Making our funds work to help

Did you know…

* one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has cystic fibrosis
* 60% of people with cystic fibrosis are diagnosed in the first year of life, and 90% by age 10
* 3,500 children, adolescents and adults attend specialized cystic fibrosis clinics
* one in 25 Canadians carries a defective version of the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis
* more than 50% of people with CF carry two copies of the most common cystic fibrosis mutation, ΔF508
* more than 85% of all people with cystic fibrosis carry at least one copy of ΔF508
* in the 1960s, most children with cystic fibrosis did not live long enough to attend kindergarten
* today, half of all Canadians with cystic fibrosis are expected to live into their late 30s and beyond
* in 2007, for the first time, the number of Canadian adults with cystic fibrosis (aged 18+) surpassed the number of children with CF

10,224 sheep and 17,932 cattle – have reportedly drowned as the Panamanian-flagged ship Danny F II sank off the coast of Lebanon yesterday.

The sinking of the Panamanian-flagged ship Danny F II has served as a harsh reminder of why the long distance transport of animals for slaughter is risky business. Several crew members from the ship are still missing, and rescue teams have described how they pulled “shocked, distraught and cold” survivors from the sea.

Although the tragic loss to human life will naturally remain in focus in reports on this tragedy, we ask people to spare a thought for the nearly 30,000 cattle that have also perished, and whose suffering – both during the journey and with the accident – could have been avoided entirely.

WSPA has been campaigning to get governments and stakeholders from all countries involved in the livestock trade to stop the long distance transport of live animals as this cruel practice results in poor animal welfare. Millions of animals suffer every year as they are transported for as long as 30 days in filthy and stressful conditions, only to be slaughtered at their destination.

As Sofia Parente, Programs Manager for WSPA’s campaign on ending the long distance trade of animals for slaughter, says: “Previous WSPA investigations on the Danny F II and other similar cargo vehicles involved in the trade have shown how animals are packed tightly into the holds of ships, with limited access to food and water, suffering great distress, injuries and dehydration before they arrive at slaughterhouses at their destination. As many as 10 per cent of the animals can die during these journeys.”

New statistics on Alzheimer’s

Startling new statistics on the worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are being released today as countries across the globe join together in recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day.

According to the World Alzheimer Report, released today by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), an estimated 35.6 million people worldwide will be living with dementia in 2010. This is a 10 per cent increase over previous global dementia prevalence reported in 2005 in The Lancet. According to the new report, dementia prevalence will nearly double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.

“The information in the 2009 World Alzheimer Report makes it clear that the crisis of dementia cannot be ignored,” says Debbie Benczkowski, Interim CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. “Unchecked, dementia will impose enormous burdens on individuals, families, health care infrastructures, and global economy.”

The report also focuses on the impact of dementia. For example, statistics cited in the new report suggest that 40 to 75 per cent of caregivers have significant psychological illness as a result of their caregiving, and 15 to 32 per cent have depression. Challenges faced by governments and health care systems worldwide are also outlined, and eight global recommendations are offered based on report findings.

This international report is being delivered today amongst a global message of Diagnosing Dementia: Seeing it Sooner. The Alzheimer Society is joining Alzheimer organizations across the world, speaking out about the importance of early diagnosis.