News and Alerts

Because the oral vaccine was not thorough enough, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has initiated steps to make polio injections mandatory.

The CDC's actions are the result of conern over the eight to 10 children each year who develop polio from the oral live-virus vaccine.

If the review panel's recommendations are approved by CDC officials, mandatory injections could begin Jan. 1, 2000.

For more on the CDC's intentions, visit the Centers for Disease Control. For more on polio, visit Polio.com.

A booklet from The Hormone Foundation examining menopause and its treatments is now available free to the public.

Drafted by some of the world's leading experts on menopause and its treatments, "Managing Menopause: A Change for the Better" addresses the myths and realities surrounding menopause and offers readers information about treatment options, lifestyle suggestions, and tips on being their own "patient advocate."

It also provides comprehensive answers to commonly asked questions on menopause, including: What is menopause and when does it begin? What are estrogens and what do they do? What are all the things I should consider at the time of menopause, such as other menopausal problems and menopausal symptoms vs. risk of disease?

The booklet also offers women tips for getting better information from their doctors about menopause and the risks and benefit of treatment options. At the end of the booklet, readers will find a glossary of medical terms associated with menopause.

Answers to many of the questions will be posted on the Foundation's Web site. Copies of the booklet are also available by visiting the web site or by calling 1-800-HORMONE.

A type of diabetes that typically occurs in overweight older adults is becoming more prevalent in children, according to recent research.

The results of five different studies emphasized that obesity in children and teens-- linked to more sedentary lifestyles -- seems to play a major role in early development of the disease. Recent surveys indicate as many as 20 percent of American children are obese.

For more on diabetes and children, visit the American Diabetes Association.

American research priorities must change to address the startling fact that motherhood is four times more dangerous for Black women than for White women in America, according to a national women's health organization.

"The death rate for Black mothers is a national scandal that should outrage every American. There should be four times as much research on causes of death among Black mothers giving birth as is being done on maternal death in the general population," said National Black Women's Health Project President Julia R. Scott. "Pregnancy can be a very serious issue for Black women. We need to do something about it."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently revealed that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths for Black U.S. women is 19.6 per 100,000 live births, nearly four times as high as the rate of 5.3 per 100,000 for White women. "The death rate for Black mothers is a national scandal that should outrage every American," Scott said.

The overall rate of maternal deaths, 7.7 per 100,000 live births, has not changed much in the past decade and the gap between Black and White women has remained more or less constant. Serious non-fatal complications related to childbirth also afflict Black women at a rate much higher than White women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention article, State-Specific Maternal Mortality Among Black and White Women, can be found on the CDC Web site.

Women can reduce the risk of heart disease by eating soluble fiber from cereals such as oatmeal, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Among different sources of dietary fiber (eg, cereal, vegetables, fruit), only cereal fiber was strongly associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

A total of 68,782 women aged 37 to 64 years without previously diagnosed angina, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cancer, hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes at baseline participated in the study.

An abstract of the study results is located on the JAMA Web site.

Consumer Alerts

Stairway Gates by North States Industries Inc. The locking mechanism can release when the gate is shaken and the gate will no longer act as the barrier it is intended to be. If the gate is placed at the top of stairs and the lock fails, a child could fall down the stairs and be injured. About 3,200 stairway gates have been recalled

Consumers should stop using these gates immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For additional information, consumers should call North States Industries Inc. at (800) 848-8421 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday.

Infant Cardigans by Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. Inc. The cardigans' snaps can detach, presenting a choking hazard to infants. About 3,800 infant cardigans were recalled, ranging in size from 3 to 24 months in colors red or navy.

Consumers should stop using these cardigans immediately, and call Tommy Hilfiger Consumer Relations Department toll-free at (877) TOMMYCARES anytime to arrange for an exchange or full refund.

Bungee Baby Bouncers by E and I Inc. Knots tied in the black rope that supports the bouncer can unravel, causing the baby to fall. About 4,000 of these devices were recalled.

Consumers should immediately stop using their Bungee Baby Bouncer, and return only the bungee assembly to E and I Inc. for a free repair, and call E and I Inc. at (800) 853-6001 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MDT Monday through Friday.

Stacking Ring Toys by IKEA U.S. Inc. The red ball that tops this toy poses a choking hazard to young children. IKEA is voluntarily replacing the red ball pieces on about 28,000 stacking ring toys.

Consumers should take the red ball that tops this toy away from children immediately and mail the ball to IKEA or take it to any IKEA store to receive a redesigned top piece. For more information, call IKEA at (800) 793-5408 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EDT Monday through Saturday.

Next Generation Pisces Cribs by Generation 2 Worldwide. The slats on the headboards and footboards of these cribs can come loose, creating a large opening between the slats. This enables an infant to become entrapped in the side rails, which can result in serious injury or death. About 6,600 devices were recalled.

These Next Generation Pisces Cribs are model number 67-8100. They were manufactured between March 4, 1997 and March 10, 1998. The model number and date of manufacture can be found on a sticker at the bottom of the headboard. The Pisces Crib has a high arched headboard and footboard with the middle two slats joined in a small arch underneath the top rails.

Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled cribs until the repair has been performed. The original headboard and foot board should be destroyed after the replacement has been completed. To order the repair kit or for more information, call Generation 2 Worldwide at (800) 736-1140, Extension 224, between 7 a.m to 4 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday.

This recall does not include Pisces Cribs with model number 67- 8102.

For more information about recalls, visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.

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