The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "immune system" ...
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To Hug a Porcupine
Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengoches did not understand why the three little boys they'd adopted were acting so violent. Only years later and by accident did the couple discover that the boys had been horribly abused by a series of adults in early childhood, a fact that the state's foster care system knew but filed to disclose. The technical name for the boys' behavioral ailment is "Reactive Attachment Disorder" but they have been described as sociopaths. The parents successfully sued the state for $10 million but cannot get the money released due to budget cuts and the concept of sovereign immunity.
Tags: reactive attachment disorder; adoption; foster care; budget cuts; mental health; child abuse
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Vaccine Dangers
The news team found risks had been concealed from people asked to take the smallpox vaccines. They also expose the military's refusal to admit its vaccines are harming some soldiers; soldiers who are often dismissed and treated like "malingerers." They focused on the case of Rachael Lacy. The military denied her death was from the vaccines it administered but the news team found her death certificate showed otherwise. They also looked at the case of NBC War Correspondent David Bloom who died after his vaccinations. His case was not reported or investigated as a possible vaccine adverse event. They also looked at a Journal of the American Medical Association claiming there had been "no" deaths after smallpox vaccinations.
Tags: TAPE; military; smallpox; vaccine; medical records; death; death certificate; military casualty record; inoculation; blood clots; Anthrax; pulmonary nodules; Food and Drug Administration; Defense Department; bio-terror attack; Rachael Lacy; David Bloom; immune system
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No gain, no pain? Study is hot topic
The Law Journal reports on a study concluding "that whiplash patients heal more quickly under a no-fault insurance system -- which is mostly lawyer-free -- than under one permitting crash victims to sue." But lawyers and automobile crash victims argue the no-fault system provide inadequate compensation and immunizes bad drivers from being sued. Only 13 states have no-fault systems, which limit the right to sue.
Tags: drunken driving; claims; lawsuits; justice; automobiles; road accidents
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The killing fields
GQ questions the mass killing of cows in Britain during the food-and-mouth epidemic, and finds it to be "an epic waste." The story exposes political reasons behind the drastic measures. "The pyres are unnecessary ... for the simple reason that foot-and-mouth rarely kills," the magazine reports. The reporter quotes epidemiologists who say that, "in clinical terms, foot-and-mouth is about as serious , to animals or to people, as a bad cold." A major finding is that Britain has chosen to ban the vaccine, because it is difficult to distinguish vaccinated animals from infected animals. Many countries - U.S. amongst them - would not import "tainted" meat, even if it poses no risk to human health, the story reveals.
Tags: mad cow; foot-and-mouth; Tony Blair; politics; politicians; animals; virus; vaccines; agriculture; immune system; laws; world trade; health
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Outbreak
The Washington Post Magazine investigates the failure of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent 21 deaths caused by contaminated meat from Sara Lee Corp. The story reveals that the contamination occurred because of moisture problems in the cooling section of "the giant Bil Mar Foods meatpacking plant in western Michigan." While deaths were tolling, the USDA was leery to issue a press release for fear not to face the legal implications of wrongly accusing the meatproducer. Even though Bil Mar quietly recalled the deadly products from the market, people were still eating meat kept in refrigerators or supermarkets and contaminated with the dangerous Listeria bacteria, the magazine reports. A major finding is that government lacks regulatory power to recall unsafe foods, as well as penalties system for repeated violations in the food industry.
Tags: health; FDA; meat; bacteria; contamination; Sara Lee; CDC; listeria; sanitation; immune system; pregnancy; hot dogs; deli meats; consumers; lawsuits
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Vaccines: An issue of trust; Missed shots
In a two-part investigation Consumer Reports examines the pros and cons in regard to modern-day vaccines. The first part looks at the parents' dilemma: "Do I expose my child and community to the risk of a serious disease? Or do I expose my child to the risk of one of those rare catastrophic reactions to the vaccine itself...?" The story examines some "significant gaps" in the vaccine-safety system, but it also points to studies showing that unimmunized children are many times more likely to contract dangerous disease than vaccinated children. The second part reports on the neglect of adult immunization, and points out that every year as many as 400,000 Americans die of diseases that could have been prevented by routine vaccines.
Tags: polio; immunization; measles; mumps; rubella; doctors; patients; parents; diseases; GlaxoSmithKline; Aventis Pasteur; Wyeth Lederle; Merck
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AIDS at 20
"The plague that's killed 22 million isn't done with us yet. While we hunt for a vaccine, people continue to die-from AIDS or the drugs intended to treat it." Newsweek Magazine provides a series of articles reporting on the recent discoveries in the AIDS epidemic. Reports include the increase of AIDS cases worldwide-especially in Africa, and in the U.S. black population. Additional articles also discuss the struggle for a vaccine, describing money and research costs, and the story of Larry Kramer-a 65 year-old AIDS activist and his fight for a liver transplant.
Tags: AIDS; death; immune system; vaccine; doctors; HIV; diseases; International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Drug Control or Biowarfare?
"The story unveiled a secret government plan to use Colombia as a testing ground for Fusarium oxysporum, a fungus-based herbicide, as a new biological weapon in the war on drugs; the power and personage behind the effort, and the lack of oversight, monitoring, and informed consent from stakeholders on health and environmental concerns. (The) story detailed how the fungus was initially clandestinely isolated and developed by various government agencies and how the U.S. worked to force the experimental agent on Colombian authorities for use against coca, poppy, and marijuana."
Tags: deforestation; USDA; Peru; fungus; Plan Columbia; Rep. Ben Gilman; mycoherbicide (fungus plant killer); human health; farming; immune system; State Department of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement; Monsanto Roundup; United Nations
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Vaccination Nation: Children on the frontline
This Gannett News Service series package takes a detailed look at the public health poilcy concrening immunization. What was found: deserving parents not getting compensation, ignoring dangerous vaccine signs, SIDS relation to vaccine, etc,
Tags: heatlh care; children; federal government; Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System; Food and Drug Administration
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Poor Justice? The Susan Cummings Story
"Susan Cummings was 16 years old when her elderly neighbor was raped, robbed and murdered. Two years later, she was arrested and charged with masterminding the crime. There was no physical evidence against her but the mere fact that she was friends with the victim, and her parents and siblings were in and out of trouble convinced the police Susan was guilty. ... Throughout this process Susan was offered deals. If she would accuse others -- her charges would be reduced. She refused - claiming she was innocent. Two other teens testified against Susan. Both cut deals - immunity for one and a lighter charge for the other. Based on their testimony alone Susan was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole...."