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Articles by Bridget Barry
Firefighters in Atlantic Canada: Balancing professional obligations and familiarity in rural communities
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New heart surgery offers hope for those at high risk - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's lunch time in the Bolin house in Jericho, where 90-year-old Henry Bolin is sporting scars from his latest medical procedure to remove skin cancer from his face. It's the latest in a long list of health scares he's faced in recent years, including a leaky heart valve repaired in February. "I came out and there wasn't any pain except a little bit where the probe went into the neck and that was it," Bolin said. That was it.
Efforts to boost the use of a lifesaving vaccine - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's been called one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in a generation, protecting men and women from several types of cancer with a vaccine. In Vermont, 51 percent under the age of 15 and 65 percent over that age have begun the series of HPV vaccinations. Our Bridget Barry Caswell recently sat down with the researcher responsible for the vaccine, Dr. Douglas Lowy, who is also the acting director of the National Cancer Institute.
A pioneer in vaccines visits Vermont - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The acting director of the National Cancer Institute says 600,000 people die of cancer each year in this country and more research is needed to improve its prevention and treatment. Dr. Douglas Lowy is also an international vaccine pioneer. His decades of research led to the development of the human papillomavirus vaccine, first approved back in 2006. Health officials say HPV causes all cervical cancers, as well as numerous others including cancers of the throat, tongue and tonsils.
Vt. doctors: Flu season is here - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's back. Flu season has arrived in our region with health officials now reporting an uptick in activity within the past week. Vermonters have been gearing up for weeks rolling up their sleeves for flu shots in anticipation of the annual onslaught of illness, better known as flu season, but doctors now say the wait is over. "Clearly flu season is here," said Dr. Christopher Grace, UVM Medical Center. The Vermont Health Department is reporting sporadic activity around the state.
Year in Review: Business, energy and the environment - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
From new businesses to old, layoffs to expansions, 2016 marked a busy year in Vermont. But one headline trumped all others: a Ponzi-like scheme in the Northeast Kingdom. "This is obviously a very difficult day for Vermont and for the many people, myself included, who are so invested in growing jobs and economic opportunity in the Northeast Kingdom," Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, said in April.
RRMC takes asthma treatment to patients - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
"So, I'm going to put it on your face and then I'm going to puff it and you're going to show me those five breaths you take, OK? Ready?" respiratory therapist Sarah Cosgrove told Lucas, 4. Little Lucas is practicing the correct way to use the medication that helps him breathe easier. Lucas has asthma. "Ready-- in. Now deep breath," Cosgrove said. "You did very well." Words of encouragement from Cosgrove.
What new breast density notification law means for Vt. women - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
They are considered the gold standard for breast cancer detection. Mammograms are X-ray exams of the breast used to detect and evaluate breast changes, sometimes years before a tumor can be felt. But for women with dense breasts, the ability to detect those tumors is reduced because that tissue looks different from the normal fatty or glandular breast tissue. "Dense meaning that they don't allow the X-ray beam to pass through. And on a mammogram picture, the dense breast tissue appears white.
Ski safety tips for upcoming season - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
All eyes were on Killington last weekend as the women's World Cup ski races were held, but many in our region have not yet hit the slopes themselves. And for those skiers and snowboarders, experts have some safety tips to help you stay injury-free. They made it look easy. The best female skiers in the world descended on Killington last weekend, dazzling more than 30,000 spectators on hand. Some of those spectators, skiers and snowboarders themselves, fans of the popular rite of winter in Vermont.
Vt. health officials warn of whooping cough - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Vermont health officials are warning of a dramatic increase in whooping cough cases in one region of the state. And they're asking health care providers, school nurses and patients to pay attention to coughs that linger past a week or so. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection. The state usually sees a handful of cases each month, but in Franklin and Grand Isle counties right now, more than 90 have been reported with more than 40 already lab-confirmed.
Scientists search for Zika-carrying mosquitoes in Vt. - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It was late summer when state officials set out with two new types of mosquito traps on the hunt for the Aedes albopictus mosquito. Reporter Bridget Barry Caswell: Did you find anything? Vt. State Entomologist Alan Graham: We did not find anything at all. The Aedes albopictus is the type of mosquito the Centers for Disease Control says may show up in the southern part of Vermont, one of the two types known to spread the Zika virus.
CDC offers new recommendations for HPV vaccinations - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's now easier for younger teenagers to get vaccinated against the virus that causes cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently changed its recommendation for the HPV vaccine from three doses to two for those younger than 15. Most children receive a host of vaccinations beginning in the first hours of life. Once they hit adolescence, those immunizations include the vaccine that protects against the human papilloma virus, or HPV.
Why doctors disagree on the test that saved Ben Stiller's life - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
He's played many roles in the movies-- many of them humorous-- but actor Ben Stiller's announcement last week that he'd had prostate cancer is no laughing matter. "One of the main things I felt was I was really lucky," Stiller said. Lucky, he says, because an early blood test for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, detected his prostate cancer before it advanced, and he says, saved his life. But the usefulness of the test is actually controversial in the United States.
UVM scientist awarded $500K to study new breast cancer treatment - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's particularly aggressive and difficult to treat, but a University of Vermont researcher has just been awarded nearly half a million dollars to study new therapies for triple negative breast cancer. Doctors say about 15 to 20 percent of all cancer cases are triple negative, meaning they don't have three different receptors that respond to cancer drugs, so targeted therapies are not available to those patients.
Vt. hospital offers device that reduces stroke risk - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Medicare is now covering a potentially lifesaving device for patients with an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation or AFib. Vermonters were part of the clinical trials for the Watchman device in studies conducted at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Now, the hospital is one of the few in New England offering the device. The surgery takes place inside the electrophysiology lab at the UVM Medical Center.
Is it too early to get your flu shot? - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's only September, but pharmacies across our region are already urging people to get their flu shots. Doctors, however, say hold on. They say it's too early to pull up your sleeve for a flu vaccine. It still feels like summer, but the signs are everywhere: get your flu shot today. From Rite-Aid to Kinney Drugs and Walgreens, Vermonters are being told it's time to be immunized against the seasonal flu. But not so fast says UVM Medical Center's infectious disease specialist Dr. Christopher Grace.
What causes seasonal affective disorder? - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It still feels like summer, but you can already hear the collective pre-winter groan: the long cold winter looms in coming months. And while many enjoy what Mother Nature brings, others can experience a condition called seasonal affective disorder. Gray skies Wednesday, but by all accounts, it's been a beautiful summer with record-setting temperatures and sunny skies. But crisp fall weather will eventually shift toward winter, with colder, darker days ahead.
Vt. doctors optimistic about drug for young cancer patients - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Doctors at the University of Vermont are optimistic about a drug aimed at protecting kids with cancer from long-term damage to their hearts. Advances in cancer therapy have dramatically increased survival rates in children with cancer, but those kids are at high risk of side effects from their chemotherapy and radiation. Those risks include secondary cancers later in life and serious damage to their hearts, including heart failure, valve disease and heart attacks.
Ragweed season in full bloom - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The reprieve is over for seasonal allergy sufferers. Ragweed is raging in our region. While many people may regard spring as prime pollen season, pollen from ragweed can make one of the most beautiful months in Vermont unbearable. Pollen counts taken at Timber Lane Allergy and Asthma reached high levels this week, and they're expected to continue through September. "This would be the peak time.
Vt. vaccination rates up as philosophical exemption ends - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The new school year starts next week for most students in our region and this year marks the first time parents cannot claim a philosophical exemption to opt out of immunizations for their school-age children. The exemption was officially eliminated July 1 this year, but Vermont health officials say they saw changes even beforehand in last year's immunization rates, as parents and the health department prepared to implement the change.
How too much heat can affect your health - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Is it too hot for your health? It's been a hot and humid summer in our region and that poses risks for people. Doctors say too much heat isn't safe for anyone, especially older folks and those with health problems. A simple walk in extreme heat can make you feel dizzy and weak, and being hot for too long can cause several different illnesses that fall under the umbrella of hyperthermia. Those include heat cramps, swelling in your ankles, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
UVM researcher develops promising new drug therapy - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Researchers at the University of Vermont have developed a promising new drug that reduces heart damage following a heart attack. Most people probably don't know that even after a person has a heart attack and a stent is used to prop open a clogged coronary artery, damage to the heart muscle continues for almost a month. It's called reperfusion injury.
UVM Medical Center tests revolutionary heart valve replacement - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
A revolutionary method for replacing aortic valves without surgery is once again being tested at the UVM Medical Center, but this time in lower risk patients. We first told you about transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR for short, four years ago. It was being tested at UVM as part of a nationwide clinical trial in high-risk patients with congestive heart failure, those who were not good candidates for the traditional open-heart surgery procedure.
Summer fun keeps emergency rooms busy - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Emergency: A serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. By definition, it's what brings people to the emergency room of hospitals each day. Immediate medical attention. But this time of year, the days are often busier than usual. "Typically through the summer we'll see more than 5,000 patients a month through our ED. And let's say in December and January we might see 4,000 to 4,200.
Midsummer offers reprieve to allergy sufferers - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Lush and green, it's a wonderful time of year in Vermont. But until this week, if you're allergic to grass, summer has meant misery. "Unfortunately, you can have allergies year-round. There's a lot of different species of grass, but they share common protein allergens. So you tend to be allergic-- if you're allergic to one grass, you tend to be allergic to all of them," said Dr. Edward Kent of Timber Lane Allergy and Asthma.
UVM pediatricians see increase in hand, foot-and-mouth disease - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's summertime in our region and that means pediatricians are seeing an increase in hand, foot-and mouth-disease. Doctors say enteroviruses like hand, foot and mouth, also known as Coxsackie, seem to survive better in warm weather conditions. At the University of Vermont Medical Center, pediatricians saw a big jump in cases last week and the week before.
FDA approves new heart stent tested at UVM Medical Center - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The Food and Drug Administration this week approved the first-ever dissolving heart stent for United States patients. It was tested in clinical trials at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and now means a new option for people with heart disease. Hundreds of thousands of people get new heart stents each year in this country. The metal, mesh-like tubes stay in place permanently, propping open clogged arteries and saving lives for more than two decades.
Why doctors say no fireworks are safe - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Fireworks on the Fourth of July. Can you imagine the federal holiday marking America's birthday without them? They're as customary as picnics, parades and backyard barbecues. But it's backyard fireworks that raise a red flag for medical professionals. "Fireworks are dangerous. They're like a weapon. It's like having a gun. It's gunpowder, so it's like giving your child a gun," said Dr. Stephen Leffler of the UVM Medical Center.
UVM Health Network to help train IBM's Watson - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
IBM has selected the UVM Health Network to help train its Watson health program, one of just 15 sites in the country. Although Watson is aimed at tackling cancer, diabetes, eye health and brain disease, UVM doctors will specifically work with Big Blue in the area of cardiovascular care. Watson is a supercomputer designed to gather data from multiple sources, including medical trials, health records, imaging and genetic data, and then synthesize it into a manageable summary for physicians.
UVM researchers test first-ever cholera vaccine - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Federal health officials have approved the first-ever cholera vaccine in the United States. It's intended to protect U.S. travelers from the potentially life-threatening disease, and at the University of Vermont, researchers are celebrating. The damage was catastrophic. More than 100,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed when a huge earthquake hit Haiti back in 2010.
Drug-resistant 'superbug' reported in US for 1st time - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Drug-resistant infections are nothing new in the United States-- clostridium difficile, gonorrhea and pneumonia are just a few of those no longer sensitive to most antibiotics. The drugs don't work because doctors say they've been overprescribed. But now an antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli has just been found in a Pennsylvania woman with a urinary tract infection, and that has doctors sounding the alarm.
Risk factors for blood clots in athletes - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
They're often the fittest of the fit, but even elite athletes can develop abnormal, sometimes deadly blood clots. Besides genetics, there are other risk factors for blood clots in athletes. She's a tennis icon and perhaps the most well-known athlete to experience a blood clot. Serena Williams had a life-threatening pulmonary embolism back in 2011, meaning a blockage in an artery in her lungs. "So, athletes have a lot going for them that might prevent them from getting blood clots.
Study links popular heart drug to dementia risk - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's called AFib for short-- atrial fibrillation. It affects more than 2 million people nationwide, people with a common heart rhythm disorder that puts them at risk for a stroke. "It puts people at risk of having stroke or blood clots go to other parts of their body, and also there's growing evidence that it puts people at risk for having dementia," said Dr. Neil Zakai of the UVM Medical Center.
Vt. researcher tries to fight muscle loss in cancer patients - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
First-grade teacher Shelley Spinner is enjoying her return to normalcy after a year of intense cancer treatment. Preparing for tomorrow's lesson at the C.P. Smith school in Burlington is part of that routine, and so, too, is her return to the physically active life she practiced before breast cancer took hold at age 40. "In the beginning, I could do it," Spinner said, "but as time went on I got more and more worn down and I wasn't able to maintain, especially toward the end of my treatment.
What does Vermont's mild winter mean for spring allergies? - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Experts say this year's allergy season has been a strange one so far in our region. The tree pollens often rampant in late April have been emerging a bit erratically. Tuesday's snowfall seemed to put yet another freeze on Vermont's allergy season. Usually by mid-to-late April, itchy eyes and runny noses are running rampant in those who suffer from tree pollen allergies. Not this year. "It's been a strange start," said Dr. Elizabeth Jaffe, Timber Lane Asthma and Allergy.
Flu season not over yet in Vermont - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Early fall means the start of flu shots each year in our region, but that's one of the few guarantees season to season. Health officials say the flu is unpredictable, and that's definitely been the case this year. Officials say the highs and lows of the season have flip-flopped, with reports of flu-like illness not climbing until late February when cases are usually falling. "It is late.
Zika-carrying mosquito may be in Vermont - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The Centers for Disease Control is now calling the Zika virus scarier than originally thought, and one of the mosquitoes that spreads Zika may be in Vermont. So what does that mean for the state? "We were surprised to see these maps," said Patsy Kelso of the Vermont Health Department. The maps released by the CDC show the potential spread of the two mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus.
Preventing blood clots in cancer patients - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
A diagnosis of cancer is frightening enough, and with surgery, chemotherapy and possibly radiation, the challenges patients face are significant. Included in that: blood clots. Doctors say one in five cancer patients will develop one. "And the problem," said Dr. Chris Holmes of the UVM Medical Center, "is we just don't know if it's going to be a blood clot that just stays in the leg or if it's going to break off and go to the lung and possibly be deadly." But why?
SPECIAL REPORT: Costs to Conceive - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
You might say we take it for granted: our ability to conceive a child and fulfill one of life's greatest and most natural dreams -- raising a family. But for millions of people, it's not that easy. Health officials say about 15-percent of the population has difficulty getting pregnant. To say this is a big moment for Shawna and Giles Brule is an enormous understatement. They've been trying to get pregnant for two years.
Vt. health officials: Slow start to flu season - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Not that we want it, but where is the flu this season? It's been a quiet year so far compared to recent years when Vermont hospitals were at capacity because of the flu, with some severely ill. But nationwide, federal health officials say the slow start may be picking up speed. Same time, same place, but this year the news from Vermont's largest hospital is a lot different.
Uptick in tick-borne diseases in Vermont - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Ticks may not be foremost on your mind this time of year, but Vermont health officials worry about them year-round because of the threat they pose to Vermonters' health. Cases of Lyme disease have grown dramatically in Vermont, and now a new tick-borne disease is on the rise in the state, as well. It's called anaplasmosis. The first case of anaplasmosis was confirmed and reported in southwestern Vermont in 2010.
Top 5 cold weather safety tips - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Vermont typically has snow in December, but not this year. The balmy temperatures are also a far cry from 2014's frigid air. But Vermonters know that winter will arrive eventually. "It's a little unusual for December weather, but I'm sure we're going to get some of the colder temperatures soon enough, and this is actually the kind of weather where you can get hypothermia because you think it's nice and warm out, but it's wet and rainy.
Using songs to help surgery patients relax - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's almost time for surgery for Nancy LaBaff, a stressful time in pre-op for most people, but LaBaff is getting some help to take her mind off things. And it's not medication. A set of headphones will do. LaBaff's music of choice to help her relax? "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. "It just makes you happy," she said. "You just have to be happy when you listen to it.
How winter coats could affect car seat safety - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The temperatures are dropping in our region and that means it's time to bundle up. But did you know those warm, heavy jackets that kids wear in the winter can be a safety hazard while in a car seat? There's no snow on the ground in Burlington, but the air is cold and that's why 4-year-old Charlie O'Leary's thick, warm jacket is a necessity. But when she climbs into a car seat, experts say that coat creates a potentially unsafe scenario.
Can fecal transplants help with ulcerative colitis? - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
It's a proven cure against the sometimes deadly bacterial infection called clostridium difficile. Now, doctors at the University of Vermont are launching a clinical trial to see if fecal transplants will fight ulcerative colitis, as well. There are two arms of irritable bowel disease and infection of the gut. One is Crohn's disease, the other ulcerative colitis. Millions have it and it's not much fun.
Flu deaths up sharply in Vermont this year - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The emergency room at the University of Vermont Medical Center is a busy place year-round, but during flu season it's a whole different ballgame. The same goes for other hospitals and medical practices across the state. And this year, it's been even busier than usual. Individual cases of the flu are not reportable in Vermont, but the health department surveys providers.
Hundreds to be retested for tuberculosis - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
A jury has convicted an 18-year-old man of grossly negligent operation in a car crash that killed a 16-year-old passenger in Vermont in 2013. A jury has convicted an 18-year-old man of grossly negligent operation in a car crash that killed a 16-year-old passenger in Vermont in 2013. Federal road funding for Vt. down, but may hold steady Federal road funding for Vt. down, but may hold steady Flush times in Vermont for federal transportation funding appear to have come to an end.
Not everyone is fit to shovel snow - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Most people hate it, but somebody's got to do it. And hopefully, it's a person who is physically fit. “In the United States, about a thousand people die per year shoveling snow,” said Dr. Steve Leffler, UVM Medical Center. In fact, in Vermont, at the state's largest hospital, doctors see at least a handful of people every winter who've had a heart attack or suffered chest pain while shoveling snow. Leffler says it's very common -- and here's why.
Castleton students learn life cycle of brook trout - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
"The first thing is we feed the fish and they go to the bathroom and out comes ammonia, and then who consumes and eats the ammonia?" Castleton teacher Guy Merrolle asks his sixth grade class.It's a lesson in the care and life cycle of the brook trout, and the conditions necessary for the fish to live. And they are living right here in Merrolle's classroom at the Castleton Village School.
Vt. baby diagnosed with rare type of meningitis - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Inside a room at the University of Vermont Children's Hospital, 7-month-old Zakeyah Ferguson sleeps peacefully. She's been here for three weeks now-- the first two on a ventilator-- in a medically induced coma in the intensive care unit. She's battling bacterial meningitis. "They knew something was wrong. Her fever went from 102 to 105.2 in two hours, and that was with Tylenol and ibuprofen in her," mom Kassie Ferguson said.
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