News for Release:  Tuesday, May 3, 2005

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

For Information:  John Millett, 202-564-4355

More Than 70 Percent Could Better Manage Asthma Triggers, EPA Survey Finds

Washington, D.C., May 3 (World Asthma Day) - In the first national awareness survey on environmental asthma triggers, EPA has found that fewer than 30 percent of people with asthma are taking simple steps to reduce exposure to asthma triggers.  Exposure to asthma triggers such as secondhand smoke, cockroaches, dust mites, mold, and ozone can cause asthma in young children or set off asthma attacks.

"The more we know about controlling and avoiding asthma triggers, the more we can prevent asthma and asthma attacks," EPA Administrator Steve Johnson said.  "That's why EPA is raising awareness and encouraging those with asthma to work with their physicians to identify their asthma triggers and to follow EPA's recommendations to reduce their exposure."

May 3 is World Asthma Day.  In addition to announcing the survey findings, today EPA recognized the outstanding asthma health care practices of two leading providers and launched a national asthma awareness media campaign, in partnership with the Ad Council.

EPA presented the first National Environmental Leadership Awards in Asthma Management to Optima Health Plan of Southeastern Virginia and Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics of Kansas City, Mo.  These programs represent the leading edge in asthma care by providing their patients with education, resources, and services for managing environmental asthma triggers.

To educate parents of children with asthma, EPA, in partnership with the Ad Council, is also releasing a new public awareness media campaign, describing simple steps parents can take to reduce asthma triggers commonly found in homes, daycares, and schools.  The new television, radio, newspaper and outdoor public service announcements (PSAs) are the third phase of the Childhood Asthma campaign, launched in March of 2001. The PSAs highlight sources of environmental asthma triggers and simple steps parents can take to reduce their children's exposure.  The new PSAs encourage parents to call 1-866-NOATTACKS or visit http://www.noattacks.org  for more information on preventing asthma attacks.  The PSAs are available in English and Spanish and will be distributed to media outlets nationwide.

Also, today EPA announced the release of their Asthma Research Results Highlights Report that summarizes accomplishments in asthma research over the last five years and outlines future directions in asthma research.  Asthma research by EPA and collaborators on the causes and triggers of the disease and best practices for management of the disease is providing critical science information to address this growing public health threat.

Of the approximately 20 million Americans with asthma, more than six million are children.  The disease remains one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and school absenteeism for children.  Although there is no known cure for asthma, there are ways to reduce the number of attacks, including avoiding exposure to environmental asthma triggers at home, school and other places where children spend their time.

Visit EPA's Web site http://www.epa.gov/asthma  to find fact sheets, brochures, children's activity books, and educational videos with information about asthma triggers and lessons on asthma management. Parents and caregivers can call the No Attacks hotline at 1-866-NOATTACKS (1-866-662-8822) or visit http://www.noattacks.org  for additional information on how to prevent asthma attacks.  For more information on EPA's Asthma Research Results Highlights Report visit http://www.epa.gov/ord/asthma

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Medium Risk Virus Alert: Sober.p


Secunia Virus Alert: Sober.p
Risk Rating: MEDIUM RISK

Confirmed By: 6 Vendors

Secunia Virus Information has issued a MEDIUM RISK alert for:
Sober.p

Learn More About Sober.p Online At Secunia:
http://secunia.com/virus_information/17692/
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Virus Alert for Sober.S.

Title
=====
ITsafe Bulletin 2005/04

What is it?
===========
"W32/Sober.S@mm" is a mass-mailing worm that sends itself in an email. It is also called "Sober.N", "Sober.O" and "Sober.P"

What does it affect?
====================
Most computers that use Microsoft Windows.

What does it do?
================
The worm will arrive by email, and will have a subject line in English or German with a ZIP file attachment, claiming to be from the soccer organization FIFA. The worm will be triggered, and spread to others in your address book, if you open the attachment.

How do I protect myself?
========================
As always, exercise care when opening attachments to email messages, as detailed at http://www.itsafe.gov.uk/library/explain/attachments.html
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How do I fix it?
================
Updates to Anti Virus Software signatures are available from most major suppliers.


Notes
=====
1. ITsafe Bulletins are issued by e-mail when significant risks have been identified that are likely to affect the majority of ITsafe users.

2. As our advice is that you should not click on URLs ("links") in any e-mail, we actually recommend you follow good practice, and type in the website name yourself in the box at the top of your browser window to see our detailed advice, rather than clicking on any links.


ITsafe Team
Making IT safe for You
http://www.itsafe.gov.uk
The UK Alerting and Advisory Service for Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT) Security


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Health news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

April 28, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – Just in time for mosquito season, federal health officials today heralded the addition of new defensive weapons against West Nile Virus (WNV): two non-DEET mosquito repellents.

"These additional repellents will help prepare people to prevent mosquito bites this summer," ...


To view this alert online, use the following link:
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/wnv/news/april2805wnv.html
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Health news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Apr 29, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – In a recent study, some laboratory and
public health workers who received smallpox shots reported several side
effects that have not shown up in other studies, including joint and
abdominal pain, backache, and breathing difficulty.

Current National Smallpox Vaccination Policy
On December 13, 2002, President Bush announced the following US policy:

Smallpox vaccinations are required for military personnel. According to
the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 500,000
military personnel will be vaccinated.

Smallpox vaccinations are recommended for smallpox response teams
comprised of public health staff and healthcare workers likely to be
involved in the initial care of any patients with smallpox.

Smallpox vaccinations also are being offered to other healthcare
workers and to first-responders (including police officers, firefighters, and
emergency medical technicians).

Under current circumstances, with limited availability of licensed
vaccine supplies, vaccination of the general population is not recommended,
because the potential benefits of vaccination do not outweigh the risk
of vaccine complications.

Smallpox vaccinations may be made available to the general public on a
voluntary basis at some point in the future. 

To view this alert online, use the following link:
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/smallpox/news/april2905smallpox.html
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Name of Product: Children’s Folding Chair

Units Sold: About 1.5 million

Distributor: Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received four reports of finger tip
amputations and seven reports of lacerations to children’s fingers.

Sold at: Hardware, discount department, toy, grocery and drug stores
nationwide from September 2002 through April 2005 for about $10
individually and for about $30 for a set.

To view this recall online, use the following link:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05163.html
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Volkswagen is voluntarily recalling 35,000 Golfs from the 1999 and 2000
model years because of a problem with the fuel supply line.

To view this recall online, use the following link:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2005/vw_golf.html
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Recall. Sharp Conventional Tube (CRT) televisions.

Name of Product: 27-Inch Sharp Conventional Tube (CRT) televisions

Units: About 373,000

Manufacturer: Sharp Electronics Corp., of Mahwah, N.J.

Sold at: The recalled televisions were sold at electronics retailers, department stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from March 2001 through February 2005 for about $250.

To view this recall online, use the following link:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05161.html
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Virus writers have resurrected the Sober worm with a new variant that
is spreading quickly over the Internet.

To view this alert online, use the following link:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5676631.html?tag=nl.e589
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aol or some other mail services.)

Another link relating to this Alert is:
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32soberm.html
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aol or some other mail services.)

Another link relating to this Alert is:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5459834.html?tag=nl
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Ozone from ionizing air cleaners is a growing concern as sales
increase. People with asthma or respiratory allergies are especially sensitive
to indoor ozone, an irritant that can worsen asthma, deaden sense of
smell, raise sensitivity to pollen and mold, and may cause permanent lung
damage.

To view this alert online, use the following link:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/cu_ozone.html
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aol or some other mail services.)

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