Fall means Flu, and 2006-7 promises to be same-ole, same-ole. But this year, we get a special treat - Air Avian threatens to land in a passage or duct near you. . .and you. . .and you! Two forms of the disease exist in birds: a low pathogenic form causing only mild symptoms such as "ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production"; and the more virulent form that can spread thru a flock in 48 hours, with mortality rates as high as 90-100%. Fortunately, the spread of avian virus from birdie-to-being is infrequent, and is even more rare - so far - from person-to-person.

We weren't sure how to parse the good news from the fowl with this one, so we went ahead and designed our own ppd (patho-preventive device). You might be less-than-pleased to know that wearing IA Avian neckwear is currently as effective as vaccination - but if we can prevent ruffled feathers and egg drops for even a season, our work is done.

Avian Flu Tie in BlueBlack and Black/Red,
and Avian Flu Scarf

Our thanks to Cynthia Goldsmith, MGS, et.al., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the original micrographs on which we've based our designs.

More information on Avian Flu at cdc.com

For years, we've been scolded by the mycology maniacs about our fungally challenged design collection. Well, they won't have us to "kick around much longer," cause we're debuting the most elegant mold any environmentalist or mycologist could lust for. Composed of Aspergillus, Stachybotrys and Penicillium, this design is a work of art. Based on original micrographs courtesy of our microbe man in New Zealand, Dr. Niall Hamilton, we've created one gorgeous display of fungi - not any easy thing to do. This may be the most stunning and original of our stunning and original collection. Check it out, even if mold is not your thing. It tends to creep up on you.

Mold/Fungi Necktie and Scarf

We all know about those minimally attractive dust mites that make their home in our pillows. Little did we know, however, that the dm's have soul mates: fungal spores! Recent studies have identified several species that seem to have formed their own ecosystem with the nutrition-providing dust mites. (We'll let you guess what that "nutrition" might be). In any case, Aspergillus fumigatus (see 2. above) is among the most likely to be present, and also most likely to cause disease. These babies have been there for centuries, however,so there's probably no point in dumping the down, replacing it with rocks or such. On the other hand, it's something to think about for the immuno-compromised,. . .or even the seriously grossed.

Thanks to the homies at U.C.L.A., hope remains eternal for us creme brulee (organic, of course) addicts! By converting stem cells derived from liposuction fat (What, liposuction in Los Angeles!?) and treating them with chemicals (What, chemical use in Los Angeles!?), researchers report successful creation of smooth muscle, i.e. the muscle tissue that lines blood vessels and the intestinal tract. Granted, this will not make for instant six-pack abs, which are unfortunately skeletal muscle, but we're sensing a critical brulee breakthrough sometime in the next couple hundred years. Go Bruins!

Dr. Charles Gerba, University of Arizona professor, sometimes known as Dr. Germ, is at it again. Through the years, it seems as though Dr. Gerba has tested for microbes on just about every thing and every one. (Don't answer the knock on your door). His latest revelations come at the expense of the cell phone, which according to Dr. Gerba, and corroborated by recent British studies, turns out to be littered with serious unlovelies. Ga-gillions of them. Upon discovering some "shocking" results from the "Good Morning America" cast and crew, he cracked us up with this comment:

"...he has the dirtiest phone I ever tested...if there is ever a new life form on this planet, it will be on this phone!"

Bottom line: because they come in contact with more warm body parts and locales, cell phones breed more microbes, both in number and form, than their cross-town-rivals, e.g. door knobs, shoe soles or toilet seats. Seems like this would be a good time to consider regular swabbing of your little communicator with the very effective antimicrobial wipes available.

For more results of Dr. Gerba's ickstudies, check out:
http://uanews.org/pdfs/germsurvey.pdf#search= %22Dr.%20Charles%20Gerba%22

1.7 million people died of Tuberculosis in 2004, according to the World Health Organization. This being the case, you would think doctors would be on top of one of history's great killers from the get- go. Unfortunately, that's a not-so! The problem is that physicians don't see much of TB in most of the U.S.today, so they have lost their edge in being able to diagnose and treat it. TB is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which can multiply in the body and attack multiple organs, destroying tissue. The bacteria can lie dormant for years, only to multiply at some later time when the body's immunity might be impaired. Most of the cases in the U.S. can be linked to immigration, AIDS, alchoholsim or other risk factors - but several high profile cases recently have jarred the healthcare community with the reality that that anyone can get this disease.

Over the years, the IA TB design has been our most frequently-ordered product. The design is a faithful reproduction of micrographs provided by Dr. Hal King, who at the time indicated that even his young son could identify the bacteria from the slides. While we love the challenge of bringing these designs to market, we're constantly reminded of how serious the threats, and how often they are overlooked. Hopefully, our products continue to generate conversation about these important issues.

Check out our TB Feature page for more information:
www.iawareables.com/shopping/tuberculosis.htm

Antibodies (October), MRSA/Antibiotic resistance (November). We have got you so covered!

ICAAC (Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy), San Francisco, September; APHA (American Public Health Association), Boston, November. Keep an eagle eye on iAwareables.com for outbreak info on new arrivals.