The wildlife animal adoption helps save
endangered species and meet other wildlife emergencies .
For adoption orders received by April 22nd, Defenders of Wildlife is
offering a special Earth Day discount of 10 percent (use discount code EDD10
when ordering), or call toll free 1-800 385-9712 and phone operators will take
your adoption order.wildlifeadoption.

Contact:
Mikaela King
202-682-9400
mking@defenders.
-- Symptoms usually start 10-12 days after infection.
-- About 1 in every 5-10 cases develops ear infections (otitis media),
diarrhoea, or pneumonia. Measles elimination is an
issue of justice and fairness .

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Vice President for Membership Steve DelVecchio calls the program, now in
its fifth year, "A wonderful way to educate others about wildlife, and save
species on the brink of extinction.defenders .org ):
Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native wild
animals and plants in their natural communities."
Because measles is one of the most infectious viruses, practically every
child needs to be immunized with two doses of measles vaccine to stop its
spread .

Spread of measles
-- Measles only affects humans.
-- On average, one case infects 15-20 other cases in a population with no
immunity.

Measles vaccine safety
-- Causes a mild measles-like illness (rash and fever) in about 5%
-- More serious reactions are rare and do not usually cause long-term
problems.

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Reader's Digest named Defenders "America 's
Best Wildlife Charity.
-- This means that once elimination is achieved, it must be maintained by
keeping practically every person immune to measles.S.

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Defenders of Wildlife (defenders .org ). Long known for their leadership on
endangered species issues, Defenders of Wildlife also advocates new approaches
to wildlife conservation that will help protect wildlife from becoming
endangered species. Measles has already been eliminated in the WHO Region of the
Americas. About 30,000 children die each year from measles
in the Region, nearly all of them in five countries: Cambodia, China , the Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
-- Current status of measles control in the Western Pacific Region.
-- Every country in the world uses measles vaccine in their immunization
programme.
-- Measles remains relatively common in several countries:
-- Cambodia -- Lao People's Democratic Republic
-- China -- Papua New Guinea
-- Japan -- Philippines

Burden of measles in the Western Pacific Region
-- Measles cases and deaths are under-reported , especially in the areas
with the highest burden.
Held once every two years, the conference features top researchers
sharing the latest developments on issues facing Puget Sound and
British Columbia's Georgia Basin. The conference is co-hosted by
Washington's Puget Sound Action Team, based in the Office of the
Governor, and Environment Canada.S.
"The Puget Sound Georgia Basin is a resource that benefits our
whole region," said conference co-host David Fraser of Environment
Canada.

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Through a tax deductible contribution, wildlife adoptions of individual
endangered species and other threatened animals such as: wolf, tiger, jaguar,
polar bear, dolphin, panther, elephant, whale , cottontail rabbit or black bear
are available."
Defenders of Wildlife use the contributions from the wildlife animal
adoptions to meet a number of wildlife emergencies including the aerial
gunning of wolves in Alaska; the poaching of tigers for their skins; and the
potential threats posed by oil drilling to polar bears in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.
-- It is one of the most infectious viruses. Joe Gaydos of the SeaDoc society --
"Research and Conservation in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin:
where we've been and where we are going"

A public panel on Wednesday evening will include political leaders
discussing their views on turning science into action regarding
policy, legislation and regulation. and Canada to come together
and share the scientific findings that will keep the region healthy
for future generations.engr.washington .

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defenders. There are also opportunities to adopt a big cats group, a
marine mammal group, an arctic refuge wildlife group, or a polar bear mom and
cub.
Can the Western Pacific Region* eliminate measles within the next seven
years?
(Logo: http://www. Mobilizing sufficient political and financial support to achieve
the elimination goal will be a key consideration.''
Despite a 95% reduction in measles deaths in the Region since the pre-
vaccine era, measles remains a leading cau se of death among young children. This means that health services need to reach every community ,
especially the most disadvantaged that are at highest risk of disease and its
consequences.

arctic destruction

Both are shipped free with an e-card announcement.

About Defenders of Wildlife ( http://www.prwebdirect . Measles elimination makes it essential for health services to
reach, and keep reaching, every community .
-- Cambodia was the last country in the Region to add measles vaccine to
its programme -- in 1986.
-- Measles has already been eliminated from a significant number of
countries .

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In so doing, other health
interventions can also be delivered to the community, including other life-
saving vaccines.
-- After recovery there is life-long immunity.
-- Before immunization began in 1963, about 99% of children would get
measles in childhood.
-- Measles control continues to improve with more countries and areas
achieving very low levels of measles circulation; some have already
achieved elimination.

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wildlifeadoption.
-- The characteristic rash (raised red blotches) usually appears 14 days
after infection; it spreads from the head to the trunk and then the
limbs over 3 to 4 days.

Complications of measles
-- The risk of developing complications varies, being much higher in
developing countries , especially in under-nourished cases.

conservation blueprint

The challenge is for the rest of the world to catch up.
"We think that a target date of 2012 will help to mobilize these."

* The 37 countries and areas comprising the WHO Western Pacific Region
are: American Samoa, Australia, Brunei Darussalam , Cambodia, China, Cook
Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong (China), Japan,
Kiribati, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao (China), Malaysia,
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia,
Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue , the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines , the
Pitcairn Islands, the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Tokelau , Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and
Futuna.
-- Mortality rates can be as high as 2-15% in developing countries.

Achieving measles elimination requires:
-- Political commitment
-- Financial commitment
-- Technical capacity

Measles elimination, child survival, and health systems
-- Most measles deaths in the Region occur in disadvantaged populations
where regular health services are not available for various reasons ,
such as cultural and geographical barriers.

For more information, please contact:

Dr Yang Baoping,
Regional Adviser in the Expanded Programme on Immunization
Tel: +63-2-528-9747
Email: yangb@wpro.html

communicating habitats

org .

com/cgi-bin/prnh /20040610/CNTH001LOGO )
That is the key question to be debated by immunization experts at a WHO
meeting in Beijing from 8 to 10 June.
-- About 1 per 1000 cases gets brain inflammation (encephalitis).
-- Two doses will protect about 99%.
-- The high coverage requirement for measles elimination, and the need to
achieve that high coverage routinely for every birth cohort is
challenging.
"The Puget Sound Georgia Basin is a treasured resource --
thousands of species depend on the ecosystem for their survival," said
Puget Sound Action Team director Brad Ack.

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" By supporting Defenders of Wildlife, you will help
wildlife conservation by preserving some of America's most cherished and
endangered species, while giving the gift of education and stewardship
( http://www.
It also leaves at least as many with life-long disabilities like blindness,
deafness and brain damage.int

This conference is the premier way for us
to share the expertise that will guide planning, management, and
restoration of the area so important to how we live, work and play.

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newscom.
-- The initial symptoms are fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and runny nose.

-- Spread is from person-to-person by direct contact or through airborne
spread.

-- Vaccine efficacy is reduced if the vaccine is damaged by heat or
light.
-- As well as the indirect benefits, measles elimination will be of
greatest benefit to disadvantaged populations as they are the ones
that have the greatest disease burden.
Included among the many topics to be covered are Orca recovery, Hood
Canal restoration, oil spill prevention and response, Puget Sound
toxic waste prevention, tourism, and potential effects of global
warming in Puget Sound. "The Puget Sound's health
is also critical for humans.edu/epp/psgb/save.

wwwf reversing

Therefore , data on measles that is only
based on reported cases is unreliable."
In addition to the technical presentations, notable events
include:

Tribal welcome by Terry Williams of the Tulalip Tribes

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire will address
participants about her vision for the future of Puget Sound
during a lunchtime session Tuesday, March 29

Keynote address by Dr.

Dedicated to reversing the destruction of the Earth's natural environment and building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

alongside destruction

BEIJING and MANILA, Philippines, June 6 /Xinhua -PRNewswire/ -- Measles:
normal childhood illness or killer disease? Actually, it is both but it could
soon be neither.
"It is unacceptable that children are dying from measles, a disease that
can be easily prevented by an effective, safe and inexpensive vaccine," said
Dr Omi. Reaching and protecting these children
is not just a disease control issue; it is also about fairness and justice.
But geographical, cultural, and other barriers leave many communities
underserved.
-- Infection with the vaccine virus generates life-long immunity without
causing the illness or complications of natural measles.

WWF is the world's largest conservation organization, with almost 5 million supporters.

alongside ecoregion

WASHINGTON, Leading wildlife conservation
organization Defenders of Wildlife ( http://www. A group of experts forming the Task Force on measles elimination
identified 2012 as a realistic target date for the Region to achieve
elimination.

terrestrial protected

-- Live virus vaccine: attenuated (weakened) form of the natural ('wild')
measles virus.

Measles vaccine efficacy
-- A single dose of vaccine, given in ideal conditions, protects about
85% of children if given at the age of 9 months; about 90% at the age
of 12 months. The panel includes King County
Executive Ron Sims, Former Mayor of Vancouver and former Premier of
British Columbia Mike Harcourt, Tracy Collier, Director of the
Environmental Conservation Division of NOAA Fisheries and U.

prevents arctic

org ) is offering a
unique Earth Day opportunity to give a wildlife animal adoption gift for that
special someone through its Wildlife Adoption Center
( http://www .
Routine immunization services are a fundamental public health requirement.
But measles elimination has to compete for attention and funding with many
other development issues in the Region .

himalayas protected

com/ ), a
service of eMediaWire.

Measles Elimination in the Western Pacific Region

"Sustained political commitment and
sufficient funding are crucial to achieve measles elimination," said Dr Omi.

Measles vaccine
-- Available since 1963.
-- A 2003 estimate was of about 30 000 deaths and one million cases per
year in the Region; whereas only about 100,000 cases were reported
(deaths were not reported).
-- Improve surveillance to detect all suspected cases of measles.
-- Provide laboratory support so that laboratory testing is available to
confirm diagnosis.

National Experts Sound Off on the State of the Puget Sound at Puget Sound Georgia Basin Research Conference; Leaders from U.S. Canada Gather to Discuss Region

habitats communicating

org ). "The children who die from measles are generally the most
disadvantaged children in the Region. Those
cases that do not die are often left with permanent brain damage.
-- A second dose of vaccine is recommended for all children to protect
those who were not protected by the first.

webcards endangered

Earth Day Gift of Wildlife Animal Adoption Helps Wildlife Conservation

org) offers an opportunity to celebrate Earth
Day and to save endangered species from extinction and support wildlife
conservation through wildlife animal adoptions.

Measles elimination strategy
-- Ensure that 95% of children get two doses of measles vaccine.
-- Addressing that challenge, and providing regular immunization services
for the disadvantaged population can provide the foundation for
delivering other life-saving interventions and building regular health
services.

accordance endangered

-- Elimination means that measles virus is no longer circulating and that
following any importation any further spread is very limited.who.

reversing ecosystems

Since 1947, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to save wildlife and its
habitat for future generations. Their programs focus on what scientists consider among the most
serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of
extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity; and
habitat alteration and destruction.org

This press release distributed by PRWEB ( http://www.
''We want to eliminate measles as soon as possible,'' said Dr Shigeru Omi,
WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, ''but we have to realize that
progress across the Region varies and some countries are further advanced than
others .
Representative Jay Inslee. "The Puget Sound Georgia Basin Research conference is a
perfect forum for experts from the U.

conservation arctic

Defenders of Wildlife use the
contributions from the wildlife animal adoptions to meet a number of wildlife
emergencies.
For more information on Defenders of Wildlife's Earth Day wildlife animal
adoption gifts, please visit http://www. The Technical Advisory Group will
consider whether 2012 is a feasible date for the Region to achieve measles
elimination.

Background Information on Measles

What is measles?
-- Measles is caused by a virus (Paromyxovirus family).
-- May cause encephalitis in less than 1 per million doses - not certain.

Measles elimination
-- Elimination does not mean zero cases -- because importations and some
spread from these are inevitable.

Environment Writers /Community Editors

SEATTLE----More than 700
scientists, tribal and government leaders and academic experts will
come together March 29-31, 2005 at the Puget Sound Georgia Basin
Research Conference at the Washington State Convention Center.

himalayas blueprint

Gift recipients are sent a certificate of adoption and a plush animal of
the adopted species.defenders."

Full conference details and schedule are available at:

http://www.