Mass. asthma rates rising despite nationwide declineBy Jessica Fargen Monday, March 27, 2006 While asthma rates have leveled off nationwide, New England and Massachusetts continue to see a spike in cases of the lung disease, a disturbing trend that has puzzled researchers, according to a report to be released today. The number of children and adults diagnosed with asthma in New England has increased by 400,000 since 2001, according to a study released today by the Asthma Regional Council, which looked at asthma rates around the country between 2001 and 2004. “We really need to declare a war on...