Guest guest Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 By Kari Lydersen, AlterNet. Posted October 19, 2004. Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne virus in the country, killing up to 10,000 people a year. So why aren't public health officials doing more? Although hepatitis C has often been called the " silent epidemic " (since 75 percent of people who carry the virus don't know it), with at least 4 million people in the U.S. now infected, hep C is starting to make itself heard. " It's clear it's a significant public health problem that hasn't received the attention it needs, " said Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. " When I was in medical school it wasn't even talked about. We called it 'non A or B hepatitis' and it was this gray area that wasn't thought to be a big deal. It turns out it's a very big deal " Such a big deal that former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop calls hepatitis C " an even graver threat to our public health " than AIDS. Nearly four times as many Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) as with HIV. Each year, 8,000-10,000 Americans die from hep C-related disease. Some people carry the virus throughout their lives and never experience symptoms. Others will develop serious, even fatal liver disease. According to figures from the Centers for Disease Control, out of every 100 people infected with HCV, up to 85 percent may develop chronic liver disease; and anywhere from five to 20 people may develop cirrhosis over one or two decades. Up to 5 percent of infected people will die. Those who become ill can require costly treatment regimens and in some cases liver transplants, of which hep C is the leading cause. With a shortage of donor livers, many patients die before receiving a transplant (the American Liver Foundation says more than 18,000 people are currently awaiting a liver transplant). As if these concerns weren't enough, researchers at the University of British Columbia have just discovered a link between hepatitis C and cancer, with HCV-positive individuals six times more likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Unlike other forms of hepatitis, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. 'C' Is For Confusion The virus that causes hepatitis C was only discovered in 1989, so awareness is still slowly growing. Doctors and health promoters are doing their best to break the silence around the epidemic, believing that increased testing and education about prevention and management are crucial to stemming its spread. Education is also vital for those who are infected, since the harmful effects of this slowly progressing disease can be greatly reduced if it is detected and treated early on. So how do people get hep C? Only through direct contact with contaminated blood – from syringes, unsterilized tattoo needles or contaminated inks, unsterilized manicure equipment, during accidents, and from blood transfusions prior to 1992. The virus cannot be spread through casual contact, and is only rarely transmitted through sexual contact. Injection drug users – who, contrary to stereotypes, are a diverse group of people not confined to low-income communities – are at particularly high risk of contracting the disease from shared needles. Healthcare workers and others who come into contact with blood in the course of their work are also at risk. And hep C is running rampant in prisons, with the rate of infection in some prisons estimated at more than 80 percent. Like most communicable diseases, the spread of hepatitis C could be greatly reduced through public awareness-raising, testing and subsidized treatment. But public health professionals agree there is a serious lack of emphasis placed on hepatitis C by government and private bodies, including a lack of funding for its prevention, treatment and education. While hep C is an equal opportunity virus, crossing class and race lines to affect a wide range of people, the CDC says the disease is more prevalent among low-income people and people of color, with African-Americans the hardest hit group, followed by Native Americans, Hispanics and whites. Slowing the Progression Drug treatment, most often using a combination of the drug interferon and ribavarin, can significantly slow the progression of the disease and in some cases actually cure it. However this regimen costs up to $30,000 year, so it isn't an option for many uninsured or underinsured people, and community health providers note that many low-income people who could benefit from the treatment are steered away from it or never even told it exists. " It is not my experience, in nearly 10 years of HCV and needle exchange work that interferon is easy to get, " said Laura Jones, a health worker with the group Test Positive Aware Network in Chicago. " We work with pretty marginalized people, and it's expensive, no one really wants to spend that much money on many of the folk who come through our needle exchange even if it would be beneficial to them. " Uninsured or underinsured people are also far more likely than insured people to forego checkups and delay treatment until absolutely necessary. Therefore they often aren't even diagnosed until their disease is in the later stages. Interferon therapy is not considered advisable in patients with advanced cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). " Someone who doesn't have insurance and doesn't go to the doctor for regular checkups is more likely to find out about the disease when it's too late to do anything, " noted Georges Benjamin. On the flip side, interferon treatment often has severe side effects – some patients say the cure is worse than the disease, and complain that doctors prescribed interferon therapy without disclosing how rough it would be. The Herbal Route After her husband Kevin was diagnosed with advanced liver disease resulting from hepatitis C infection 10 years ago and told he didn't have long to live Patty Krueger devoted her life to spreading awareness of HCV. Her husband decided to forego drug treatment, having heard horror stories about interferon's side effects. After some lifestyle changes, including quitting drinking and taking a medically approved herbal regimen, his health greatly improved. (Since some herbs, such as mate tea and pennyroyal, are toxic to the liver, doctors recommend doing thorough research before taking herbs or other natural remedies.) Krueger said she gets calls from many people who have had bad experiences with interferon and feel they weren't adequately warned of the risks and side effects. " It can be really nasty for some patients, " she said. " We encourage people to get a second opinion and get all the information they can. " Krueger said when they started trying to publicize the disease, they met resistance from both governmental agencies and the general public. " [Potential funders] would tell us hepatitis C isn't 'hip' yet, " she said. And it's a hard thing to raise money for. We'll have bake sales and people shy away, they act like we're giving out free samples of it or something! " " There's a terrible lack of funding for hep C education, prevention, testing and treatment, " added Tracy Swan, the Coinfection Project Director at the Treatment Action Group in New York. " We don't even have the money for surveillance of chronic and acute cases. " Free needle exchanges are considered to be one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease. Yet there is a federal ban on funding these programs, and there is often political and community pressure against allowing them to locate in a given community, because of the stigma and the erroneous belief that they encourage drug use. With the death toll from hepatitis C expected to triple in the next 10 to 20 years, the " silent epidemic " could become a major burden on the health care system. Fortunately, there is some hope on the horizon. " I think the pharmaceutical industry has realized that hepatitis C is a very common problem, and they're now pouring the resources into it that they poured into HIV and AIDS some years ago, " said Dr. Adrian Di Bisceglie, medical director of the American Liver Foundation. " I think it will be a few years before we see the first of those drugs, though. " Kari Lydersen, a regular contributor to AlterNet, also writes for the Washington Post and is an instructor for the Urban Youth International Journalism Program in Chicago. http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/20226/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 They must not get around much...they should have read TRUTH! Hope you took time to catch 60 minutes tonight...THEY can get people talking! How about the junk they ran on vaccines. Did you notice they talked about how all the parents who REFUSE to get their kids shots are highly educated, and better paid? And much healthier too! Why buy sickness and pain? Hmmmm. Think anything of that? Here's the thread, but I added a few things to the article... {CHIRON AND THE VIRUS THAT NEVER WAS} {Release Date 2004-10-12} {Time 13:21:00} {Comment} {Article Text} From the above thread... " OCTOBER 12, 2004. Below is an excerpt from an article written by Dr. Peter Duesberg and Bryan Ellison. It involves Chiron's role in promoting the false discovery of an unproven disease, hepatitis C... " The rest is found in the thread above. He must know John Martin the way I know John! Or maybe he knows our CEO, Dr. Mark Sircus (http://www.imva.info), or some of our other BioPhysics Institute faculty members. For instance, if you caught 60 minutes tonight, they had a blurb on vaccines. Check out what we do KNOW right below, instead of what 'they' think. Remember, the word 'beLIEve' has a lie in it! Their chief speaker was Paul Moffit. Paul Offit, MD, is Chief, Section of Infectious Diseases and the Henle Professor of Immunologic and Infectious Diseases at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is a HOLDER OF A ROTAVIRUS VACCINE PATENT who was part of the team who mandated rotavirus vaccine - you remember that dangerous vaccine that was taken off the market AFTER it had damaged children, NOT before, even though they had the information it was dangerous. Dr. Offit lists that he is a consultant to Merck on an attachment to his OGE 450, but does not disclose whether or not he received any remuneration for his services. Dr. Offit is a member of the CDC advisory committee and disclosed that he received $350,000 grant money from Merck to develop the rotavirus vaccine, in which he shares the patent, which was pulled 6 months after is was licensed because of severe problems. He gets paid to go around the country teaching doctors that vaccines are safe. (Wall Street Journal). Dr. Offit began his tenure on ACIP in October of 1998. Out of four votes pertaining to the ACIP's rotavirus statement he voted " yes " three times, including, voting for the inclusion of the rotavirus vaccine in the VFC program. Dr. Offit abstained from voting on the ACIP's rescission of the recommendation of the rotavirus vaccine for routine use. He stated at the meeting, " I'm not conflicted with Wyeth, but because I consult with Merck on the development of rotavirus vaccine, I would still prefer to abstain because it creates a perception of conflict. " Excerpted From the House of Representatives Gov't Reform Committee Staff Report http://www.whale.to/v/staff.html Application to the FDA December 9, 1994 Fred Clark, Paul Offit, Stanley Plotkin (Inventors); Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology and Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania (Assignees) Filed U.S. Patent for Rotavirus reassortant vaccine. Application number 353547 Here are a couple other examples of the conflicts of interest: • Individuals on the advisory committee own patents for vaccines under consideration. • The CDC grants conflict-of-interest waivers to every member of their advisory committee. • The committee chair, Dr. John Moldin, owns stock in Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies valued at $26,000. • The advisory committee has no public members. • Dr. Harry Greenberg, chair to the FDA owns $120,000 stock in Aviron, a vaccine manufacture. • He also owns $40,000 of Chiron stock, another vaccine manufacture. • Last year, a provision protecting pharmaceutical companies from liability was slipped into our Home Land Security Bill, BioShield Bill and a couple of other bills. We are the organization who fully funded two rallys in front of the capital and had the provision reversed! • Betty D. Fluck on May 18, 1999 at a Government Reform Subcommittee hearing. Her testimony states: " I have the minutes from a CDC Study Group meeting on the hepatitis B vaccine held in March 1997. It should be noted that the afternoon session of this meeting was chaired by Dr. Robert Sharrar of Merck. " • The Scotland on Sunday newspaper article of September 30, 2001, where the following was mentioned: " Professor David Elliman, whose study said fears of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism were unfounded, admitted that he and Dr. Helen Bedford had been given money by drug giantes SmithKline Beecham and Pasteur Merieux Merck Sharp & Dohme. " Do you think maybe the folks who have Hep C, autism, dieabetes, (put the name of your " dis-ease " in this space) may have had a few vaccines in their life time? They should READ these, and then look at the Our Charts on our website. People, this is your life. Own it. Get a handle on your own health. It isn't a conspiracy. There are just a lot of dumb people asking other dumb people for information, instead of taking responsibilty to learn about their own body. Folks, you can have a lot of houses, a lot of cars, even a lot of spouses, but you get ONE body. Stop taking care of the car, and take care of yourself. They should TAAP into the truth! (Look up TAAP in a seach engine, if you don't know about them yet) In case that isn't enough, check out our charts and graphs, or READ the following scientific papers: Ayvazian LF. Influenza immunization and lupus erythematosus. Ann Intern Med. 1979 Jan;90(1):127-8. No abstract available.PMID: 420449;UI: 79122584. Antony SJ, et al. Postvaccinial (influenza) disseminated encephalopathy (Brown-Sequard syndrome). J Natl Med Assoc. 1995 Sep;87(9):705-8. Review. PMID: 9583968; UI: 98242646. Ashton R. Side effects of influenza vaccination. Br J Gen Pract. 1992 Feb;42(355):82-4. No abstract available.PMID: 1493021; UI: 93152242. Barbuta R, et al. [some complications of anti-influenza vaccination in a closed community of infants]. Microbiol Parazitol Epidemiol (Bucur). 1973 Sep-Oct;18(5):431-5. Romanian. No abstract available.PMID: 4767728; UI: 74068682 Buchner H, et al. [Polyneuritis cranialis? Brain stem encephalitis and myelitis following preventive influenza vaccination]. Nervenarzt. 1988 Nov;59(11):679-82. German. No abstract available.PMID: 3211251; UI:89097428 Boutros N, et al. Delirium following influenza vaccination. Am J Psychiatry. 1993 Dec;150(12):1899. No abstract available. PMID: 8238653; UI: 94057127. Bienfang DC, et al. Ocular abnormalities after influenza immunization. Arch Ophthalmol. 1977 Sep;95(9):1649. No abstract available.PMID: 561590; UI: 77266169. Biasi D, et al. A case of reactive arthritis after influenza vaccination. Clin Rheumatol. 1994 Dec;13(4):645. No abstract available.PMID: 7697972; UI: 95212114. Bodokh I, et al. [Reactivation of bullous pemphigoid after influenza vaccination]. Therapie. 1994 Mar-Apr;49(2):154. French. No abstract available.PMID: 7817351; UI: 95117082. Beijer WE, et al. [Polymyalgia rheumatica and influenza vaccination]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1993 Feb 5;118(5):164-5. German. No abstract available.PMID: 8432239; UI: 93161913. Beghi E, et al. Guillain-Barre syndrome. Clinicoepidemiologic features and effect of influenza vaccine. Arch Neurol. 1985 Nov;42(11):1053-7. PMID: 4051833; UI: 86024965. Bernad Valles M, et al. [Adverse reactions to different types of influenza vaccines]. Med Clin (Barc). 1996 Jan 13;106(1):11-4. Spanish. PMID: 8750535; UI: 96286238. Breman JG, et al. Guillain-Barre syndrome and its relationship to swine influenza vaccination in Michigan, 1976-1977. Am J Epidemiol. 1984 Jun;119(6):880-9. PMID: 6731430; UI: 84228448. Brown RC, et al. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura after influenza vaccination. Br Med J. 1973 May 5;2(861):303. No abstract available.PMID: 4735793; UI: 73177095. Brown MA, et al. Rheumatic complications of influenza vaccination. Aust N Z J Med. 1994 Oct;24(5):572-3. No abstract available.PMID: 7848162; UI: 95150894. Blanche P, et al. Development of uveitis following vaccination for influenza. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Nov;19(5):979. No abstract available.PMID: 7893899; UI: 95201116. Blumberg S, et al. A possible association between influenza vaccination and small-vessel vasculitis. Arch Intern Med. 1980 Jun;140(6):847-8. PMID: 7387284; UI: 80219228. Cambiaghi S, et al. Gianotti-Crosti syndrome in an adult after influenza virus vaccination. Dermatology. 1995;191(4):340-1. No abstract available.PMID: 8573937; UI: 96159483 Cummins D, et al. Haematological changes associated with influenza vaccination in people aged over 65: case report and prospective study. Clin Lab Haematol. 1998 Oct;20(5):285-7. PMID: 9807675; UI: 99024807. Confino I, et al. Erythromelalgia following influenza vaccine in a child. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1997 Jan-Feb;15(1):111-3. PMID: 9093785; UI: 97247658. Casoli P, et al. [Acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after anti-influenza vaccination]. Medicina (Firenze). 1989 Oct-Dec;9(4):417-8. Italian. PMID: 2634230; UI: 90231074. Cannata J, et al. Reactivation of vasculitis after influenza vaccination. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1981 Aug 22;283 (6290):526. No abstract available.PMID: 6790053; UI: 81257661 Downs AM, et al. Does influenza vaccination induce bullous pemphigoid? A report of four cases. Br J Dermatol. 1998 Feb;138(2):363. No abstract available.PMID: 9602897; UI: 98265607. Desson JF, et al. [Acute benign pericarditis after anti-influenza vaccination]. Presse Med. 1997 Mar 22;26(9):415. French. No abstract available.PMID: 9137397; UI: 97283264. Dyro FM. Vaccination mononeuropathy. Ann Neurol. 1978 May;3(5):468. No abstract available.PMID: 215078; UI: 79081241. Ehrengut W. [side effects of influenza vaccinations]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1979 Dec 28;104(52):1836. German. No abstract available.PMID: 520180; UI: 80091277. Ehrengut W, et al. [Neurological complications after influenza vaccination]. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr. 1977 May 20;119(20):705-10. German. PMID: 406554; UI: 77212853. Fournier B, et al. Bullous pemphigoid induced by vaccination. Br J Dermatol. 1996 Jul;135(1):153-4. No abstract available.PMID: 8776390; UI: 96372575. Furlow TW Jr. Neuropathy after influenza vaccination [letter]. Lancet. 1977 Jan 29;1(8005):253-4. No abstract available.PMID: 64777; UI:77099010. Fiser Dj, et al. [Anosmia after administration of influenza vaccine]. Med Pregl. 1979;32(9-10):455-7. Serbo-Croatian (Cyrillic). No abstract available. PMID: 530224; UI: 80120256. Felix JK, et al. Isolated hypoglossal nerve paralysis following influenza vaccination. Am J Dis Child. 1976 Jan;130(1):82-3. PMID: 174422; UI: 76109122. Froissart M, et al. [Acute meningoencephalitis immediately after an influenza vaccination]. Lille Med. 1978 Oct;23(8):548-51. French. No abstract available.PMID: 723420; UI: 79072015 Graus F, et al. Acute necrotic myelopathy associated with influenza vaccination. Lancet. 1987 Jun 6;1(8545):1311-2. No abstract available.PMID: 2884426; UI: 87227723. Gross WL, et al. Meningoencephalitis syndrome following influenza vaccination. J Neurol. 1978 Feb 14;217(3):219-22. PMID: 75958; UI: 78132024. Guillevin L, et al. [Hypersensitivity reaction following vaccination against influenza]. Presse Med. 1983 Jun 18;12(26):1668-9. French. No abstract available.PMID: 6224154; UI: 83273366. Gerth HJ. [Letter: Influenza following influenza vaccination]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1976 Jul 2;101(27):1043. German. No abstract available.PMID: 1278041; UI: 76209788. Goodman RA, et al. Influenza and influenza vaccination. Am Fam Physician. 1980 Jan;21(1):101-5. PMID: 7350730; UI: 80085069. Gurtovoi MI. [Discovery of a possible connection between vaccination with inactivated chromatographic influenza vaccine and the development of the Guillain-Barre syndrome]. Tr Inst Im Pastera. 1985;63:78-81. Russian. No abstract available.PMID: 3843161; UI: 87179166. Houston TP. Small-vessel vasculitis following simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. N Y State J Med. 1983 Oct-Nov;83(11-12):1182-3. No abstract available.PMID: 6580565; UI: 84068900. Herderschee D, et al. [Myelopathy following influenza vaccination]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1995 Oct 21;139(42) :2152-4. Dutch. PMID: 7477581; UI: 96054742 Hannoun C. [Problems of influenza vaccination]. Rev Med Suisse Romande. 1974 Apr;94(4):319-23. French. No abstract available.PMID: 4826392; UI: 74157136. Heidel G, et al. [Neurologic syndromes as atypical courses of vaccination following preventive influenza A vaccination]. Z Gesamte Hyg. 1985 Apr;31(4):218-20. German. No abstract available.PMID: 4013430; UI: 85246763. Hasselbacher P. Neuropathy after influenza vaccination [letter]. Lancet. 1977 Mar 5;1(8010):551-2. No abstract available.PMID: 65654; UI: 77122811. Hull TP, et al. Optic neuritis after influenza vaccination. Am J Ophthalmol. 1997 Nov;124(5):703-4. PMID: 9372734; UI: 98040003. Honkanen PO, et al. Reactions following administration of influenza vaccine alone or with pneumococcal vaccine to the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 1996 Jan 22;156(2):205-8. PMID: 8546555; UI: 96136003. Ichikawa N, et al. [Recurrent aseptic meningitis following influenza vaccination in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 1983 Jul;23(7):570-6. Japanese. No abstract available.PMID: 6661861; UI: 84107365. Jovanovic D. Respiratory effects of live influenza virus vaccine. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 Dec;116(6):1121. No abstract available. PMID: 931188; UI: 78058888 Kawasaki A, et al. Bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy following influenza vaccination. J Neuroophthalmol. 1998 Mar;18(1):56-9. PMID: 9532544; UI: 98193723. Kumbar UN, et al. Urticarial rash, periorbital edema following influenza (bivalent) vaccination [letter]. Can Med Assoc J. 1977 Apr 9;116(7):724. No abstract available.PMID: 849552; UI: 77136163. Kramer P, et al. Depression of aminopyrine metabolism by influenza vaccination. N Engl J Med. 1981 Nov 19;305(21):1262-4. No abstract available. PMID: 7290142; UI: 82035768. Kelsall JT, et al. Microscopic polyangiitis after influenza vaccination. J Rheumatol. 1997 Jun;24(6):1198-202. Review. PMID: 9195534; UI: 97338974 Keenlyside RA, et al. Fatal Guillain-Barre syndrome after the national influenza immunization program. Neurology. 1980 Sep;30(9):929-33. PMID: 6252515; UI: 81031247. Fifty-eight fatal cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) were reported during the 1976 to 1977 National Influenza Program: Thirty-two (58%) of these patients had received the A/New Jersey influenza vaccine. The mean interval from vaccination to onset was 3.9 weeks, and the incidence of preceding illness in vaccinated or unvaccinated patients was similar. Fifty-eight percent had at least one chronic disease before onset. The clinical features were similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Most deaths followed medical complications of respiratory paralysis: Fifteen had pneumonia, 29 (83%) died suddenly, 15 had sudden arrhythmias or hypotension, and 7 had myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolus. Lohse A, et al. Vascular purpura and cryoglobulinemia after influenza vaccination. Case-report and literature review. Rev Rhum Engl Ed. 1999 Jun;66(6):359-60. No abstract available.PMID: 10418068; UI: 99346622. Lear JT, et al. Bullous pemphigoid following influenza vaccination. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1996 Sep;21(5):392. No abstract available.PMID: 9136169; UI: 97281896. Lasky T, et al. The Guillain-Barre syndrome and the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 influenza vaccines. N Engl J Med. 1998 Dec 17;339(25):1797-802. PMID: 9854114; UI: 99061022. Macoul KL. Bilateral optic nerve atrophy and blindness following swine influenza vaccination. Ann Ophthalmol. 1982 Apr;14(4):398-9. No abstract available.PMID: 7103325; UI: 82255038. Mantel N. Re: " An epidemiologic and clinical evaluation of Guillain-Barre syndrome reported in association with the administration of swine influenza vaccines " . Am J Epidemiol. 1985 Apr;121(4):620-3. No abstract available.PMID: 4014151; UI: 85248370. Patel U, et al. Henoch-Schonlein purpura after influenza vaccination. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1988 Jun 25;296(6639):1800. No abstract available. PMID: 3136851; UI: 88310148. Park CL, et al. Does influenza vaccination exacerbate asthma? Drug Saf. 1998 Aug;19(2):83-8. Review. PMID: 9704246; UI: 98369869. Pelosio A, et al. [influenza vaccination and polyradiculoneuritis of the Guillain-Barre type]. Medicina (Firenze). 1990 Apr-Jun;10(2):169. Italian. PMID: 2273957; UI: 91109533. Poser C . Neurological complications of swine influenza vaccination. Acta Neurol Scand 1982 Oct;66(4):413-31 The emphasis upon the remarkably large number of cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome which resulted from the 1976 National Swine Influenza immunization program in the U.S.A. has obscured the fact that other neurological complications, involving the central nervous system also occurred. The anatomical distribution of lesions is almost identical with that seen following other types of vaccination: involvement of the brain, cerebellum, optic nerve, cranial nerves and spinal cord occurred with approximately the same frequency. 5 instances of the very rare subacute or chronic, progressive, post-vaccinal encephalopathy are described, a situation which is identical to the subacute and chronic forms of polyradiculoneuropathy. In a number of cases, in particular the myelopathies, a subclinical involvement of peripheral nerves was demonstrated by means of electrodiagnostic studies, illustrating the often overlooked fact that central nervous system involvement will mask peripheral nerve lesions. The etiological significance of the swine influenza vaccination was overlooked and completely erroneous diagnoses were established in a surprisingly large number of the 26 new cases reported here. PMID: 6128862, UI: 83070654 Langmuir AD, et al. An epidemiologic and clinical evaluation of Guillain-Barre syndrome reported in association with the administration of swine influenza vaccines. Am J Epidemiol. 1984 Jun;119(6):841-79. PMID: 6328974; UI: 84228447. As a result of a court order, computerized summaries of approximately 1,300 cases reported as Guillain-Barre syndrome by state health departments to the Centers for Disease Control during the intensive national surveillance instituted following the swine influenza vaccination program in 1976-1977 became available for further study. Although the data were not uniformly adequate to confirm the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome, they were sufficient to enable classification according to extent of motor involvement. Vaccinated cases with " extensive " paresis or paralysis occurred in a characteristic epidemiologic pattern closely approximated by a lognormal curve, suggesting a causal relationship between the disease and the vaccine. Cases with " limited " motor involvement showed no such pattern, suggesting that this group included a substantial proportion of cases which were unrelated to the vaccine. The effect attributed to the vaccine lasted for at least six weeks and possibly for eight weeks but not longer. The relative risk of acquiring " extensive " disease over a six-week period following vaccination ranged from 3.96 to 7.75 depending on the particular baseline estimate of expected normal or endemic incidence that was chosen. Correspondingly, the number of cases that could be attributed to the vaccine over the six-week period ranged from 211 to 246, or very slightly higher over an eight-week period if the lowest baseline estimate was used. The total rate of Guillain-Barre syndrome cases attributed to prior use of the vaccine was 4.9 to 5.9 per million vaccinees. Molina M, et al. [Leukocytoclastic vasculitis secondary to flu vaccination]. Med Clin (Barc). 1990 Jun 9;95(2):78. Spanish. No abstract available.PMID: 2250511; UI: 91066593. Mader R, et al. Systemic vasculitis following influenza vaccination--report of 3 cases and literature review. J Rheumatol. 1993 Aug;20(8):1429-31. Review. PMID: 8230034; UI: 94046875. Influenza vaccination is a widely accepted practice particularly among the elderly and high risk individuals. Minor and transitory side effects following the vaccination are common while systemic complications are infrequently reported. We describe 3 patients who developed systemic vasculitis following influenza vaccination. With increasing use of influenza vaccination, attention should be drawn to the possible expression of systemic adverse effects such as vasculitis. Milkowski S. [Ocular complications following influenza]. Wiad Lek. 1971 Jan 15;24(2):103-8. Polish. No abstract available.PMID: 5100901; UI: 71109124. [No authors listed] [Vaccination and the Guillan-Barre syndrome]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1978 Nov 11;122(45):1780. Dutch. No abstract available.PMID: 703884; UI: 79032243. Nicholson, Karl G.; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S.; Ahmed, Ala'eldin H.; et al. " Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial on Effect of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine on Pulmonary Function in Asthma " Lancet (01/31/98) Vol. 351, No. 9099, P. 326; British researchers report that there is a correlation between pulmonary-function abnormalities and complications due to flu vaccination, although the risk is quite small and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the complications that may occur. The team studied 262 adults in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 262 adults to evaluate the safety of flu vaccination in asthma patients. Despite current guidelines, asthma patients often do not receive annual flu shots, in part, due to concerns that the vaccine will trigger exacerbations. For two weeks before the first injection until two weeks after the second injection, the subjects kept a record of daily peak expiratory flow (PEF), respiratory symptoms, medication, medical consultations, and hospital admissions. Of the 255 patients with paired data, 11 saw a reduction in PEF greater than 20 percent, while eight had a decline in PEF of more 30 percent. Only three of the placebo receiving subjects had PEF reduction greater than 20 percent, and none had a reduction greater than 30 percent. When the researchers excluded subjects with colds--which can trigger exacerbations and may be mistaken for vaccine-related adverse events--there was no significant difference in PEF decline, although they said the difference for PEF declines of more than 30 percent approached significance. Owensby JE, et al. Cellulitis and myositis caused by Agrobacterium radiobacter and Haemophilus parainfluenzae after influenza virus vaccination. South Med J. 1997 Jul;90(7):752-4. PMID: 9225903; UI: 97369415. Ray CL, et al. Bilateral optic neuropathy associated with influenza vaccination. J Neuroophthalmol. 1996 Sep;16(3):182-4. PMID: 8865010; UI: 97018394 Rieger HJ. [Compensation claims in lesions caused by influenza vaccinations at work]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1976 Apr 23;101(17):677-8. German. No abstract available.PMID: 1261394; UI: 76164840 Robinson T, et al. Side effects of influenza vaccination. Br J Gen Pract. 1992 Nov;42(364):489-90. No abstract available.PMID: 1472400; UI: 93112469. Rosenberg GA. Meningoencephalitis following an influenza vaccination. N Engl J Med. 1970 Nov 26;283(22):1209. No abstract available. PMID: 4394376; UI: 71012572. Roscelli JD, et al. Guillain-Barre syndrome and influenza vaccination in the US Army, 1980-1988. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 May 1;133(9):952-5. PMID: 2028981; UI: 91229076. Retailliau HF, et al. Illness after influenza vaccination reported through a nationwide surveillance system, 1976-1977. Am J Epidemiol. 1980 Mar;111(3):270-8. PMID: 7361749; UI: 80150827. Selvaraj N, et al. Hemiparesis following influenza vaccination. Postgrad Med J. 1998 Oct;74(876):633-5. No abstract available.PMID: 10211371; UI: 99227817 Saito H, et al. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after influenza vaccination. Arch Neurol. 1980 Sep;37(9):564-6. PMID: 7417057; UI: 81020711. Saito H, et al. Acute cerebellar ataxia after influenza vaccination with recurrence and marked cerebellar atrophy. Tohoku J Exp Med. 1989 May;158(1):95-103. PMID: 2781544; UI: 89388779. Sawada Y, et al. [Case of skin ulcer due to influenza HA vaccination]. Nippon Hifuka Gakkai Zasshi. 1983 Nov;93(12) :1297-301. Japanese. No abstract available.PMID: 6676495; UI: 84216828. Schmutz JL, et al. [Does influenza vaccination induce bullous pemphigoid]? Ann Dermatol Venereol. 1999 Oct;126(10):765. French. No abstract available.PMID: 10604026; UI: 20071693. Scholl R, et al. [Neurologic disorders following influenza vaccination. A case report]. Med Welt. 1978 Nov 3;29(44) :1707-9. German. No abstract available.PMID: 713791; UI: 79052411. Streifler JJ, et al. Recurrent pericarditis: a rare complication of influenza vaccination. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1981 Aug 22;283(6290):526-7. No abstract available. PMID: 6790054; UI: 81257662 Schonberger LB, et al. Guillain-Barre syndrome: its epidemiology and associations with influenza vaccination. Ann Neurol. 1981;9 Suppl:31-8. PMID: 7224614; UI: 81182844. Schevill S; Can Med Assoc J, 1977 Feb 5) Adverse reactions to 1975 bivalent influenza vaccine in children. Schonberger LB, et al. Guillain-Barre syndrome following vaccination in the National Influenza Immunization Program, United States, 1976--1977. Am J Epidemiol. 1979 Aug;110(2):105-23. PMID: 463869; UI: 79228981. Solomon A, et al. Bilateral simultaneous corneal graft rejection after influenza vaccination. Am J Ophthalmol. 1996 Jun;121(6):708-9. PMID: 8644815; UI: 96243666. Strom J. Cytological changes in the urine in the form of inclusion-bearing cells, giant cells and haematuria after vaccination with inactivated influenza virus vaccine. A study with application of Millipore procedure and Papanicolaou staining. Scand J Infect Dis. 1976;8(1):21-5. PMID: 57642; UI: 76177972. Stohr M, et al. [Neurologic diseases following influenza vaccination]. Med Welt. 1976 May 7;27(19):912-4. German. No abstract available. PMID: 1272054; UI: 76195488. Winkelmann RK. Influenza vaccine and dermatomyositis. Lancet. 1982 Aug 28;2(8296):495. No abstract available.PMID: 6125660; UI: 82270838. Wharton CF, et al. Letter: Polyarteritis after influenza vaccination. Br Med J. 1974 May 11;2(914):331-2. No abstract available.PMID: 4151218; UI: 74160231. Wattiaux MJ, et al. [Rheumatoid purpura following influenza vaccination]. Presse Med. 1988 Apr 9;17(13):649-50. French. No abstract available. PMID: 2966945; UI: 88217802. Ward DL. Re: " Guillain-Barre syndrome and influenza vaccination in the US Army, 1980-1988 " . Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Aug 1;136(3):374-6. No abstract available.PMID: 1415156; UI: 93035252. Young G. Side effects of influenza immunization. Br J Gen Pract. 1992 Mar;42(356):131. No abstract available.PMID: 1303654; UI: 93152256. Yahr MD, et al. Relapsing encephalomyelitis following the use of influenza vaccine. Arch Neurol. 1972 Aug;27(2):182-3. No abstract available.PMID: 5040635; UI: 72226875. Flu vaccine and alzheimer's Medical citations compiled by Sebastiana Pienaar http://www.omen.net.au/~pienaar/index.html/ Thrombocytopenia purpura http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic579.htm Guillain-Barre Syndrome http://emedicine.com/emerg/topic222.htm Lupus http://emedicine.com/emerg/topic564.htm Meningoencephalitis & encephalitis http://emedicine.com/emerg/topic390.htm http://emedicine.com/emerg/topic163.htm Guillain-Barre syndrome Thrombocytopenia purpura Encephalomyelitis Bullous pemphigoid Lupus Arthritis Vasculitis In case, you still doubt this, go to: Journal articles of (flu) vaccine adverse reactions http://www.whale.to/vaccines.html If they knew what we KNOW, instead of listening to people who ALWAYS end up being connected to the drug manufacturers or mainstreampolitics in some way, they wouldn't be dying of it anyway. Nothing is 'suppressed', people just don't look in the correct places. (Maybe they all went to public school?) If you don't eat right, take the CORRECT (SEE one of the CORRECT doctors!) energy suppliments, exercise, have a good attitude, and have spirituality, but always make excuses about how you are going to do it 'tomorrow', you die early because of ignorance, drug addiction (licensed drugs are STILL drugs, folks!) and loss of your dreams. I'd rather " BE SMARTER 2 DAY! " On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 17:22:38 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) " HAH " <GaiaHemp wrote: > > By Kari Lydersen, AlterNet. Posted October 19, 2004. > > Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne virus in the >country, killing up > to 10,000 people a year. So why aren't public health >officials doing more? > > Although hepatitis C has often been called the " silent >epidemic " (since 75 > percent of people who carry the virus don't know it), >with at least 4 > million people in the U.S. now infected, hep C is >starting to make itself > heard. > " It's clear it's a significant public health problem >that hasn't received > the attention it needs, " said Georges Benjamin, >executive director of the > American Public Health Association. " When I was in >medical school it wasn't > even talked about. We called it 'non A or B hepatitis' >and it was this gray > area that wasn't thought to be a big deal. It turns out >it's a very big deal > " > Such a big deal that former U.S. Surgeon General C. >Everett Koop calls > hepatitis C " an even graver threat to our public health " >than AIDS. Nearly > four times as many Americans are infected with the >hepatitis C virus (HCV) > as with HIV. Each year, 8,000-10,000 Americans die from >hep C-related > disease. > Some people carry the virus throughout their lives and >never experience > symptoms. Others will develop serious, even fatal liver >disease. According > to figures from the Centers for Disease Control, out of >every 100 people > infected with HCV, up to 85 percent may develop chronic >liver disease; and > anywhere from five to 20 people may develop cirrhosis >over one or two > decades. Up to 5 percent of infected people will die. > Those who become ill can require costly treatment >regimens and in some cases > liver transplants, of which hep C is the leading cause. >With a shortage of > donor livers, many patients die before receiving a >transplant (the American > Liver Foundation says more than 18,000 people are >currently awaiting a liver > transplant). As if these concerns weren't enough, >researchers at the > University of British Columbia have just discovered a >link between hepatitis > C and cancer, with HCV-positive individuals six times >more likely to develop > non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. > Unlike other forms of hepatitis, there is no vaccine for >hepatitis C. > 'C' Is For Confusion > The virus that causes hepatitis C was only discovered in >1989, so awareness > is still slowly growing. Doctors and health promoters >are doing their best > to break the silence around the epidemic, believing that >increased testing > and education about prevention and management are >crucial to stemming its > spread. Education is also vital for those who are >infected, since the > harmful effects of this slowly progressing disease can >be greatly reduced if > it is detected and treated early on. > So how do people get hep C? Only through direct contact >with contaminated > blood – from syringes, unsterilized tattoo needles or >contaminated inks, > unsterilized manicure equipment, during accidents, and >from blood > transfusions prior to 1992. The virus cannot be spread >through casual > contact, and is only rarely transmitted through sexual >contact. > Injection drug users – who, contrary to stereotypes, are >a diverse group of > people not confined to low-income communities – are at >particularly high > risk of contracting the disease from shared needles. >Healthcare workers and > others who come into contact with blood in the course of >their work are also > at risk. And hep C is running rampant in prisons, with >the rate of infection > in some prisons estimated at more than 80 percent. > Like most communicable diseases, the spread of hepatitis >C could be greatly > reduced through public awareness-raising, testing and >subsidized treatment. > But public health professionals agree there is a serious >lack of emphasis > placed on hepatitis C by government and private bodies, >including a lack of > funding for its prevention, treatment and education. > While hep C is an equal opportunity virus, crossing >class and race lines to > affect a wide range of people, the CDC says the disease >is more prevalent > among low-income people and people of color, with >African-Americans the > hardest hit group, followed by Native Americans, >Hispanics and whites. > Slowing the Progression > Drug treatment, most often using a combination of the >drug interferon and > ribavarin, can significantly slow the progression of the >disease and in some > cases actually cure it. However this regimen costs up to >$30,000 year, so it > isn't an option for many uninsured or underinsured >people, and community > health providers note that many low-income people who >could benefit from the > treatment are steered away from it or never even told it >exists. > " It is not my experience, in nearly 10 years of HCV and >needle exchange work > that interferon is easy to get, " said Laura Jones, a >health worker with the > group Test Positive Aware Network in Chicago. " We work >with pretty > marginalized people, and it's expensive, no one really >wants to spend that > much money on many of the folk who come through our >needle exchange even if > it would be beneficial to them. " > Uninsured or underinsured people are also far more >likely than insured > people to forego checkups and delay treatment until >absolutely necessary. > Therefore they often aren't even diagnosed until their >disease is in the > later stages. Interferon therapy is not considered >advisable in patients > with advanced cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). > " Someone who doesn't have insurance and doesn't go to >the doctor for regular > checkups is more likely to find out about the disease >when it's too late to > do anything, " noted Georges Benjamin. > On the flip side, interferon treatment often has severe >side effects – some > patients say the cure is worse than the disease, and >complain that doctors > prescribed interferon therapy without disclosing how >rough it would be. > The Herbal Route > After her husband Kevin was diagnosed with advanced >liver disease resulting > from hepatitis C infection 10 years ago and told he >didn't have long to live > Patty Krueger devoted her life to spreading awareness >of HCV. Her husband > decided to forego drug treatment, having heard horror >stories about > interferon's side effects. After some lifestyle changes, >including quitting > drinking and taking a medically approved herbal regimen, >his health greatly > improved. (Since some herbs, such as mate tea and >pennyroyal, are toxic to > the liver, doctors recommend doing thorough research >before taking herbs or > other natural remedies.) > Krueger said she gets calls from many people who have >had bad experiences > with interferon and feel they weren't adequately warned >of the risks and > side effects. > " It can be really nasty for some patients, " she said. > " We encourage people > to get a second opinion and get all the information they >can. " > Krueger said when they started trying to publicize the >disease, they met > resistance from both governmental agencies and the >general public. > " [Potential funders] would tell us hepatitis C isn't >'hip' yet, " she said. > And it's a hard thing to raise money for. We'll have >bake sales and people > shy away, they act like we're giving out free samples of >it or something! " > " There's a terrible lack of funding for hep C education, >prevention, testing > and treatment, " added Tracy Swan, the Coinfection >Project Director at the > Treatment Action Group in New York. " We don't even have >the money for > surveillance of chronic and acute cases. " > Free needle exchanges are considered to be one of the >most effective ways to > prevent the spread of the disease. Yet there is a >federal ban on funding > these programs, and there is often political and >community pressure against > allowing them to locate in a given community, because of >the stigma and the > erroneous belief that they encourage drug use. > With the death toll from hepatitis C expected to triple >in the next 10 to 20 > years, the " silent epidemic " could become a major burden >on the health care > system. Fortunately, there is some hope on the horizon. They all ought to be using ORMUS formulas...Orbitally Rearranged Monoatomic elements...but nobody told them about them? I wonder how much money they plan to pay him for saying THIS... > " I think the pharmaceutical industry has realized that >hepatitis C is a very > common problem, and they're now pouring the resources >into it that they > poured into HIV and AIDS some years ago, " said Dr. >Adrian Di Bisceglie, > medical director of the American Liver Foundation. " I >think it will be a few > years before we see the first of those drugs, though. " > This gal below needs to learn the truth about interferon, how it is made and what it actually does to the cells of your body!! (Have you noticed none of their patients stay well very long, they keep re-lapsing...could it be the country club dues need to be paid? A little course on microscopy and orthomolecular biology might be in order for them both... Kari Lydersen, a regular contributor to AlterNet, also >writes for the > Washington Post and is an instructor for the Urban Youth >International > Journalism Program in Chicago. > http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/20226/ " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus Pauling NEWS ALERT: On Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. CBS-TV " 60 MINUTES " will examine parental concerns about vaccines and the position of the medical and public health community. The 15 minute segment will feature correspondent Dan Rather and interviews with physicians, mothers from the New York City area, NVIC president Barbara Loe Fisher and others. Barbara was interviewed by Dan Rather in New York City several weeks ago and filming also took place at NVIC's Vienna, VA office. You won't want to miss this special report on why some parents are questioning vaccines and how doctors are responding to their concerns. Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S.Congress, this letter cannot be considered spam as long as we include contact information and a remove disclosure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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