Very timely - http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/10/us-banks-recoveryplans-idUSBRE87905N20120810 View Comment

"Surprise! Whooping Cough Spreads Mainly through Vaccinated Populations In 2010, the largest outbreak of whooping cough in over 50 years occurred in California. Around that same time, a scare campaign was launched in the California by Pharma-funded medical trade associations, state health officials and national media, targeting people opting out of receiving pertussis vaccine, falsely accusing them of causing the outbreak. However, research published in March of this year paints a very different picture than the one spread by the media . In fact, the study showed that 81 percent of 2010 California whooping cough cases in people under the age of 18 occurred in those who were fully up to date on the whooping cough vaccine. Eleven percent had received at least one shot, but not the entire recommended series, and only eight percent of those stricken were unvaccinated. According to the authors : “This first detailed analysis of a recent North American pertussis outbreak found widespread disease among fully vaccinated older children. Starting approximately three years after prior vaccine dose, attack rates markedly increased, suggesting inadequate protection or durability from the acellular vaccine.” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/07/30/whooping-cough-vaccine.aspx?e_cid=20120730_DNL_artNew_1 View Comment

Please do protect your child but do your research about vaccines as part of the process. The articles neglects to say this outbreak is with kids that have already been vaccinated. Please do a little research before you spread your information. Here is some other info: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-whoopingcough-idUSBRE8320TM20120403 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/15/whooping-cough-kills-5-in-california-state-declares-an-epidemic.aspx View Comment

Thanks for the article! As you probably already know Lyme Disease is an Epidemic. It's the fastest growing infectious disease in the USA! We have been all touched by it in this area one way or another - I just ask that you take a moment to read this for your friends, family and personal protection. (According to the CDC, children are the fastest growing population to get it). It is the fastest growing and most under reported epidemic for lots of reasons but the point of this letter is to help you keep your eyes open for it and other tick and other insect borne bacteria that are making people very sick in ways that we don't conventionally think of as Lyme disease. Lyme has over 100 different strains and only a small percent can be tested for. So there are many false negatives. The target rash shows up only on 20-40% of the cases. Fevers can be very low and mistaken for viruses, and the fatigue, aches or brain fog, a product of our daily stress. Lyme causes fevers, muscle and chest pain, stomach aches, eye problems, headaches, heart problems, memory loss, cognitive difficulties, anxiety and irritability. Just to mention a few. It can have a 2-3 week cycles of symptom re-occurrence. It has been commonly misdiagnosed in children/teenagers as mental illness, behavioral or cognitive problems, and as menopause problems in older women as well as Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, seizures, Parkinsons and other nervous disorders. AND in addition to Lyme, there are 3 other major illnesses that are now common co-infections - Bartonella, Babiosis, and Ehrlichiosis to watch out for: Bartonella effects the whole body but can distinguish itself by it's effect on the brain and nervous system. Systems include causing panic, nervousness, combative behavior anxiety, depression, and seizures. Babesiosis can be fatal and can be transmitted through blood transfusions. It is a malaria like disease that causes fatigue, chills, sweats, pain in the chest, shortness of breathe, nausea and vomiting. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/health/21ticks.html?_r=3) Ehrlichiosis causes flu like systems such as fever, chills, cough, aches and pains, stomach aches, diarrhea, overall fatigue and malaise. Theses diseases are tricky. They are hard to diagnose. If your immune system is compromised, if you are always tired ...please investigate further! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41973641/ns/health-infectious_diseases/#.Tt-cM7LNltk Lyme and it's co-infections are most prevalent in women and young people. Unfortunately, many doctors still don't take these diseases seriously and both woman and children are shrugged off. This happened to me with my local pediatrician. Both my children were tested using Quest Labs and got negative results. It wasn't until I went to specialists and got clearer answers using a variety of specialized tests and observations, that they were then treated for Lyme and co-infections. (One has heart damage, the other eye damage but they are essentially healthy now). If I relied on the pediatrician, I would not have gotten my children the care they needed. If I hadn't had Lyme myself, I probably would have let what I was witnessing go. Thank God I didn't! If you or your family members get sick often, have cognitive difficulties or behavior problems, investigate further. Don't be afraid to be pro-active about the health and well being of yourself and your loved ones! ILADS has a lot of helpful information (http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/lyme_brochures.html) and referrals to local doctors who understand about Lyme. Ann Bianchi Quota View Comment