Immunization

As many as 3 million Americans may now be immune to the West Nile virus thanks to antibodies they produced after being infected by the bite of an infected mosquito. And a tenth of 1 percent of the population - about 300,000 people - acquire new West Nile infections each year, most without ever experiencing any symptoms of the disease, according to a study in the current issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. "We do not see any indication that that trend will not continue," said Thomas R. Kriel, senior director of viral vaccines at Baxter International Inc., in Vienna, Austria.

A 60-year-old teacher will be able to proceed with an age-discrimination lawsuit against the Baltimore County Board of Education now that the Maryland Court of Appeals has cleared the way. The appeals court upheld Thursday a lower court's ruling that the board could not claim sovereign immunity from such lawsuits. Mireille Zimmer-Rubert, who was described in court documents as qualified to teach English, Spanish, German and French, had applied in March 2004 for a job as a foreign-languages instructor in county high schools.

What's to love about coconut? It's rich and creamy, an addictive staple in Thai, Indian and Caribbean cuisine. Coconut is high in immunity-boosting lauric acid, which is touted (though not proven) to lower cholesterol and rev metabolism. What's not to love? Coconut is high in saturated fat. However, your body digests it more readily than animal fats, so don't shun the coconut. Add lushness to vegetables and whole grains with canned coconut milk. This is no sugary pina colada mix, but a solution of grated, squeezed coconut meat and water.

Even if it was bought and paid for, a vote cannot be used as evidence of wrongdoing against an elected official, Circuit Court Judge Dennis M. Sweeney ruled Thursday, ending the entire case against Baltimore City Councilwoman Helen L. Holton and dismissing some of the charges against Mayor Sheila Dixon, the former City Council president. The ruling centered on the little-known but centuries-old legal precedent of legislative immunity, which protects lawmakers from seeing their official work used against them in civil or criminal cases.

A key figure in Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell a U.S. Senate seat has sought immunity from federal authorities in return for his cooperation in their investigation. Raghuveer P. Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman and political fundraiser, is the unnamed "Individual D" who prosecutors say was being squeezed by the governor for campaign cash in return for appointing Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, sources said.

The Baltimore County Department of Health will hold an immunization clinic from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow at the Woodlawn Health Center, 1811 Woodlawn Drive, for students who haven't had their required shots. No appointment is necessary and immunizations are free. Parents must show a copy of their child's immunization record for the walk-in clinic. The 2008-2009 school year immunization requirements include chickenpox and hepatitis B vaccination for children entering preschool programs through 11th grade.

Andrea Wilson felt sick to her stomach when she heard comedian Bernie Mac had died Saturday in a Chicago hospital. Her private fear - the fear of sudden death - was suddenly splashed across the news. Like Mac, Wilson has sarcoidosis, a mysterious and sometimes devastating immune system disorder that causes cells to cluster and can damage organs throughout the body. Last year, the disease jumped to her brain and started causing strokelike symptoms - vision changes, numbness in her left side, tingling in her face and mouth - as well as extreme pain.

A federal advisory panel has endorsed two new combination vaccines designed to reduce the number of needle sticks children must endure to get the recommended immunizations. The panel approved a four-in-one shot made by GlaxoSmithKline. It offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, and costs $45. It's given once to preschool-age children. The panel also endorsed Sanofi Pasteur's five-in-one shot for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and illness because of Haemophilus influenzae type b, or HiB. It costs about $69. Youngsters get four doses by age 2. Both combination shots were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

After 16 years of guiding MedImmune Inc. from a struggling Gaithersburg biotech to one of the world's most profitable, Chief Executive David M. Mott is stepping down for personal reasons, the company's London-based parent, AstraZeneca PLC, said yesterday. Tony Zook, CEO of AstraZeneca's North American business based in Wilmington, Del., will succeed Mott when he leaves at the end of July. The announcement surprised local biotech representatives, who look to Mott, 42, as a role model in an industry the state considers among its best hopes for economic growth.

When Gaithersburg-based MedImmune Inc. first introduced a needle-free flu vaccine five years ago, shareholders were as excited as the kids who needed it. So far, the product has fallen short of expectations. But that could change after a federal panel that advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended yesterday that all children, from six months of age to 18, be vaccinated for the flu. If adopted by the CDC, an additional 30 million children would need immunizations.