight Off the Flab With Fido 2. Health: The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman 3. Health: Tips for Getting a Better Night’s Rest 4. Nutrition: Dietary Supplement Safety for Teens

ROUND-UP: BIRD FLU (continued)

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**1. RICHARD “MICK” FULTON, associate professor of avian diseases at MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: “With the Asian strain of avian flu, farmers can expect to see very few symptoms — maybe sneezing, coughing and/or explosive diarrhea. Most likely the birds will be okay today and 80-90 percent of the birds will be dead the next day. If the Asian strain does not develop the ability to go from person to person, I expect our hemisphere to see it in one or two years through migratory waterfowl. If it does develop that ability, all bets are off. It will get here by airplanes like SARS did.” News Contact: Tom Oswald, oswald@msu.edu Phone: +1-517-355-2281 (2/23/06)

**2. DR. JOHN BEADLE, M.D., chief medical officer for POWDERMED, is an expert on infectious disease and vaccine development: “It’s highly unlikely that egg- and cell-based vaccines will play a role during the first wave of a pandemic, since production simply takes too long. By contrast, a plasmid DNA vaccine is capable of producing up to 150 million vaccine doses in a three- month period. Because more vaccine can be administered during the first six months, a DNA vaccine approach has more potential to limit the burden of disease.” Beadle has led the development of PowderMed’s novel DNA-based H5N1 vaccine that is delivered needle-free into the skin. News Contact: Erik Clausen, eclausen@schwartz-pr.com Phone: +1-781-684-0770 (2/23/06)

**3. VERNELLIA RANDALL, professor of health care law at the UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON: “A quarantine should be used only in instances of high death, not high illness. Two or three deaths, while unfortunate, is not a pandemic. State or federal officials only can declare one with input from local health officials. There can be many declarations, such as housebound or no travel into or out of a particular area. In severe cases, it is perfectly legal to have military enforcement and use of force to stop anyone from breaking the quarantine.” The National Law Journal and American Medical News have quoted Randall about health care issues. She served as a consultant to the Clinton administration committee on health care reform. News Contact: Shawn Robinson, srobinson@udayton.edu Phone: 937-229-3391 (2/23/06)

**4. BRUCE R. CORDS, Ph.D., vice president of environment, food safety and public health at ECOLAB, is a recognized expert on food illness and food security issues: “Since the H5N1 strain has yet to mutate into a human-to- human pathogen, we don’t know exactly what products or methods would eliminate it. But we do know that similar avian influenza strains can be killed relatively easily with current technology and practices. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat and can be killed by cooking the meat to the proper internal temperature (165 F/74 C). Also, keeping frequently used surfaces and objects washed, rinsed and sanitized with the appropriate EPA- registered sanitizer will help reduce the risk of spreading illnesses, including the H5N1 virus.” News Contact: Bill Gray, btgray@webershandwick.com Phone: +1-952-346-6226 (2/23/06)

**5. YANZHONG HUANG, assistant professor and director of the Center for Global Health Studies at SETON HALL UNIVERSITY’s Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations, is an expert on the bird flu and pandemics: “Mass culling of infected and exposed birds appeared to work well in containing a potential outbreak in Asia. Quarantine and isolation will be used to prevent the spread of a pandemic flu, but they won’t be very effective. One reason is that, unlike SARS, flu patients are contagious before they show symptoms, and flu is much more contagious than SARS.” News Contact: Jill Matthews, mattheji@shu.edu Phone: +1-973-378-2695 (2/23/06)

**6. GALIT SHMUELI, assistant professor of management science and statistics at the UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, is known for her research contributions to developing bio-surveillance systems. Topics for discussion include the development of a flu surveillance system for early warning of pandemic: “Early warning systems monitor data sources that would contain an early signature of an (avian flu) outbreak. This includes over- the-counter medication sales and complaints of patients when they first reach emergency departments.” News Contact: Angela Toda, atoda@rhsmith.umd.edu Phone: +1-301-405-8062 (2/23/06)

**7. JOYDEEP SRIVASTAVA, associate professor of marketing at the UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, is an expert in consumer decision making and consumer psychology: “With the emphasis of all media shifting from ‘if’ it will strike to ‘when’ it will strike, people are fearful and anxious about the imminent threat. They may not process all the information that is available and may succumb to bogus claims of efficacious protection against the avian flu.” Topics for discussion include a proliferation of “fear-based” marketing of cures and preventatives. News Contact: Angela Toda, atoda@rhsmith.umd.edu Phone: +1-301-405-8062 (2/23/06)

**8. PETER W. GOLD, director of communications at the NATIONAL CENTER FOR HOMEOPATHY, has extensive epidemiological data from the Pandemic of 1918-19: “In a study examining approximately 61,000 confirmed cases of Spanish flu (a strain genetically very similar to the current bird flu), those treated by homeopathy had mortality rates a fraction of those seen in nature and under allopathic care (0.7 percent vs. 30 percent). Homeopathy offers much hope for treatment and containment of an outbreak.” Gold: peter_gold@goldorluk.com Phone: +1-860-674-1500 (2/23/06)

**9. GRATTAN WOODSON, M.D., F.A.C.P., physician at the DRUID OAKS HEALTH CENTER in Decatur, Ga., and author of “The Bird Flu Preparedness Planner”: “Many Katrina victims suffered because they trusted their care to others. People who are prepared, not panicked, tend to survive. After studying the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, I surmised we would be doomed by relying solely on the high-tech, hospital-based approach. Our best hope lies in a simplified treatment plan for flu victims that could be administered by family or friends. For my patients, I developed a treatment that is low-tech, inexpensive, requires a minimum of medical skills and mostly uses routine items found in kitchens together with common OTC medications. The simple techniques are designed to provide the flu patient with the support necessary to make it through his or her illness and then to recovery. Everyone can learn these simple methods with no experience required.” News Contact: Kim Weiss, kimw@hcibooks.com Phone: +1-800-851-9100, ext. 212 (2/23/06)

**10. GINA KOLATA, an award-winning science reporter for The New York Times and the author of “Clone: The Road to Dolly and the Path Ahead” and “FLU: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It,” can discuss scientific aspects of the avian flu, as well as its comparison to the 1918 epidemic. Kolata recently wrote a new afterword for “FLU” that is dedicated to the avian flu. Kolata brings the story of the search for the 1918 flu virus up to the present day, relating how scientists have just learned that the 1918 virus was actually a bird virus that jumped directly to humans, and revealing the newly emerging understanding of why and how that virus was so deadly. News Contact: Kelly Bowen, Kelly.Bowen@simonandschuster.com Phone: +1-212-698-1296 (2/23/06)

**11. BRIAN CURRIE, M.D., MPH, senior medical director at MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER, is a specialist in epidemiology and infectious diseases, and is exceptionally informed and lucid on avian flu. Currie is a member of national and state infectious-disease professional societies; a sentinel physician in the Emerging Infections Network, sponsored by the Infectious Diseases Society of America; and a fellow and consultant for domestic and international field operations for the Wildlife Conservation Society. He also belongs to The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, American Society of Microbiology, NYS State Infectious Disease Society, etc. News Contact: Amy Losak, amy.losak@ketchum.com Phone: +1-646-935-3917 (2/23/06)

**12. DR. JEFF KALINA, associate director of emergency services at THE METHODIST HOSPITAL in Houston, is an expert on disaster preparedness and chairs the Texas Medical Center Disaster Preparedness committee. Kalina has participated in mass-casualty response on various scales. He is extensively trained in disaster management by FEMA, the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Secret Service. He has written and participated in writing disaster plans for large cities, hospitals and the Texas Medical Center. He was the physician director to Pope John Paul II’s last visit to the United States. He is also the former medical director of the St. Louis Fire Department, and a former clinical instructor in emergency medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. News Contact: Erin Fairchild, efairchild@tmh.tmc.edu Phone: +1-832-667-5811 (2/23/06)

**13. CHRIS P. MELANCON, director of biosecurity at APPLIED BOSYSTEMS, can provide comments on the following: 1) the need for new, faster and reliable avian influenza detection technologies; 2) the importance of validating new detection technologies against currently circulating viral samples; and 3) Applied Biosystems’ development of real-time PCR avian influenza detection kits that can identify infected samples in two hours. News Contact: Michael Long, michael_long@sfo.cohnwolfe.com Phone: +1-415-365-8523 (2/23/06)

**14. DENNIS J. DOWLING, D.O., M.A., an osteopathic physician, can provide information on using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to treat influenza in the event of a pandemic. He is a member of the editorial advisory board for The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) and past president of the American Academy of Osteopathy. News Contact: Theresa Chu, tchu@osteopathic.org Phone: +1-312-202-8159 (2/23/06)

**15. MARC SIEGEL, M.D. of NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, is the author of “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic,” which addresses all of the most pressing questions about the avian flu and flu fears in Siegel’s characteristically calm and clear manner. “Bird Flu” provides information in proper context, and provides clues to government, as well as personal, preparation for both the more likely and worst-case scenarios. News Contact: Mike Onorato, monorato@wiley.com Phone: +1-201-748-6361 (2/23/06)

ROUND-UP: TREATMENTS FOR ADHD (continued)

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**1. MARINA KUSHNER, author of the “Truth About Caffeine” and founder of the Caffeine Awareness Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that sponsors “Caffeine Awareness Month”: “Caffeine has been found to alter the behavior of ADD children in a manner resembling more widely prescribed stimulant medications.” Kushner: worthwhilecause@yahoo.com Phone: +1-815-572-8007 (2/23/06)

ROUND-UP: EMERGENCY CARE SYSTEM (continued)

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**1. RICHARD MACKENZIE, M.D., vice chair of emergency medicine at LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL AND HEALTH NETWORK (LVHHN): “To correct emergency department (ED) overcrowding, hospitals need to address overall capacity issues, not just ED capacity.” At LVHHN, which sees about 110,000 patients in the ED annually, MacKenzie was instrumental in streamlining and automating the hospital’s entire bed management system and making specific system improvements in the ED. The result was improving bed turnaround time, seeing emergency department patients faster and keeping them less time, reducing ambulance diversions and increasing patient satisfaction. These results have drawn site visits from about 100 hospitals from around the world and representatives from the Centers for Disease Control, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security. MacKenzie can discuss the likelihood of reaching these results nationally and how a real-time bed capacity system can be used in disasters. News Contact: Gary Kimball, gkimball@kimballcomm.com Phone: +1-610-559-7585 (2/23/06)

ROUND-UP: JUVENILES WITH ADULT-ONSET DIABETES (continued)

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**1. BYRON COTTON, M.D., a primary care physician with CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA, oversees the Type 2 Diabetes Program, which is designed to decrease the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in youth. His work includes identifying risk factors associated with the disease and working with families to lower their child’s risk factors through healthy lifestyle changes. News Contact: Brian Katzowitz, brian.katzowitz@choa.org Phone: +1- 404-785-7571 (2/23/06)

_____ LEADS

**1. FITNESS: FIGHT OFF THE FLAB WITH FIDO. DR. CAROL OSBORNE, D.V.M., veterinarian and anti-aging pet expert: “Obesity has become an epidemic, with over 65 percent of people and pets putting on excess pounds. Recent research indicates that losing weight with Fido may be the answer. Eating and exercising together, along with weekly weight checks, are positive and beneficial for individuals trying to fight off the flab. Using your dog as your buddy provides a positive stimulus for people to lose excess pounds and keep them off. A healthy diet, nutritional supplementation and a couple of brisk daily walks is all it takes to get yourself and your pet into tip-top shape. It’s effective and fun for the whole family.” Osborne: drcarol@drcarol.com Phone: +1-440-287-6787 (2/23/06)

**2. HEALTH: THE HORMONALLY VULNERABLE WOMAN. GEOFFREY REDMOND, M.D., leading endocrinologist and author of “The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman”: “Twenty-five million American women suddenly find that their hormones are ruining their lives, but are unable to receive the medical help they need. They go to their doctors, who say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you.’ But there is something wrong. There are solutions for adult acne, female hair loss, lack of sexual desire, bioidentical hormone replacement, cramps, PMS and more.” News Contact: Maryann Palumbo, mpmarkcon@aol.com Phone: +1-718- 680-6483 (2/23/06)

**3. HEALTH: TIPS FOR GETTING A BETTER NIGHT’S REST. MICHAEL WILES, dean of the chiropractic program at NORTHWESTERN HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY: “For people suffering from physical ailments, a good night’s rest can definitely speed the healing process. Unfortunately, many people find it difficult to get enough sleep or to sleep well. Sometimes, poor habits are the cause of a poor night’s sleep, but other times, it is because people sleep in a posture that puts a strain on their bodies.” Wiles has four tips for better sleep posture. News Contact: Jaime Hunt, jhunt@nwhealth.edu Phone: +1-952-888-4777, ext. 172 (2/23/06)

**4. NUTRITION: DIETARY SUPPLEMENT SAFETY FOR TEENS. DIANE KING, athletic trainer and registered dietician at CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA, can discuss diet supplement safety for teens: “Unfortunately, supplement companies don’t have to actually prove that their products work. In fact, they don’t even have to prove they are safe before they are sold to the public.” In honor of March being “National Athletic Trainer’s Month,” the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine department has put together an updated fact sheet pertaining to the safety of many popular dietary supplements, including ephedra and energy drinks. News Contact: Jason Rollins, jason.rollins@choa.org Phone: +1-404-784-7741 (2/23/06)

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