Find out why it is important to immunize by clicking here.

The World Health Organization lists priority medicines for children and pregnant women. NY Times, By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr., March 28, 2011
The World Health Organization recently released its first list of what it called “the top 30 medicines to save mothers and children,” a formulary of drugs that every hospital and clinic in every poor country should have.
More than eight million children under age 5 die each year, and 1,000 women die each day from complications of pregnancy or birth. Many could be saved with cheap drugs or simple interventions like antibacterial soap and Epsom salts. The list includes no expensive brand-name drugs and emphasizes ones that come as dry pills or powders, which can be shipped cheaply and mixed into liquids for children on site.
On the W.H.O.’s list were oxytocin and saline solution to treat birth hemorrhages, and Epsom salts and calcium gluconate for runaway high blood pressure in pregnancy.
The list contains several antibiotics to prevent infections picked up in childbirth or during abortions, as well as to treat pneumonia and infections of the blood or brain in children.
The new list includes misoprostol to induce labor, and nifedipine and betamethasone to prevent premature births. To treat diarrhea, W.H.O. suggested oral rehydration salts and zinc. For malaria, the list recommends combination drugs that contain artemisinin, and for advanced malaria, artesunate. For AIDS, it suggested some of the common antiretroviral triple therapy combinations.
W.H.O. also suggested vitamin A for measles. The vitamin doesn’t prevent the infection, but a child taking it is less likely to die with measles.
The full list of priority medicines for children and pregnant can be found by clicking this link.

Newark LINCS Health Alert Network

Public Health Info

Subject: Food Recalls

1. Circle City Marketing and Distributing, doing business as Candy Dynamics, Indianapolis, IN, is issuing a voluntary recall of Toxic Waste® Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum, 3.2 oz (90 g) size, Lot #15070SC12. The product is imported from Pakistan.

A recent test performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that Lot #15070SC12 of the 3.2 oz. (90 g) size of the above-listed product contains elevated levels of lead (0.189 parts per million: the FDA tolerance is 0.1 ppm) that potentially could cause health problems, particularly for infants, small children, and pregnant women.

Out of abundance of caution, the company has determined to recall Lot #15070SC12, which was distributed from January 4, 2011 until March 18, 2011.

The product is identified as: Toxic Waste® Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum, (UPC 0 89894 31001 3), 3.2 oz (90 g) size, Lot #15070SC12 (the Lot # is located along the left side of the bag).

No other “Toxic Waste®” brand product or “Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum”, besides Lot #15070SC12 is affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recalled Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum product was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product was also distributed in limited quantities into Canada and Switzerland.

The company will continue to sell Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum products in the U.S.

Candy Dynamics is sending recall notices to its direct customers. Anyone in possession of the recalled product should telephone the company for information on destruction of the product. Please call Eileen O’Neal at 317-228-5012 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm EST) for further information.

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2. The Smokehouse LLC of Mamaroneck, New York, is conducting a voluntary recall of PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon of various size packages including 4 oz., 8 oz., 16 oz. and random weight sizes, Batch Code 066 only, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon with code 066 was distributed and sold on March 7, 2011 to retailers in NY, NJ, CT.

Batch Code 066 (represents Julian date of March 7, 2011) is located on a white label on the rear of gold boards, which are in clear, vacuum packed packages. This is the only batch code affected. The product was also labeled with an “EXPIRES ON” date of 3/21 (3/21/11). Since the product may be stored frozen, the likelihood exists that the affected code (066) may still be available in consumers’ homes.

Please note that no Listeria illnesses have been linked to any product produced by The Smokehouse LLC.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The company has ceased production and distribution of the product as both the FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Consumers who have purchased PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon with code 066 should not consume it and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-914-630-4788 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT.

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3. Completely Fresh Foods Inc., a Montebello, Calif., establishment is voluntarily recalling approximately 131,000 pounds of pizza products because they contain an allergen, wheat, not declared on the label. Wheat is a known allergen.

The products subject to recall include:

. 10-oz. packages of “TRADER JOE’S PIZZA AL POLLO ASADO.” (Frozen)

Individual packages bear the establishment number “EST. P-974″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates between Jan. 27, 2011 and March 27, 2011 and shipped to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide. The products include one of the following Julian dates embossed on the retail carton:

“02711,” “02811,” “03011,” “03111,” “03311,” “03411,” “03811,” “03911,” “04011,” “04111,” “05211,” “05311,” “05411,” “05511,” “05911,” “06011,” “06111,” “06211,” “06711,” “06811,” “07311,” “07411,” “07511,” “07611,” “08111,” “08211,” “08411,” “08511″ and “08611.”

The problem was discovered by an FSIS inspector at the establishment as part of a routine inspection. The inspector reviewed the spice blend ingredient statement and the finished product label and discovered that wheat, an allergen, was listed in the spice blend, but not declared in the ingredient statement of the finished product label. FSIS and the company, to date, have received no reports of adverse reactions or illnesses due to consumption of these products. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat and are concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Trader Joe’s customer relations at (626) 599-3817. Media with questions about the recall should contact Alison Mochizuki at (626) 599-3779.

NOFAS Weekly Roundup – Volume 2, Issue 15

The NOFAS Weekly Roundup features news articles, research, event
announcements, new materials and other highlights from around the world
of FASD. The Roundup also includes the latest news from NOFAS and a link
to the Calendar of Events page on the NOFAS website.

FEATURES

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign to increase
knowledge of the health and social problems that can arise from
excessive alcohol consumption.  In 2011, CDC is focusing on the danger
of binge drinking to women, especially women who are pregnant.

Feature, CDC, April 8, 2011

The Feasibility of Screening for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Risk
in Early Intervention Settings: A Pilot Study of Systems Change

Recent study from Dr. Norma Finkelstein, LICSW and Enid Watson, MDiv of
the Institute for Health and Recovery; and Dr. Barbara A. Morse and Dr.
Deborah Gurewich of the Project FAST Steering Committee.  This study
focuses on screening for FASD in children receiving developmental
services in early intervention programs.

Article, Infants and Young Children, April/June 2011

Nearly all American adults with untreated alcohol use disorders don’t
think they need treatment

A new report from SAMHSA shows that a mere 1.2 percent of the United
States’ more than 7.4 million adults with an untreated alcohol use
disorder believe that they could benefit from treatment.

Press Release, SAMHSA, April 7, 2011

Alcohol During Pregnancy: How Dangerous Is It Really?

Dr. Ricki Pollycove, an OBGYN and Huffington Post Health contributor
stresses the importance of avoiding alcohol during only during early
pregnancy and states alcohol use after 20 weeks of pregnancy is “really
not injurious”.

Article, Huffington Post, April 6, 2011

Tom’s Walk a week away

Tom Wilkinson of Belleville, Ontario, Canada recently held his 11th
annual “Tom’s Walk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders”, an event where
Wilkinson walks across Ontario to raise FASD awareness.

Article, The Intelligencer, April 6, 2011

Kate Hudson drinking wine?  Call the pregnancy police!

Pregnant actress Kate Hudson was recently spotted drinking a glass of
wine and NBC’s TODAY Moms expresses their views on alcohol use during
pregnancy.

Article, Today Moms, April 5, 2011

The Healthy Aboriginal Network Develops FASD Comic Book

The Health Aboriginal Network of Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada has
recently developed a comic book titled “Drawing Hope”.  This book is a
collection of five comics on FASD based on stories told by the Whitecrow
Village community.

Comic Book, The Healthy Aboriginal Network, March 2011

NOFAS

NOFAS Partners with Children’s Research Triangle to Prevent FASD in
Hawaii

Recently NOFAS Vice President and National Spokesperson, Kathy Mitchell
and Dr. Ira Chasnoff, President of Children’s Research Triangle
conducted a three day Hawaiian Island FASD Conference tour entitled
“Strong Women, Strong Families: Gender Specific Support for the Women of
Hawaii”.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Growing numbers of newborns across the country are struggling with addiction as prescription drug abuse ravages communities. Read this New York Times article about newborns withdrawing from painkillers.

Read an interesting article, published in the NY Times, about babies who are born dependent on prescription opiates.   To read the article click here.

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the February 28 issue of the jounal Pediatrics, maternal smoking in the 1st trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increase risk of congenital heart defects in infants.  To read the article click here.