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H1N1 "Swine Flu" Facts From Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Novel H1N1:  What you should know

In April 2009 a strain of influenza virus entered the United States that worried public health officials. The strain has variously been labeled “swine flu,” “H1N1,” “novel H1N1,” and “pandemic H1N1.” Health officials were concerned that this particular virus has the potential to infect virtually everyone in the world. 

Q. Why are public health officials worried about novel H1N1? 
A. Health officials are concerned because very few people in the world have immunity to novel H1N1. This means that the virus has the capacity to cause a pandemic, which is a worldwide epidemic. Typically, many more people become ill and die during pandemics than during yearly, seasonal epidemics of influenza. Some pandemics are more damaging than others. For example, the pandemics of 1957 and 1968 killed 4 million and 6 million people, respectively. On the other hand, the pandemic of 1918 killed between 20 million and 50 million people. 

Q. Where did this novel H1N1 virus come from? 
A. Novel H1N1 virus was created in nature. Influenza viruses, like all viruses, reproduce themselves in cells. But influenza doesn’t just grow in human cells; it also can grow in cells of pigs and birds. When two or three different influenza viruses grow in the same cell, they can exchange genetic material, creating an entirely new virus. The current H1N1 virus is a combination of bird, human and pig influenza strains. Because it’s new, virtually no one has immunity to this strain. 

Q. What does H1N1 mean? 
A. Influenza viruses have two proteins that sit on their surface: the hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). These particular proteins are important in inducing antibodies that protect people against disease. Influenza viruses may contain many different combinations of H and N proteins. For this reason, all influenza strains are labeled by the types of H and N proteins on their surface (e.g., H1N1, H3N2). 

Q. Why is the new strain called “novel H1N1” instead of just H1N1? 
A. This new strain is very different from the H1N1 influenza viruses that circulate in the United States every year. Every year health officials in the United States recommend an influenza vaccine that includes three different influenza strains to protect against those most likely to cause disease. H1N1 viruses are typically included in the vaccine every year. To distinguish the current strain from the H1N1 viruses that typically circulate, the term “novel H1N1” is used. 

Q. Why is this new strain occasionally called “swine flu”? 
A. Some of the new virus’s genes were derived from pigs. However, most of the genes of the virus were derived from birds and humans. Novel H1N1 virus does not infect pigs and isn’t spread from pig to pig; so, to some extent, the term “swine flu” is a misnomer. Also, novel H1N1 is clearly distinct from a strain of swine flu that infected some people in the United States in 1976. That particular virus caused disease in pigs and humans. 

Q. Are the symptoms of novel H1N1 infection different from those of typical seasonal flu? 
A. No. The symptoms are indistinguishable. All influenza infections include symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, congestion, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing. 

Q. Is there a vaccine to prevent novel H1N1? 
A. Yes. A vaccine to prevent novel H1N1 has been approved for use in the United States. The vaccine is very similar to the current seasonal flu vaccine, except that it contains one vaccine virus instead of three. 

Q. Is novel H1N1 more dangerous than other influenza virus strains? 
A. Because novel H1N1 virus will infect more people than other influenza virus strains circulating this winter, it is more dangerous. Every year hundreds of thousands of people are infected with influenza virus. And every year some of those infected will be hospitalized or die. Influenza viruses that are particularly dangerous — like the strain of influenza that caused the 1918 pandemic — cause a greater number of infected people to suffer hospitalization or death. All of the information to date suggests that novel H1N1 is not more virulent than typical seasonal influenza. But, because virtually everyone is susceptible to the virus, more people will get infected with it than with typical seasonal influenza. Indeed, novel H1N1 has already infected more than 1 million people in the United States, causing thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths. 

Q. Why aren’t people who are more than 65 years old recommended to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine? 
A. Surprisingly, many older citizens appear to be less susceptible to novel H1N1, probably because they have been exposed to a similar virus in the distant past. For this reason, this group is not recommended to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine. 

Q. Is the novel H1N1 vaccine safe? 
A. Yes. The novel H1N1 shot is made using the exact same technology as has been used to make influenza vaccines for more than 60 years. The vaccine virus strain is grown in eggs (because influenza viruses commonly infect birds and, therefore, grow very well in avian cells), purified and treated with the chemical formaldehyde to completely inactivate the virus. The vaccine is then given as a shot and subjected to the same safety testing as seasonal vaccine. Because the virus is completely inactivated it cannot reproduce itself and cannot cause disease. 

The nasal spray version of the novel H1N1 vaccine is similar to the seasonal influenza vaccine called FluMist. This is a live form of the virus that is weakened so that it cannot reproduce itself efficiently at body temperature, but can still induce protection. Although some childhood vaccines contain an adjuvant to enhance immune responses, the novel H1N1 vaccines do not. 

Q. Does the novel H1N1 vaccine contain thimerosal? 
A. Some multidose preparations of the novel H1N1 vaccine, which could be given to children more than 6 years of age, contain preservative levels of thimerosal. To prevent inadvertent contamination with bacteria, multidose vials of vaccines always contain a preservative. Thimerosal, an ethylmercury-containing preservative, has been used in vaccines since the 1930s. It was added to make multidose vials safer to use. 

Although large quantities of mercury can be toxic to the central nervous system, several facts about thimerosal in vaccines are reassuring. First: The quantity of mercury in thimerosal contained in vaccines is less than that to which children are typically exposed in breast milk or infant formula. Second: Many studies have now examined children who received thimerosal-containing vaccines and compared them with children who received the same vaccines that 
were free of thimerosal; all of these studies found no evidence that thimerosal causes even subtle signs of mercury poisoning. 

Q. Are antiviral drugs effective against novel H1N1? 
A. Yes. All currently circulating strains of novel H1N1 virus are susceptible to antiviral medicines called oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). These medicines are recommended for the following groups of people infected with the virus: people hospitalized with severe illness; adults greater than 65 years of age; pregnant women; people with chronic lung, heart or kidneydisease; and people who are immune compromised. The benefit of antiviral medicines to otherwise healthy people infected with novel H1N1 is minimal. 

Q. Other than vaccines and medicines, is there anything else I can do to protect myself and my family during an influenza pandemic? 
A. Yes, several simple strategies are effective. Careful hand-washing, covering your mouth when sneezing and staying home for at least one day after the feveris gone will help to reduce the spread of influenza viruses. 

Q. Who should get the novel H1N1 vaccine? 

A. The novel H1N1 vaccine is recommended for people mostlikely toget severe pneumonia and those who care for them. This includes pregnant women, people between 6 months and 24years of age, people who care for children less than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical personnel, and people between 25 years and 64 years of age who have chronic medical conditions (like heart, lung or kidney problems) or who are immune compromised. 

This information is provided by the Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Center is an educational resource for parents and healthcare professionals and is composed of scientists, physicians, mothers and fathers who are devoted to the study and prevention of infectious diseases. The Vaccine Education Center is funded by endowed chairs from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Center does not receive support from pharmaceutical companies. 

For the latest information on all vaccines, visit our Web site at http://vaccine.chop.edu 

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the nation’s first pediatric hospital, is a worldleader in patient care, pioneering research, education and advocacy. 

©2009 The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, All Rights Reserved. Reprinted With Permission

2009 Swine Flu / H1N1 Information

2009 H1N1 Flu

What is 2009 H1N1 (swine flu)?
2009 H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

2009 H1N1 Flu in Humans

Are there human infections with 2009 H1N1 virus in the U.S.?
Yes. Human infections with the new  H1N1 virus are ongoing in the United States. Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment. 
CDC routinely works with states to collect, compile and analyze information about influenza, and has done the same for the new H1N1 virus since the beginning of the outbreak. This information is presented in a weekly report, called FluView.

Is 2009 H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC has determined that 2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread? 
Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

In seasonal flu, certain people are at “high risk” of serious complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this 2009 H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at “high risk” of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of 2009 H1N1-related complications thus far. CDC laboratory studies have shown that no children and very few adults younger than 60 years old have existing antibody to 2009 H1N1 flu virus; however, about one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus. It is unknown how much, if any, protection may be afforded against 2009 H1N1 flu by any existing antibody.

How does 2009 H1N1 flu compare to seasonal flu in terms of its severity and infection rates?
With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.

When the 2009 H1N1 outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, CDC began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases and the ages of these people. The information analyzed by CDC supports the conclusion that 2009 H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu.  However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this 2009 H1N1. These underlying conditions include asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
People infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus.

Prevention & Treatment

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against 2009 H1N1 virus.  However, a 2009 H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. As always, a vaccine will be available to protect against seasonal influenza 
There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.Alcohol-based hand cleaners* are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Other important actions that you can take are:

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs,* tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) 
Keep away from others as much as possible. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

If I have a family member at home who is sick with 2009 H1N1 flu, should I go to work?
Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with 2009 H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, and take everyday precautions including washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.* If they become ill, they should notify their supervisor and stay home. Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health care provider for advice, because they might need to receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness. For more information please see General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in Workers.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner*. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where people have been identified with 2009 H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Are there medicines to treat 2009 H1N1 infection?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with 2009 H1N1 flu virus. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. During the current pandemic, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness (for example hospitalized patients) and people who are sick who have a condition that places them at high risk for serious flu-related complications.

What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has 2009 H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is for a person to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity 2009 H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.

CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against 2009 H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus.

CDC recommends that people with 2009 H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

 

Contamination & Cleaning

How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface.

What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.

*What if soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed in my facility?
Though the scientific evidence is not as extensive as that on hand washing and alcohol-based sanitizers, other hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol may be useful for killing flu germs on hands.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination? 
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, for example, and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How should waste disposal be handled to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.

What household cleaning should be done to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

How should linens, eating utensils and dishes of persons infected with influenza virus be handled?
Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. 
Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves. Individuals should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry.

Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

Exposures Not Thought to Spread 2009 H1N1 Flu

Can I get infected with 2009 H1N1 virus from eating or preparing pork?
No. 2009 H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get infected with novel HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Is there a risk from drinking water?
Tap water that has been treated by conventional disinfection processes does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. Current drinking water treatment regulations provide a high degree of protection from viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of 2009 H1N1 flu virus to conventional drinking water treatment processes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels typically used in drinking water treatment are adequate to inactivate highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as 2009 H1N1 would also be similarly inactivated by chlorination. To date, there have been no documented human cases of influenza caused by exposure to influenza-contaminated drinking water.

Can 2009 H1N1 flu virus be spread through water in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational water venues?
Influenza viruses infect the human upper respiratory tract. There has never been a documented case of influenza virus infection associated with water exposure. Recreational water that has been treated at CDC recommended disinfectant levels does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus to chlorine and other disinfectants used in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational venues. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels recommended by CDC (1–3 parts per million [ppm or mg/L] for pools and 2–5 ppm for spas) are adequate to disinfect avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as 2009 H1N1 virus would also be similarly disinfected by chlorine.

Can 2009 H1N1 influenza virus be spread at recreational water venues outside of the water?

Yes, recreational water venues are no different than any other group setting. The spread of this 2009 H1N1 flu is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

 

Note: Much of the information in this document is based on studies and past experience with seasonal (human) influenza.  CDC believes the information applies to 2009 H1N1 (swine) viruses as well, but studies on this virus are ongoing to learn more about its characteristics. This document will be updated as new information becomes available.

Urgent: Health Reform Legislation Fails to Include Important Provisions for Children!

There's still time to ensure children get real health reform!

Health reform is at a critical turning point on Capitol Hill, and crucial decisions are being made right now to improve our broken health care system. Earlier this week, children marched across the country to make sure their voices were heard in this debate, but Congress is still not getting the message.

There's still time to make changes to this legislation, but you need to act today! Your Representative has the ability to influence key Representatives and House Leadership to support amendments to this legislation that would ensure real health care reform for children.

Email your Representative today and tell him/her to support real health reform for children—not forget children and make their coverage worse!

Spread the Word to End the Word on March 31, 2009

It is time to “Spread the Word to End the Word” and on 31 March 2009 Special Olympics is calling for anational day of awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word. That R-word is not “recession,” but something more hurtful and painful – “retard.”   

Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends. This word is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur.

Spread the Word to End the Word will raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word and encourage people to pledge to stop using it.  America will be asked to declare their support for more respectful and inclusive language, specifically that referring to those with intellectual disabilities.

Created by young people with and without intellectual disabilities, Spread the Word to End the Word is one element of Special Olympics’ vision of a world where everyone matters, where everyone is accepted and, most importantly, where everyone is valued. Leading the way in promoting acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics opposes prejudice and discrimination, continuously working to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with this population — the use of the R-word being one such stereotype. In a world that has worked to eliminate pejorative racial and ethnic language such as the “N word,” among others, the R-word is gaining popularity.

On 31 March, young people across the country will lead local efforts to raise awareness and collect pledges on www.r-word.org from peers and the community to vow not to use the R-word. Actor and activist John C. McGinley, of the hit show “Scrubs,” is helping with this effort by making national media appearances on behalf of the campaign

A PSA produced by 16 year old Noah Gray for The Special Olympics' campaign to ban the "R" Word:

R-WORD Public Service Announcement

I also HIGHLY encourage you to watch the following: The Power of Words

USED WITH PERMISSION

A Message about Newborn Screening from the March of Dimes

We have some very good news to share: After nine years of intensive advocacy efforts, nearly every baby born in this country now lives in a state that requires screening for most of the 29 serious but treatable disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics.

This is a remarkable public health advance essentially eliminating state-by-state screening gaps. And it was made possible by people like you — the volunteers, donors and staff of the March of Dimes — working in tandem with our partners and state officials. The clear beneficiaries are babies and their families.

Recently, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times Health Blog, San Francisco Chronicle, Health Day, Health News Digest, MedPage Today, CNN Radio and several NBC-affiliate stations shared this story following the release of our Newborn Screening Report Card.

Newborn screening involves a simple blood test taken before the baby is discharged from the hospital and is done to detect certain rare disorders before any symptoms begin. If diagnosed early, these disorders can be successfully managed or treated to prevent death, disability or other severe consequences such as mental retardation.

If you or someone you know is expecting, I encourage you to learn more about newborn screening.

Even while we are celebrating, we are continuing to work hard on this issue. Please join us either by signing up as an eAdvocate to help secure federal funding for the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (Public Law 110-204) or by working with your March of Dimes Chapter on this topic.

Together we are touching—and improving — the lives of our nation’s babies and families.

Thank you,

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse
President