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Infectious diseases on rise, report says

"These diseases are a major cause of death and disability in low-income countries and are re-emerging as a serious health problem in developing countries," said Bruce Carnes (CMB), one of the authors of a new 52-page population bulletin from the Population Reference Bureau, "Infectious Diseases Ñ New and Ancient Threats to World Health."

Health officials worldwide are struggling to understand the latest outbreaks of diseases once thought to be on the wane and to mobilize resources to do battle with these ancient killers, called infectious and parasitic diseases.

Among this class of diseases are malaria, tuberculosis and cholera, as well as more exotic ones such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, Ebola, and ChagasÕ disease.

In recent years, newspaper accounts of terrifying outbreaks of Ebola, dengue hemorrhagic fever, Hantaan viruses, cholera and other exotic diseases have captivated the public and generated best-selling books like "The Hot Zone" and the hit movie "Outbreak."

"Unfortunately," Carnes said, "the threat posed by these diseases is not fiction. They have been responsible for more deaths throughout history than any other cause, including old age. And they still are."

Carnes, a biologist, heads research into aging and demography at Argonne's Center for Mechanistic Biology and Biotechnology. Other authors of the Population Reference Bureau report are biodemographer S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Chicago, sociologist Richard G. Rogers of the University of Colorado and epidemiologist Len Smith of the Australian National University.

The scientists point s out that infectious and parasitic diseases are not disappearing. The HIV/AIDS epidemic alerted health officials to the fact that these diseases had been on the rise for the past quarter-century. Old diseases are appearing with increasing frequency, new forms of old diseases that resist treatment are appearing in increasing numbers, and new diseases rarely or never before experienced by humans are surfacing.

More than 28 new disease-causing microbes have been identified since 1973, the report notes. These include a new strain of cholera that has killed thousands of people in Africa and Asia and new forms of tuberculosis and meningitis that resist most known antibiotics. Outbreaks of such deadly diseases as diphtheria, Hantaan virus, bubonic plague, tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, meningitis, and Ebola have been reported recently.

The death toll is high. More than 17 million people died from these diseases in 1995, accounting for more than one-fourth of all deaths. About 97 percent of deaths from these diseases occur in low-income countries.

The vast majority of these deaths, the authors said, could have been avoided.

They added that the mortality and health problems these diseases cause retard social and economic development in low-income countries, perpetuating the poverty, poor health, and squalid living conditions that contribute to the spread of these diseases.

The developed nations are no longer safe from these diseases, the report says. The diseases can travel in a matter of hours to any part of the globe, thanks to modern air travel. In addition, the United States records 600,000 cases of pneumonia each year, resulting in 25,000 to 50,000 deaths, and between 10,000 and 40,000 deaths due to influenza. The new states of the former Soviet Union experienced an epidemic of diphtheria in 1990, with more than 40,000 cases reported in 1994.

Carnes and his fellow authors believe that public health experts and policymakers can collaborate to respond to the increase in infectious and parasitic disease. They call for: * Strengthening infection control precautions.

* Ensuring appropriate laboratory-based surveillance of diseases resistant to available drugs.

* Developing more rapid diagnostic tests.

* Instituting surveillance of the use of antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents.

* Improving physician prescribing practices.

* Encouraging pharmaceutical companies to develop new antimicrobial agents.

* Developing new or improved vaccines and effective means to distribute them throughout the world.

* Educating the public about appropriate antimicrobial agent use and the dangers of inappropriate use.

-- John McGrath

Argonne Club hosts 'supernatural tour'

"Professional Ghost Hunter" Richard Crow will host a Chicago Supernatural Tour, sponsored by the Argonne Club.

The motor-coach bus leaves from Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3. The tour features 13 haunted locations and will make five stops. The bus will return to Argonne at about 10:30 p.m. Cost is $28 per person, and the tour is limited to 35.

To reserve a ticket, call Fred Onesto (APO) at ext. 2-5260, Dan McNamee (EMO) at ext. 2-6539 or Mary Welde (DIS) at ext. 2-1991 by Oct. 9.

ANL-West to host
international forum
on research reactors

Argonne-West's Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) Program will host the 20th anniversary international meeting on reduced enrichment for research and test reactors in Jackson Hole, Wyoming Oct. 5-10.

The meeting supports U.S. and other international programs to assist in converting the cores of research reactors from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuels, in agreement with U.S. non-proliferation policy.

Meeting topics include progress of national RERTR programs; fuel development; fuel testing and evaluation; measurements and calculations for converted reactors; safety tests and evaluations; core conversion studies; production of Mo-99 from LEU fission; licensing requirements; HEU and LEU fuel cycle, and spent fuel disposal.

An optional tour of the facilities at Argonne-West is planned. More than 200 registrants will attend, representing Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chili, Columbia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of South Korea, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Scotland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

ACA agencies plan information sessions

Representatives from agencies supported by the Argonne Combined Appeal will be available the week of Sept. 29 during lunchtime in the lobby of Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria.

Agency staff will answer questions and tell employees how their donations benefit these organizations.

Agencies scheduled are:

Monday, Sept. 29

* American Heart Association Works to prevent and reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and strokes through research, education and community programs.

* Misericordia Heart of Mercy Provides a variety of programs to help the mentally disabled.

Tuesday, Sept. 30

* American Diabetes Association Funds research to find causes and possible cures for diabetes.

* American Cancer Society Funds research and promotes the prevention and early detection of cancer.

Wednesday, Oct. 1

* National Multiple Sclerosis Society Works to manage and eradicate multiple sclerosis through research, education and service.

* The College Fund/UNCF Provides scholarships to financially disadvantaged young people.

Thursday, Oct. 2

* FISH, Inc. Operates a food pantry and clothing center. Volunteers provide transportation, financial assistance, shelter and errand service for the elderly and shut in.

* Love Christian Clearing House Works with a coalition of local churches, agencies and individual volunteers to link people in need with assistance.

Friday, Oct. 3

* March of Dimes Health organization dedicated to preventing birth defects.

* Alliance for the Mentally Ill of DuPage County A self-help group dedicated to the welfare of people with chronic mental illness and support of their families.

The Combined Appeal provides employees with a way to contribute to the Metropolitan Chicago United Way/Crusade of Mercy, United Way Will County and 18 other charities. Employees will receive information from division coordinators on how to donate during the month of October.

More information on the campaign is available on the ACA home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.anl.gov/ACA/aca-home.html.

Clothing drive
leads off appeal's
1997 campaign

The Argonne Combined Appeal will kick off its 1997 campaign with a clothing drive on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 7-8 at Argonne-East.

Donations of clean, wearable clothing will be collected from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the lobby of the Building 213 Cafeteria.

Men's, women's and children's clothing will be accepted. Children's clothing is especially needed. Donations are tax deductible.

Clothing will be donated to five Combined Appeal agencies Proviso Association for Retarded Children (a United Way Crusade of Mercy organization); the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of DuPage County; United Way of Will County; Fish, Inc., a clothing and food pantry; and Little City Foundation.

Volunteers are needed to help collect and sort clothing. Call Jan Buckley (HR) at ext. 2-9371 to volunteer.

Blood donation drive
planned for Oct. 16

Argonne-East's fall blood drive will be held Thursday, Oct. 16, in the lower level of Building 617 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Appointments will be scheduled for every 20 minutes.

A raffle will be held for a "Beanie Baby" stuffed toy.

Appointment forms have been sent to all employees. Those who did not receive a form can contact the Medical Department, Building 201, at ext. 2-2808.

Guest House plans
'Oktoberfest' party

The Argonne Guest House will host an "Oktoberfest" on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The special menu price is $10 and includes German favorites like grilled bratwurst, chicken and dumplings, beef Stroganoff, sauteed herb späetzles, red cabbage, marinated potato salad, apple strudel and German chocolate cake.

A non-alcoholic beverage is included in the price. German beer and wine will be available for purchase.

A $1-off coupon will appear in the next issue of the Guest House News.

Sales of hats, clasps,
and lunch bags
to aid PSI's students

Professional Secretaries International will offer baseball caps, lunch bags and "key management systems" (key clasps), all featuring a deer logo, as a fund raiser for scholarships for high school aides.

The stone-washed, khaki-color baseball caps display an embroidered deer in either "white" or "brown" versions. Cost is $12. Insulated teal lunch bags are $7, and 22-karat, gold-plated key clasps are $12.

For more information, or to purchase any of these items, contact Mary Ann Hejny (CMT), Building 205, ext. 2-4379; Joanne Jacobson (OTD), Building 201, ext. 2-3321; or Rosemary Stanton (EQO), Building 201, ext. 2-6415.

Seminars promise
better secretarial,
administrative skills

Human Resources will offer special seminars at Argonne-East on enhancing secretarial and administrative skills.

Both seminars require advance registration. To reserve a space, call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 by Friday, Oct. 3.

n The Indispensable Assistant (HR332) Aimed at secretaries and administrative assistants, this class will teach time- and task-management techniques necessary for getting the most out of each day. Participants will learn to organize multiple projects, communicate assertively and turn stress into positive energy. Thursday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Building 362, Room F108. Cost is $175.

n How to Manage Multiple Projects, Meet Deadlines & Achieve Objectives (HR335) Participants will learn to prioritize tasks and projects, handle conflicting deadlines and manage multiple tasks with confidence. The class provides an innovative priority system, and a three-step method that helps prevent others from imposing their priorities. Thursday,

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