The Quinism Foundation Partners with Lifemark Health Group to Identify Canadian Veterans at Risk of Dizziness, Balance Problems, and Other Health Conditions from Exposure to the Antimalarial Drug Mefloquine

As described in this press release, The Quinism Foundation has partnered with Lifemark Health Group to license the two-question White River Mefloquine Instrument (WRMI-2) as part of a pilot program to screen self-identifying Canadian veterans for a history of symptomatic exposure to the antimalarial drug mefloquine.

“Mefloquine exposure may be the cause of several disabling conditions, including dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, loss of balance, and mental health issues,” said Dr. Remington Nevin, executive director of The Quinism Foundation. “These symptoms are often misattributed to other conditions, including traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. For this reason, use of the WRMI-2 should be considered standard of care during the evaluation of veterans at risk of mefloquine exposure.”

Dr. Nevin cautions that the WRMI-2 is not a clinical screening tool and does not provide a medical diagnosis or a legal determination in disability evaluations. Instead, the WRMI-2 is an exposure assessment instrument, intended to assist clinicians in identifying veterans who may be at risk of disability as a result of their exposure.

“If the veteran reports symptomatic exposure, it is important to obtain a detailed mefloquine history and conduct appropriate examinations, retaining an index of suspicion that certain chronic neuropsychiatric signs or symptoms could represent effects of a medical condition also known as chronic quinoline encephalopathy or neuropsychiatric quinism.”

“Lifemark is proud to partner with The Quinism Foundation to include the WRMI-2 as part of its vestibular (dizziness & balance) assessment available to Canadian veterans at the majority of its 175+ clinics throughout Canada,” said Sheelah Woodhouse, Director of Vestibular Rehabilitation. “This pilot program will help us identify potentially useful information in seeking to provide the best care to our patients. In addition to our vestibular physiotherapists addressing dizziness and balance issues, our occupational therapists and psychologists will be involved in the project to assist with addressing mental health issues.”

The Quinism Foundation Joins the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) in Recognizing Balance Awareness Week

The Quinism Foundation is pleased to support our friends at VEDA  participating in this year’s Balance Awareness Week, VEDA’s annual campaign to broaden awareness and understanding of balance-related vestibular conditions.

Many individuals suffering from mefloquine poisoning experience symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems. Occasionally, these are attributed to peripheral vestibular disorders, when the individual actually has evidence of central vestibular dysfunction. VEDA has partnered with the Quinism Foundation to host educational material on neurotoxic vestibulopathy, a condition that may be seen in cases of chronic neuropsychiatric quinism caused by dysfunction in the vestibular and related brainstem nuclei.

You can support the work of VEDA during Balance Awareness Week by becoming a peer-to-peer fundraiser. We thank VEDA for their continued support of those affected by vestibular problems caused by quinoline drugs, including mefloquine and chloroquine.

2018 Annual Canadian Educational Meeting Update

The Quinism Foundation is proud to be hosting its first Annual Canadian Educational Meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 18, 2018 from 1pm to 5pm, focused on the concerns of Canadian mefloquine veterans and Canadian healthcare providers caring for these veterans. The meeting will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command, located just a short walk away from our designated hotel, the Comfort Inn Ottawa West. Limited space is still available for those who would like to attend the meeting. Attendance is free, but will be limited to those who have registered, so please contact The Quinism Foundation as soon as possible. We thank the Royal Canadian Legion for their exceptional generosity and hospitality in providing meeting space, and for their continued support of calls for further research into mefloquine poisoning.

Our annual Canadian educational meeting is scheduled to coincide with the annual Canadian mefloquine awareness event on the front steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 1 p.m., hosted by advisory committee member Marj Matchee. Echoing calls from Canadian veterans from last’s year’s event, Canadian veterans will be calling on the Canadian government to acknowledge chronic disability from mefloquine poisoning, and to support outreach and research. The Quinism Foundation has previously called upon the Canadian government to reopen the Somalia Commission of Inquiry to investigate the role of mefloquine in the events of that era, as described more fully in this press release. The Quinism Foundation will also be announcing a new Canadian call to action at this year’s event. If you would like more information about the rally, please contact Marj Matchee directly.

Charitable Donations

The Quinism Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity that receives no government or pharmaceutical industry support. The foundation relies entirely on private charitable donations to fund its operations, including its educational meetings, research activities, press releases, and publications. If you have not yet made a charitable donation to support a charity of your choice, please consider making one today. The foundation is proud to be listed as a registered charity in the PayPal Giving Fund, and Network for Good’s donor-advised fund. You can also create a Facebook fundraiser to encourage your friends to support your selected charity. As well, when you shop AmazonSmile using this link, Amazon will donate 0.5% the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Quinism Foundation.  The foundation is proud to have earned a bronze seal of transparency from on Guidestar.

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