In brief: Vaccine reduces shingles outbreaks

Los Angeles – A study of more than 300,000 elderly patients showed that the underutilized herpes zoster vaccine reduced the incidence of painful shingles outbreaks by 55 percent, even in the oldest populations, researchers reported Tuesday.

The results suggest that the vaccine, which was introduced in 2006 and now reaches only about 11 percent of the elderly population nationwide, should be used much more widely, experts said.

Shingles is a painful rash brought on by the varicella zoster virus, which is also the virus that causes chickenpox. Once chickenpox subsides, the virus can remain hidden in a person’s body for decades before erupting once more.

In addition to pain, a rash can cause vision loss if it spreads to the eyes. The most severe complication is post-herpetic neuralgia, in which the virus causes irritation and inflammation inside nerves.

The herpes zoster vaccine, sold as Zostavax by Merck and Co., was introduced in an attempt to prevent such complications.

San Francisco appoints leader

San Francisco – San Francisco welcomed its first Asian-American leader Tuesday, as City Administrator Edwin Lee was sworn in as interim mayor.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Lee to fill the remainder of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s term. Newsom was sworn in Monday as California’s lieutenant governor.

Immediately following the vote, Lee took the oath of office before a packed audience of family members, current and former city leaders and supporters from the Chinese-American community who gathered in the City Hall rotunda.

San Francisco’s population of 815,000 is nearly one-third Asian – the largest percentage of any county in the continental United States.

Lee will serve as interim mayor until next January, when the winner of November’s mayoral election will take over.