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HHS WEEKLY REPORT
4-10 August 2002

THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly

IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Secretary Thompson encourages more stem cell research
2) Secretary Thompson presents $100 million to help keep Americans cool
3) $11.4 million to study health of Ground Zero workers
4) Secretary Thompson and HHS lead the fight against the West Nile virus
5) Conference to present best practices, programs to strengthen families
6) Secretary Thompson leads HHS in closing the health gap
7) "Mr. Prevention" tackles diabetes

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Secretary Thompson encourages more stem cell research

Secretary Thompson marked the first anniversary of the President's stem cell decision by encouraging more researchers to take advantage of this historic research opportunity. A year ago, President Bush outlined his decision to allow research on existing embryonic stem cells in an ethical and morally sound manner.

"With the door now open to embryonic stem cell research, we need more scientists to walk into the laboratory and conduct the essential research in this new field." Secretary Thompson said.

Over the last year, the National Institutes of Health has moved quickly to create a framework to enable researchers to begin stem cell research in the U.S.

The NIH has made five awards to stem cell providers to enhance their ability to meet the demands of the scientific community. There are new research grants underway and 20 existing laboratories have had their work extended to include human embryonic stem cell research. Six laboratories in the NIH intramural program are working on these cell lines.

There are 78 embryonic stem cell lines that meet the President's criteria for research, more than originally thought in August 2001. These lines are at various stages of development and have different private sector owners. The federal government owns no cell lines.

"The most experienced scientists in this field affirm that there are ample cell lines available to conduct the fundamental research necessary to fully understand how these cells work," Secretary Thompson said. "We need to conduct this basic research, which may take years, before we can look to their potential for clinical applications."

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Secretary Thompson presents $100 million to help keep Americans cool

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson traveled to the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Wisconsin, on August 8th to announce the release of an additional $100 million to provide electricity to low income Americans this summer. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency funds will be distributed to 33 states and the District of Columbia that have experienced unusually high temperatures this summer.

"The bottom line is simple - it's hot, too hot for many of our most vulnerable citizens," Secretary Thompson said. "We all know that severe heat can be devastating, especially for our children, older Americans, and people with disabilities.

Dehydration, heat stroke and heart attack are among the killers that can strike when the thermometer is high and the humidity is elevated. This funding can help keep Americans cool and keep them safe from the sweltering summer heat."

The $100 million is allocated to the states most affected by the extreme heat, based on the severity of the heat wave and the number of low-income households in the state.

LIHEAP supports more than four million low-income households each year deal with energy costs related to extreme heat and cold. States determine which low-income families receive LIHEAP support.

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$11.4 million to study health of Ground Zero workers

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson last week announced an $11.4 million contract with the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City to study whether the workers and volunteers at the World Trade Center disaster site are experiencing related illnesses or injuries.

Eligible workers and volunteers involved in the Ground Zero rescue and cleanup efforts will receive free standardized clinical exams. New York's Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and a consortium of occupational health clinics in New York, New Jersey and other locations will provide the examinations.

"The workers and volunteers at the World Trade Center site set a standard for courage and dedication that will never be forgotten," Secretary Thompson said. "We want to make sure that their heroic service does not have long-term health consequences, and these screening examinations will be essential in that effort."

The goal of the project is to help employers and public health professionals identify symptoms, injuries or conditions that may indicate long-term illness as a result of their work at the World Trade Center, so that treatment can be administered. Mt. Sinai also will compile a database of the findings, allowing researchers to assess potential occupational illness and injury patterns among the workers, and provide data for future studies where health changes over time can be identified and addressed.

The examinations will focus on identifying health problems most likely to occur as a result of work at or near the World Trade Center site. These include potential respiratory effects, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic effects from injuries at the site and mental health conditions. The program is estimated to provide screenings to at least 8,500 of the Ground Zero workers and volunteers. Workers will receive a report from the results, and general, de-identified information about the screenings will be shared with industry, labor, and government to help identify potential trends in health effects.

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Secretary Thompson and HHS lead the fight against the West Nile virus

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Last updated 12 August 2002
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