The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 6, 2003- 7A Riding high 'U' prof's flu-fighting nasal spray gains FDA approval By Erin Saylor Daily Staff Reporter A flu vaccine may soon be available to the public in the form of a nasal spray thanks to the work of University epidemiology Prof. Hunein Maassab. Reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December, FluMist was deemed safe and effective for healthy peo- ple ages five to 49. If approved by the FDA when it comes under review again next month, FluMist could be available to the public in time for the Septem- ber 2003 flu season, Rochford said. It would be the .first flu vaccine available to the public in the form of a nasal mist. "The positive recommendations of the FDA committee reviewing FluMist are most welcome," Maassab said in a written statement. "I believe that more people will use the nasal spray vaccine than a vac- cine that must be injected. This should reduce the overall risk of flu." The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Com- mittee requested more data on the efficiency of FluMist for people 50 to 64 years old. Concerns included possible reactions to other vaccines given to children and the risk of FluMist causing pneumonia or asthma. University assistant epidemiology Prof. Rosemary Rochford said that the FDA was just exercising caution and added that the recom- mendation looks good. "I'm so very excited for Maassab," Rochford said. "He wanted to come up with a champion for the vaccine, and he has succeeded." While current vaccines use inactive viruses to trigger immunity, Flu- Mist is made with a weakened but live influenza virus. It adapts the virus to the cool temperatures of the nasal passages, but not in the warmer temperatures in the lungs where the disease develops. FluMist is a trivalent vaccine, designed to fight three strains of influenza. The vaccine is administered to a patient through a painless spray into each nostril, twice a year for children and once for adults. Accord- ing to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 70 million people currently get the flu vaccine, yet influenza remains a serious public health issue facing the country, killing 20,000 Americans each year and hospitalizing 100,000. Maassab began his research on influenza at the University in 1956 when he was an assistant researcher in the department of epidemiology. Inspired by his mentor Thomas Francis Jr., who had overseen the U.S. Army's flu vaccine program during World War II, Maassab spent the next 40 years of his life developing cold-adapted strains of influenza. One year ago, biotechnology company MedImmune Inc. announced plans to merge with Aviron, the company that holds the license to FluMist. AP PHOTO A magnetic levitation train, built through collaboration between Germany and Regents approve turf for stadium at final * meeting for Homing GRANHOLM Continued from Page A exist. She has pledged to use tax increases only as a last resort and to instead focus on economic development to boost revenues into state coffers. "Government will be great and it will do great, but it will take much more than govern- ment to enhance our quality of life, especially in these tough, tight, }trying economic times," she said. "It will take all of us working togeth- er as a family. And, as a family, I know that you will engage with me in setting our priori- ties, in deciding what is most vital for the public good." Granholm replaces Republican John Engler, who held the top office for 12 years and was lauded by business groups but almost despised by labor and environmentalist organ- izations. She faces a Legislature with Repub- lican majorities in both chambers - 22-16 in the Senate and 62-48 in the House - and Republicans controlling the offices of attor- ney general and secretary of state. Clio Democrat John Cherry, who replaced Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, cau- tioned attendees not to expect a lot of new ini- tiative in the first or second year of the administration. "We have enormous fiscal challenges that will cause us to hit the pause button on some of the plans and programs that we promised," Cherry, a former minority leader in the Sen- ate, said. "We must deal first with the budget and then get to work on our initiatives to pro- tect our families and educate our children." A new secretary of state Terri Land, Michigan's new secretary of state, promised to follow in the footstep of her predecessor, Candice Miller, in improving the office responsible for administering state elec- tions and overseeing vehicle licensing and reg- istration. Sworn in by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura Corrigan, Land promised to imple- ment a "flex time" pro- Land gram for her employees - a staggered work hour system that would allow branch offices to stay open later. "I will work to make the secretary of state's office responsive just like we did in Kent County," she said. Among her priorities: Putting more Depart- ment of State functions online, assuming local police departments' responsibility for towing abandoned cars and the county clerks' task of issuing concealed weapons permits. Land also wants to make it easier for state residents to obtain absentee ballots. Cox to focus on child support Livonia's Mike Cox, whose campaign for attorney general had been all but written-off until the last few weeks before the Nov. 5 elec- tion, was sworn in as the state's top lawyer Wednesday, ending the 48-year Democratic hold on the Department of Attorney General, which ended when Granholm assumed the title of governor. Cox was sworn in jointly by Corrig- an and his brother, Wayne County Circuit Judge Sean Cox. Cox, former head of the homicide unit in the Wayne County Prosecu- tor's Office, pledged to 'place a heavy priority on involving his office in Cox child support collection and said he would soon establish a child support division within the department to assist the Family Independence Agency in collecting from delinquent parents. "Every day in Michigan - and today on inauguration day - over 600,000 children, 600,000 children wake up in Michigan not knowing if they will receive the child support they deserve," he said. "As attorney general, I will protect these children." "I'm going to bring in some people (to the department) who will start going after dead- beat parents," he said in an interview after the address. By Jeremy Berkowitz Daily Staff Reporter Michigan Stadium will sport a new turf next fall, the University Board of Regents decided at its December meeting. The regents unanimously approved the installation of an artificial turf system on the football field. Athletic Department officials said the current turf, which has been intact since 1991, has grown progressively worse over the past few seasons. Officials and football players have complained about a growth in the number of potholes and div- ots on the field. In addition, the stadium's place- ment close to the water level has made it more difficult for grass to grow effectively Construction on the turf is expected to start May 1 and should be completed by the middle of July. Associate Athletic Director Mike Stevenson said it should not interfere with any football program activities, adding that although the new system is supposed to be sufficient for eight years, he is unsure of exactly how long it will last. "All of the products we are evaluating have guar- antees of eight years. We don't know if the surface will surpass eight years since none of the infill sur- faces have been out longer than five to six years," Stevenson said. The regents also approved charters for two of its new panels, the Compensation and Personnel Commlittee and the Finance, Audit and Investment Committee. The new committees will advise the board but will not have any authority to bind the board in making any decisions. The committee OUTBACK Continued from Page 1A with 85 yards rushing on 28 carries, as well as 108 yards receiving. Quarterback John Navarre threw for a career-best 319 yards, going a very * efficient 21-for-36 with a touchdown and no interceptions. Despite Navarre's career performance, the Michigan offense stumbled out of the gate and took some time to find its rhythm; the unit's only score until late in the second quarter came as a result of a Florida miscue. Deep in his own territory, Grossman found ARRESTS Continued from Page 1A Circle and the Northwood Housing I and II cor between Bishop Avenue and Hubbard Street - t 8 and 8:45 p.m. Dec. 9. Victims said thei approached by two subjects, one carrying a gun other a knife. The suspects were also charged in an armed r incident that occurred Dec. 8 around 11:30 p.m wooded area near Bursley Residence Hall. After the robberies, DPS increased patrols in 1 and issued a $1,000 reward for information leadi suspect arrest, DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown structure was established last February. The Compensation and Personnel Committee will oversee matters of evaluations of executive officers, including the president. The Finance, Audit and Investment Committee will review financial matters of the University such as operating budgets and financial reporting prac- tices. In addition, Regent Daniel Horning (R- Grand Haven) was saluted at the meeting for his eight years of service on the board. Horn- ing chose not to seek a second term, and Republican Andrew Richner of Grosse Pointe Park will fill Horning's seat this month. Regent Larry Deitch (D-Bingham Farms), a 10-year veteran of the board, praised Horning's devotion to the University and his strong beliefs in what he, thought was right. "(I) have served with 14 people ... but none more devoted to (the University) than Dan," Deitch said. "Dan based his stances on issues on what was the best for U of M." Deitch and the rest of the regents presented Horning with a Michigan football helmet. Horning brought a conservative viewpoint to the board, speaking out on many issues. In 2000, he resisted the implementation of the English 317 "How to be Gay" course, a class that studied gay culture and literature. Horning said the course crossed moral lines. Even after sitting in on one class, he still remained against it. "I'm offended," Horning said in September 2000. "There's no excuse for having this course. I'm bitterly disappointed in the University of Michigan." himself scrambling after a high snap. Kashama beat him to the ball, recovered it inside the five- yard line, and put his offense in position to grant Perry his first touchdown. After two Florida touchdowns, Zook made the decision to attempt the two-point conversion try. Its failure seemed to swing the momentum back to the Wolverines, who utilized Perry via a num- ber of screen passes to get him, Navarre and the 10-win Wolverines back on track. This is the 23rd 10-win season in Michigan's football history. The Wolverines will likely find themselves ranked in the top-10 nationally when the dust settles on the BCS. Dasehie"lC"e aning" toward enterig presidentialool SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said yesterday he's strongly considering a run for president in 2004, joining a growing field of potential candidates. "I think it's fair to say I'm leaning in the direction of offering my candi- dacy for president," Daschle said after a meeting with constituents this weekend. He spent the weekend talking with supporters in Rapid City, Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. He said an announcement on an exploratory committee is likely "in the next couple of weeks." Daschle said if he runs, he'd stay on as Democratic leader. "I think that our caucus needs that stability and my expectation is that I would be leader for the foreseeable future." He said he has not decided whether he would run for a fourth Senate term in 2004 if he lost the presidential nomination. "It'll be some time before I do that. These decisions are made one step at a time," Daschle said. He also said he has the support of his wife and family. Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina have joined outgoing Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in forming exploratory committees. Rep. Richard Gephardt announced this weekend he will form an exploratory committee Monday. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) listens to a question during a Capitol Hill news conference on Nov. 8. WWW.MICHIGANDAILY.COMRPORTS Continued from Page IA Although three of the suspects are female, initial vic- tim interviews led DPS to issue two separate crime alerts, each looking for two male suspects. In the original crime alert for the Dec. 9 robberies, the suspects were described as a white male between 15 and 18 years old, standing approximately 5-foot-7 to 5- foot-8 and weighing 200 to 230 pounds, as well as a 13 to 16-year-old black male standing 5-foot-6 and weigh- ing 130 pounds. The crime alert for the Dec. 8 robbery sought two college-aged black males wearing dark clothing, one standing 6-foot and the other 5-foot-8. Richmond said the suspects' clothing - consisting of jackets that covered their hair and parts of their face CIslamic miitants kill 56 soldiers, civilians in Algeria - could help explain why the suspect descriptions posted in the crime alerts do not fully correspond with the arrested suspects. "They are similar. ... It is my understanding that the female suspects resembled male suspects by the way they dressed," Richmond said. "Each victim is different and gives different accounts of what they saw." A preliminary exam for Carter, Warren and Richard- son is scheduled for Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. Oliver's prelimi- nary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15. Richmond said three of the suspects are currently in Washtenaw County Jail. Richardson was released after posting a $25,000 bond. HADDAD Continued from Page 1A On Dec. 14, the one-year anniversary of Haddad's arrest, his supporters held a rally in front of the Federal Building in Ann Arbor. Speakers expressed their love for Haddad and anger at the government for his detainment. "He has been in jail for over a year without criminal charges," Michigan ACLU Director Michael Steinberg' said. "We all would like to see Rabih walk down the street," he added. But Phillis Englebert, a member of the Ann Arbor Adhoc Committee for Peace, pointed out that the rally Northwest Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Air- port in New York, passengers waited up to 30 minutes longer than usual while their bags were sent through giant screening machines and workers ripped open taped boxes and rifled through their contents before closing them up again. Most travelers simply accepted the intensified screen- ing, developed since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Before the attacks, only 5 percent of the roughly 2 mil- lion bags checked each day were screened for bombs. The federal government put an additional 23,000 screeners into airports to implement the new order mandating that no checked bag be allowed through without verification that it contains no explosives. "It may add a few minutes, but I think it's worth it," said Trina Frandsen, who checked a cardboard box and large suitcase at Kennedy for a flight home to Salt Lake City. "Maybe they could send me through that and I could get rid of that MRI appointment I have," Linda Johnson joked as she watched her luggage roll slowly into the bomb-detection machine at O'Hare before her flight to Los Angeles. The machine checks the density and chemi- cal makeup of items inside each bag and alerts to anything unusual. Jack Dunnigan, of Natick, Mass., watched his daughter check in for a flight from Boston's Logan Airport to Flori- da. "The more they (inspectors) do, the better I feel," he said. Sonny Salgatar, a 23-year-old college student flying ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Islamic militants ambushed a mili- tary convoy in northeast Algeria and attacked families near the capi- tal, in a bloody weekend of killings that claimed at least 56 lives, Alger- It attributed the attack to the Armed Islamic Group, the north African country's most radical insurgency. The killings dealt a blow to claims by Algeria's military-backed The mountainous region is a stronghold of the extremist Salafist Group for Call and Combat, or GSPC. The GSPC is on a U.S. list of ter- rorist organizations and reportedly