Largest-ever antismoking effort aims to form grass-roots coalitions

Article Abstract:

The federal government and the American Cancer Society have started an ambitious program to encourage Americans to quit smoking. The American Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST) will give states and local communities $160 million over the next seven years to develop smoking cessation programs. A total of $17 million has been awarded to 17 state health departments this year. While the National Cancer Institute (NCI) mandates the use of techniques shown to be effective through its own research, state health departments and local coalitions will be able to adapt the techniques to their communities. The plan is not without its critics, including tobacco industry spokesmen and even some antitobacco activists. But Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Louis W. Sullivan predicts the program will help 4.5 million smokers quit, convince 2 million young people not to start, and reduce the percentage of the population that smokes to 15%.

Finance, Smoking cessation programs, Smoking cessation, American Cancer Society, United States. National Cancer Institute

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Health threat from mosquitoes rises as flood of the century finally recedes

Article Abstract:

An epidemic of infectious diseases could occur in the Midwest following the flood of 1993. St. Louis encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus that is transmitted to humans by mosquitos. Elderly individuals have the highest risk of developing a severe form of St. Louis encephalitis that can be fatal. The virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis is thought to be transmitted from migrating birds to the mosquito population. And there could be a significant increase in the mosquito population once the floodwaters recede. A Mosquito Task Force has been set up by the state of Missouri, and a pesticide spraying program has been started in St. Louis. Scientists are also closely monitoring populations of migrating birds in areas affected by the flood.

Health aspects, Diseases, Midwestern States, Floods, Mosquitoes, Mosquitoes as carriers of disease, Insect carriers of disease

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