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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 8:13 a.m., Thursday, October 11, 2007

MDA offering flu shots to some high-risk candidates

Advertiser Staff

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is offering flu shots to people who have any of more than 40 neuromuscular diseases, the MDA announced yesterday.

Muscle-wasting diseases, especially those that progress in severity, can damage muscles involved with breathing. Catching the flu is particularly hazardous for those with muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease).

In a released statement, Valerie Cwik, MDA's vice president for research and its medical director, said, "Both adults and children with neuromuscular diseases may already have weakened respiratory systems. MDA provides flu shots to reduce their likelihood of developing another, possibly life-threatening, illness."

Individuals affected by a neuromuscular disease should consult their MDA clinic physicians or primary-care doctors before receiving the influenza vaccine. For information, contact the nearest MDA office; call 800-572-1717 or visit www.mda.org.