Hi Cluster Advocates & NDCA,

Well, the CDC was scheduled to come to Sierra Vista/Tucson yesterday
to release results from their bio-sampling related to the Sierra
Vista childhood leukemia cluster investigation. They had called
families and set up interview times, but then they cancelled last
week.

CDC told the county/state health depts that some budget problem or
contractual change prevented them from doing any travel until after
their new fiscal cycle, October 1. More, they also suggested that it
may take months to reassemble the team that was scheduled to come: a
pediatrician, epidemiologist, lab specialist, etc., so the visit may
not occur until NEXT YEAR.

In May 2005 the CDC took blood, urine, and mouth swab samples to test
for 148 environmental chemicals in the bodies of the kids with
leukemia in Sierra Vista (and their families, and some control
families). They expected results in a year, but May 2006 was
postponed to September 2006, and now it has been postponed again.

Meanwhile Matt and Yvonne report that most people in Sierra Vista
they talk with don't even know about the cluster.

Delays seem really effective at sweeping health problems under a carpet.

--
Terry Nordbrock
President, Families Against Cancer & Toxics,
Mother of a 7-year-old Tucson child with leukemia
Masters in Public Health student, UA Zuckerman College of Public Health
http://www.familiesagainstcancer.org/