News in brief - July 17, 2006

Surgeon general takes aim at secondhand smoke - CDC: Measles exposure in travel - Another statin joins ranks of generics

Surgeon general takes aim at secondhand smoke

A June 27 Surgeon General's report, "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke," found that even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause harm. The only way to protect nonsmokers from such exposure is to eliminate smoking indoors, according to the report.

Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmokers and is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory problems, ear infections and asthma attacks in infants and children, according to the report.

"The health effects of secondhand smoke exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought," said Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD, MPH. "The good news is that ... secondhand smoke exposure is easily prevented. ... Smoke-free indoor environments are proven, simple approaches that prevent exposure and harm."

The findings define the known health risks of secondhand smoke, said AMA President-elect Ron Davis, MD. "This report should be a wake-up call for lawmakers to enact comprehensive clean indoor air laws that prohibit smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces," he said.

Thus far, 16 states, Washington, D.C., and more than 2,200 communities across the country have passed smoke-free laws covering 43% of the population, said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society.

And there has been progress in shielding nonsmokers, according to the report. Levels of cotinine -- a biological marker for secondhand smoke exposure -- measured in nonsmokers have fallen by 70% since the late 1980s, and the proportion of nonsmokers with detectable cotinine levels has been halved, from 88% for the period 1988-91 down to 43% for the period 2001-02.

CDC: Measles exposure in travel

Travelers to and from Germany are being warned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of possible exposure to the measles virus, which is affecting three of the 12 cities hosting the World Cup soccer games. Since Jan. 1, nearly 1,200 cases of measles have been reported in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.

Because the games are expected to draw more than 1 million fans who will be closely packed in viewing stands, the CDC has raised cautions about this extremely contagious virus and recommends that travelers check their immunization status and visit their physicians if they are not immune to measles or are not sure they are.

People returning from the games should see a health care professional if they develop a fever, raised rash and cough, according to a June 23 CDC advisory. Those who have symptoms of measles also should avoid contact with others, and physicians seeing patients with fevers should ask about vaccination history and recent international travel.

Another statin joins ranks of generics

Zocor (simvastatin) has become the latest cholesterol-lowering drug to become available in generic form. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration gave IVAX Pharmaceuticals the go-ahead to manufacture 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg tablets. The 80 mg dosage will be made by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals.

A generic version of Pravachol (pravastatin) was approved by the agency in April, and organizations that monitor health care costs said these two FDA actions would greatly reduce the economic burden of these drugs. A paper published online in Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs in June estimates that switching to these generics could lead to savings for consumers, insurers and government health plans ranging from $7 billion to $11 billion annually.

"This approval is another example of our agency's efforts to increase access to safe and effective generic alternatives as soon as the law permits," said Gary J. Buehler, RPh, director of the agency's Office of Generic Drugs. "Simvastatin is a widely used cholesterol lowering agency, and its generic version can bring significant savings to the millions of Americans with this disease."