Poll Highlights Higher Number of U.S. Households Impacted
LOS ANGELES, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- (Associated Television News/Zogby
International) The number of Americans impacted by diseases such
as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Hodgkin's and Lupus is far higher than
the numbers claimed by national organizations. In a poll conducted
by Zogby International, a respected national polling firm, respondents
were asked if anyone in their household has been impacted by one of the
above-mentioned diseases. The results demonstrate a dramatic understatement
in the number of individuals impacted by these diseases.
| Disease | Zogby Poll | Afflicted | nat'l organiz. |
| Multiple Sclerosis | 2.8% | 2.87 million | 350,000 |
| Parkinson's | 5.2% | 5.33 million | 1.5 million |
| Hodgkin's | 1.1% | 1.13 million | unavailable |
| Lupus | 4.4% | 4.51 million | 1.5 million |
"There is no question that Zogby International is one of the most prestigious
and reliable polling firms in America and that our poll numbers are correct.
People are not likely to be deceptive in their response that someone in
their household is afflicted with one of these diseases and these diseases
are not readily confused with other diseases. The Zogby poll numbers
suggest that Congress should increase the amount of federal funding eightfold
for Multiple Sclerosis research, quadruple the funding for Lupus, and triple
the amount of federal funding for Parkinson's," stated Brad O'Leary, president
Associated Television News.