The group has collected hundreds of pounds of equipment so far. Md. Among the countries that receive donations from ADRA are the nations of the former Soviet Union, Bosnia and Rwanda. Fisher, a former medical volunteer in the Philippines, saw firsthand how the lack of medical supplies hinders good medical care. About 100 people die each year from food allergies and the peanut is the suspected cause in most of these cases. Besides candy bars and the ubiquitous residue of peanut butter in the jelly jar, the peanut is found in a variety of food products, including sauces to add flavor and thickening, such as spaghetti, chili and gravy.
Children are more likely to have a peanut allergy, but adults die more often.
Hugh Sampson, M.D., professor of pediatrics, who is leading the team of researchers, said an effective vaccine is still at least five years away. Sampson said researchers are searching for the specific protein that causes the body's immune system to go haywire. Basically, when we think of a protein we think of it like a brick wall. It's made up of amino acids just the way a brick wall is made up of bricks. We know that there are only a few bricks in that whole wall that are responsible for the reaction.