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The South Texas Chapter of The ALS Association continues to send questionnaires to families who have had a member who worked at Kelly Air Force Base and have been diagnosed with ALS. After the questionnaires have been returned to the chapter, we give them to the Air Force epidemiology team that is located at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio. The number continues to grow. At this time, there are 85 questionnaires that indicated employment at Kelly and a diagnosis of ALS. A number of questionnaires are yet to be returned to the chapter.
Representative Ciro Rodriguez had enlisted the help of the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to expand its study at Kelly to include a possible link between the base and ALS. Rodriguez indicates that the investigation will "complement" the work that is already being done by the Air Force. He feels that the study should give information about possible health factors for Kelly workers, those who live around the base, and those that will work on the base in the future. Details of the ATSDR's study and participation are yet to be determined.
The Air Force is contracting to an outside agency a mortality study of all individuals who worked in civil service at Kelly Air Force Base between 1981 to present. This will help determine the extent of the population involved. In addition, a case series will be conducted at a later date.
The chapter continues to work with Kelly Air Force Base, the epidemiologists at Brooks Air Force Base, The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the Texas Department of Health, and scientific advisors identified by the National ALS Association. We will be advocates for our ALS families.
Five of our Kelly Air Force Base families are going to be featured in the July issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, which hits the newsstands around June 15th. Be sure to pick up an issue.
As of June 29, 2001, 97 completed questionnaires of individuals who have lived or worked at Kelly Air Force Base and have been diagnosed with ALS have been turned over to the Air Force.
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