2001

Mbeki Appeals for End to Child Rape: Los Angeles Times (12.29.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; Reuters; South African President Thabo Mbeki used his New Year s message Friday to call on South Africans to stop a wave of rapes of babies and children. Rapes occur in our homes, they occur amongst relatives, they occur among people who know one another, he said. We must make sure that indeed we break the silence with regard t
Leap in HIV/AIDS Prompts Plea for Earlier Education: Orange County Register (12.29.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; A surge in HIV/AIDS cases among young people has spurred health educators to press for more aggressive promotion of condoms and education about the disease even before children become sexually active. It s already too late for many, says a new report from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health i
Pulaski County with Highest AIDS Rate: Associated Press (12.29.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; Pulaski County, Ark., has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases reported in the state from 1983 to June 2001, according to a survey released by the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network. The survey - compiled by the State Health Department - shows that Pulaski County had the most cases, with 1,095 from 1983 through June 2001
Rep. Pelosi Defends Stop AIDS Project: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (12.20.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; After its safe sex programs were attacked by a conservative Republican congressman, San Francisco s Stop AIDS Project gained the backing of the Democratic Party s highest-ranking woman. House Democratic Whip-elect Rep. Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson aski
Drug Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Men Who Attend Circuit Parties: A Venue-Based Comparison: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (12.01.01) 28:373- 379 - Monday, December 31, 2001; Grant N Colfax; Gordon Mansergh; Robert Guzman; Eric Vittinghoff; Gary Marks; Melissa Rader; Susan Buchbinder; Some previous studies suggest that risk behavior among gay/bisexual men is increasing. There is increasing concern in the public health field that sexual and drug use behavior may be high at circuit parties (CPs), which are events where mainly gay men congregate for social activities and dancing. The term circuit refer
Zambia's Tembo Promises Cheaper AIDS Drugs: Reuters (12.28.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; Manoah Esipisu; Zambian presidential contender Christon Tembo on the eve of Thursday s election offered a promise of cheaper AIDS drugs to help combat the epidemic. He said his Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) would boost the fight against HIV/AIDS. An estimated 200 Zambians die from the disease every day. We want to assist a
China Says Drug Addiction Up, Fueling Crime, Spread of AIDS: Associated Press (12.31.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; The number of known drug addicts in China has topped 900,000, fueling crime and the spread of AIDS, state and media said Monday. The reports said more than 30 percent of robberies are committed by addicts to pay for drugs. In addition, two-thirds of new AIDS cases are linked to needle sharing by heroin users. The news
With Ignorance as the Fuel, AIDS Speeds Across China: New York Times (12.30.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; Elisabeth Rosenthal; AIDS in China is spreading at a breakneck pace - reported cases are up 67 percent this year over last - in large part because its citizens are so poorly informed about the disease. Even those at very high risk of getting AIDS often do not know how to protect themselves; many have never even heard of HIV. In the largest
Living with AIDS; Activists Fight Barriers to Organ Transplants for HIV-Positive Patients: San Francisco Chronicle (12.30.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; Carol Ness; A headline announcing the death of writer and AIDS activist Larry Kramer last week was sad news to many - but no shock, since the 66- year-old s liver had been on the brink of failure for months. So the fact that the news service was wrong, and Kramer was actually doing well after a hard-won liver transplant, was even
Maine HIV Rate Drops, but Counselors Still Busy: Associated Press (12.31.01) - Monday, December 31, 2001; Maine s annual rate of HIV-positive cases as 2001 ended was well below the comparable rate of a decade ago. During the past 10 years, the reported number of cases has dropped from 122 a year to an expected 38 to 40 in 2001. There are also many fewer deaths occurring. This is largely due to effective medical treatments
Group Gets $170,000 to Fight AIDS: Buffalo News (12.24.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Men of Color Health Awareness Project has received a $170,000 state grant to help fight HIV. New York Health Commissioner Dr. Antonia C. Novello said these funds will build on New York s aggressive and comprehensive efforts to fight HIV/AIDS where it is hitting hardest - in minority communities. The organization, with
Bloomberg Appoints Five to Be City Commissioners: New York Times (12.28.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Michael Cooper; New York City Mayor-elect Michael R. Bloomberg appointed five city commissioners Thursday. Among the new appointees was Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, who will become the commissioner of the Department of Health. Frieden is currently in India working on TB control for the World Health Organization . In the past he
Front Line in the AIDS War: Boston Globe (12.26.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Thomas Gagen; ...In Uganda , President Yoweri Museveni personally led the anti- AIDS campaign, spreading the message of prevention to every part of the country. In South Africa , Nelson Mandela, the first freely elected president, was prudish about sexual matters, and he was succeeded by [Thabo] Mbeki, who thoroughly confused the i
Volunteer Honored for Work with AIDS Group: Providence Journal-Bulletin (12.27.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; SI Rosenbaum; After more than a decade of service, Doreen Blue of Warwick, R.I., has been named Volunteer of the Month by the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island. Once a month, Blue shares a stage with drag queen Aurora Borealis. Blue calls the numbers for AIDS Project Rhode Island s monthly Gay Bingo fund-raiser at the Riviera Bingo H
HIV Drug Combo May Be Risky in Early Pregnancy: Reuters Health (12.26.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; HIV-infected women who take certain combinations of medications in their first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of having a child with birth defects, a small study suggests. In particular, women who took a drug to ward off Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in combination with antiretroviral drugs early i
HIV Study Attempts to Salvage Lost Lives: Calgary Herald (12.27.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Sharon Kirkey; Ottawa researchers are developing a major study of ways to salvage the lives of HIV-positive patients who are facing decreased drug options due to the failure of their antiretroviral medications. The drugs that have saved thousands of lives are now failing a growing number of patients. Ottawa Hospital will be the lead
Program Assists Minority Moms-to-Be: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (12.15.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Gregory Lewis; The Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act, passed by the Florida Legislature in 1999, directed the state Department of Health to establish an outreach program for high-risk pregnant women - those who may not seek prenatal care, who may struggle with substance abuse, or who are HIV-infected - to link them to services
Drug Use Blamed for AIDS Rate; Maryland Fifth in Nation in Incidence of the Disease: Capital (Annapolis, Md.) (12.26.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Alan Brody; Despite ranking 19th in US state population, Maryland ranks fifth in the annual number of AIDS cases. The statistic is fueled by drug use, according to local activists who are asking the state to do more to combat the virus. I have seen the community be very scared and confused because of the myths that were out there
Activists Split over Jailed AIDS Protesters: Los Angeles Times (12.28.01) - Friday, December 28, 2001; Charles Ornstein; Two AIDS activists jailed in San Francisco are receiving support from the very people who call their theories crackpot and consider their tactics indecent and abhorrent. Accused in criminal complaints of besieging city health officials with statements like we re coming to get you, David R. Pasquarelli, of ACT UP San Fr
Lance Loud, 50; Eldest Son in Real-Life PBS Series: Los Angeles Times (12.25.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Elaine Woo; Lance Loud, the eldest son in a family whose conflicts were laid bare in a landmark 1973 public television documentary series, has died at age 50. Loud, a freelance journalist who lived in Echo Park, Calif., died Saturday morning at a hospice in Los Angeles of complications of hepatitis C, according to his sister, Deli
Kenya; Circumcise All Men, Says Member of Parliament: Africa News Service (12.18.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Kenyan Member of Parliament (MP) Jimmy Angwenyi, of Kitutu Chache, recently said that in order to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS male circumcision should be made mandatory by the government. Angwenyi said it is a medically proven fact that male circumcision can prevent the transmission of STDs, including HIV. Angwenyi has
Tanzania Urges Employers, Workers to Set Aside HIV/AIDS Budget: Xinhua News Agency (12.20.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Tanzanian Minister for Labor Juma Kapuya said at the recent International Labor Organization (ILO) meeting in Dar es Salaam that government ministries had set aside a budget to fight against HIV/AIDS and that both employers and employees should do the same. Reports have said more than 10 percent of the active labor for
New Urgency on AIDS: Boston Globe (12.23.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Slowly, AIDS is regaining its status as an untreatable disease. [According to recent study], more than half of all AIDS patients have strains of the virus that are resistant to two or more of the AIDS drugs. More than three-quarters harbor a strain resistant to at least one drug. ...All of this makes it more urgent th
Hydeia Broadbent, 17, Has AIDS, but It Doesn't Define Her: Star Tribune (Minn.)(12.26.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Delma J Francis; Seventeen-year-old AIDS activist Hydeia Broadbent is one of a growing number of children and teens living longer with AIDS. Patricia and Loren Broadbent of Las Vegas adopted her at age 6 weeks. The Broadbents were puzzled by their baby s susceptibility to seemingly every minor illness. If someone came over with a cold,
Is Drinking Water in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Safe for Infant Formula?: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (12.01.01) Vol 28: P 393-398 - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Eileen F Dunne; Hortense Angoran-Bénié; Akoua Kamelan-Tano; Toussaint S Sibailly; Ben B Monga; Luc Kouadio; Thierry H Roels; Stefan Z Wiktor; Eve M Lackritz; Eric D Mintz; Steve Luby; In developed countries, HIV transmission from mother-to- child has decreased dramatically by the use of antiretroviral therapy and replacement of breast-feeding with infant formula. In developing countries, short-course zidovudine and nevirapine regimens have recently proven effective in preventing mother-to- child tra
AIDS Draining South Africa's Schools: Los Angeles Times (12.23.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Ann M Simmons; In Hlabisa, South Africa , teachers take sick leave for up to six months at a time. Student enrollment in the first grade is falling. Funerals have become a common family excursion. Among teachers nationwide, AIDS-related deaths have soared by more than 40 percent in the last year, according to statistics compiled by t
Controversy Simmers over 'Too Healthy' AIDS Ads: Reuters (12.21.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Christopher Michaud; Activists like Marty Algaze of Gay Men s Health Crisis worry that upbeat ads for AIDS drugs may be convincing young people that they have nothing to fear from the disease, and that this may encourage the kind of risky behavior that might lead more infections. Similar concerns led the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Activist Larry Kramer Leaves ICU: New York Times (12.26.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Associated Press; Doctors report that AIDS activist Larry Kramer s condition was progressing as expected five days after his liver transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Kramer, 66, was moved from the intensive care unit to a private room in the inpatient unit and was able to walk a bit. Kramer had suffered fr
Montana and the Dakotas Get $1.3 Million to Help HIV Victims Rent Homes: Associated Press (12.26.01) - Thursday, December 27, 2001; Erin Everett; A joint effort among agencies in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota to assist low-income HIV patients in the three states will result in $1.3 million to help them pay their rent, officials say. The states jointly applied for the three- year federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. The money is part of a H
AIDS Clinic Opens: Newsday (N.Y.) (12.26.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS has opened its new facilities and primary care clinic in Manhattan at 150 Lafayette St. For information, telephone 212-334-7940.
Man Arrested After Refusing TB Care: Denver Post (12.23.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Joe Rivera, 51, was arrested after he flouted a TB quarantine order and refused to go to the hospital for treatment. He was issued the order Dec. 6 while a patient at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Under Colorado law, chief medical health officers can order people who may be infected with TB to unde
HIV Cases Among Latvian Prisoners More than Doubles: Agence France Presse (12.20.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; The number of HIV-positive inmates in Latvian prisons more than doubled this year, officials said, prompting calls for more spending to slow the spread of the virus. Roberts Girgensons, deputy director of the Latvian prison administration s medical department, said 453 prisoners currently have HIV, a 130 percent increa
Mobile's Rates of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea on the Rise: Associated Press (12.26.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Health officials say they don t know why STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea continue to plague Mobile, Ala., while syphilis rates are dropping. We see fluctuations periodically. I challenge anybody to say why, said Michael O Cain, director of the STD program at the state Department of Public Health. The number of report
Error on Drug for HIV Alleged: Boston Globe (12.26.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Raja Mishra; A Boston pharmacist s error in dispensing 200 mg pills of Crixivan instead of 400 mg gave Adam Barrett s HIV the opening it required to develop a resistance to the powerful drug and a host of other AIDS medicines, Barrett alleges in a recently filed lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc. As a result, the suit contends, Barr
Community-based Efforts Chalk Up Successes: Sites in North Carolina and Maryland Have a Tale to Tell; Success in HIV Prevention: AIDS Alert (12.01.01) Vol 16; No 12: P 160 - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Joint state-federal HIV-prevention programs in North Carolina and Baltimore have reached at-risk populations and demonstrated very positive outcomes - so much so that the CDC points them out when asked for success stories. The nontraditional counseling program in North Carolina has a greater proportion of high-risk cli
Libyan Court Delays Verdict in HIV Case: New York Times (12.23.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Associated Press; A Libyan court postponed its verdict Saturday in the case of six Bulgarians and a Palestinian, all doctors and nurses, accused of injecting 393 children with blood contaminated with HIV. It was the second time in four months that the judges postponed their verdict. They were originally scheduled to hand down a ruling i
Pro-choice Poster Campaign Targets Bishops: Washington Times (12.24.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Mary Shaffrey; A pro-choice multi-denominational group has begun a poster campaign in Washington, D.C., that accuses bishops of letting people die because of the Catholic Church s policy against condoms. The 9,000-member Catholics for Free-Choice has spent more than $250,000 on poster ads in Metro subways and bus stops in the Distric
Man with HIV Gets New Liver: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (12.25.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001; Christopher Snowbeck; In the most high-profile case to date of an HIV-positive patient receiving an organ transplant, author and activist Larry Kramer underwent liver transplant surgery on Friday at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). On Monday, Kramer, 66, was listed in serious condition - typical for transplant patients so
Orlando Reyes Appointed Acting Executive Director to South Beach AIDS Project: Miami Herald (12.20.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; The board of directors of the South Beach AIDS Project have appointed Orlando Reyes as acting executive director while they continue the search for a new director. Reyes has worked for the project since June 2000 and supervised Project Quest, an HIV prevention program for gay and bisexual men ages 18 to 29.
Namibia to Start Distributing Drugs to HIV Positive Pregnant Women: Associated Press (12.20.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Namibian Health Minister Libertine Amathila said the ministry would begin distributing the drug nevirapine to pregnant HIV- positive women to prevent transmission of the virus to their babies. Studies show the drug can reduce HIV transmission during labor by up to 50 percent. It will initially be made available to 500
Congress Votes $6.8 Billion to Support CDC Efforts: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (12.21.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Melanie Eversley; MAJ McKenna; Congress approved an appropriation bill of $6.8 billion for the CDC on Thursday, with at least $2.8 billion in funds devoted to security, upgrades and renovations in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. This represents the largest annual budget appropriation in the agency s history, totaling $4.3 billion for fiscal 2002.
Parents Seek Change in Sex Ed: Detroit News (12.18.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Amy Lee; Proposed changes to the Rochester, Mich., school district s sex education program have some parents arguing the material steers students away from abstinence and instead encourages them to practice safe sex. Teaching kids that having sex with condoms makes it safe is terribly misleading, said Carolyn Mack, who has thre
HIV Clues Point to Potential Preventive Therapy: Reuters Health (12.07.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Emma Hitt, PhD; New snapshots of HIV in the act of binding to two proteins that facilitate infection of T cells may lay the groundwork for future therapies, according to Dr. Bill Weis of Stanford University and colleagues in the December 7th issue of Science (2001;294:2163-2166). The researchers studied two molecules, called DC-SIGN a
Seeking Vaccine to Fight Deadly Virus: Toronto Star (12.16.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Prithi Yelaja; Dr. Kelly MacDonald is the holder of a new $3 million endowed chair created last week at the University of Toronto for AIDS Research, which is jointly funded by the university and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network. University of Toronto is only the second university in Canada (after the University of British Columbia)
A Poor Ethnic Enclave in China Is Shadowed by Drugs and HIV: New York Times (12.21.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Elisabeth Rosenthal; Butuo, China , is a place populated by China s large but impoverished Yi ethnic minority, an ethnic backwater made up of red mud houses and the trappings of rural farming. But Butuo, a town of 10,000 in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and other towns near it have become centers of intravenous drug use and HIV.
First Asian HIV/AIDS Care Conference Ends with Call for Wider Effort: Agence France Presse (12.20.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said at the conclusion of the first meeting on HIV/AIDS patient care in Asia that the virus would spread unless organizations such as itself got involved. The national health services are not enough to contain the epidemic globally, said Dr. Alvaro Be
Study Tallies Disease's Cost in Poor Nations: Wall Street Journal (12.21.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Mark Schoofs; A comprehensive World Health Organization report, compiled by a blue-ribbon commission including two Nobel laureates, puts specific dollar figures on how disease drains the economies of poor countries. It also lays out the costs - and surprising benefits - of improving the health of the world s destitute. For just a pe
Jailed Activists: Debate and Charges Grow: Gay.com/PlanetOut.com (12.18.01) - Friday, December 21, 2001; Tom Musbach; San Francisco authorities last Friday filed nine more criminal threat charges against jailed AIDS activist David Pasquarelli and raised his bail from $500,000 to $600,000. Pasquarelli, a member of ACT UP/San Francisco who claims that HIV does not cause AIDS, received an additional four felony and five misdemeanor charg
Annan Asks World Not to Forget Mideast, Poverty and AIDS: Agence France Presse (12.19.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; At a year-end news conference, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said for many of the world s people, 2001 was not so different from 2000 or 1999. Just another year of living with HIV/AIDS, or in a refugee camp, or under repressive rule, or with crushing poverty, or watching crops dwindle and children go hungry as the gl
Council Cuts $766 Million from Budget: New York Times (12.20.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Michael Cooper; The New York City Council approved $766 million in spending reductions yesterday to help the city close an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall in the current year s budget. The reductions were approved after the council negotiated an agreement with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to restore some cuts to cultural institutions, l
US HIV Study Should Be a Warning to Australia: Australian Associated Press (12.19.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Rada Rouse; A new study showing that three-quarters of Americans with HIV are resistant to one or more drugs should serve as a warning against complacency in Australia , an advocate said. Bill Whittaker, president of the Australian Federation for AIDS Organizations, said the findings followed a wake-up call for Australia earlier
The War Against AIDS: San Francisco Chronicle (12.20.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Amid all the high-volume debate about terrorism, Washington is quietly taking action on another global security problem - AIDS. ...Yesterday, House and Senate negotiators finally agreed on appropriations for AIDS spending for the 2002 fiscal year. Program support for individual countries will get $475 million, and $20
Syphilis Scare Has County Seeking Link in Cases: Chicago Daily Herald (12.18.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Charles Keeshan; McHenry County, Ill., authorities are working to track the source of a rare syphilis outbreak that has affected four county residents so far. As of Monday, the department had three confirmed cases of the STD. A fourth case is awaiting laboratory results for confirmation. We have not been able to identify any clear link
Bibb Sex Education Policy Questioned; School Board Member Urges Review of Current Sex-Ed Curriculum: Macon Telegraph (12.18.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; At least one Bibb County Board of Education member and other health officials in the Georgia county said Monday they think the school system should review its sex education curriculum. The whole business of getting information to young people about AIDS and the transmission of AIDS concerns me, said Susan Middleton, he
Efficacy of AIDS Drugs Ebbing: Boston Globe (12.19.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Raja Mishra; We could be right back where we were in 1984, when the virus was unstoppable, said Larry Kessler, executive director of Boston s AIDS Action Committee, of the news that the vast majority of US HIV patients carry a form of the disease able to resist one or more HIV drugs. The study, released this week at the American S
Incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Male-to-Female Transgendered Persons in San Francisco: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (12.01.01) Vol 28; No 4: P 381-384 - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Timothy A Kellogg; Kristen Clements-Nolle; James Dilley; Mitchell H Katz; William McFarland; Several recent studies have reported high levels of risk behavior and prevalence of HIV infection among male-to-female (MtF) transgendered persons. A recent community-based survey in San Francisco found that 35% of MtF transgendered persons were HIV-positive. In addition, 63% of African-American MtF transgendered perso
Salvador Jobs Law Spawns New Fears for Those with HIV: Miami Herald (12.18.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Frances Robles; El Salvador has a new law intended to prevent the spread of AIDS and protect those living with the disease. It allows employers to test job candidates for HIV. Experts believe that the law is unprecedented. According to the UN s International Labor Organization (ILO) there is no other country with such a rule. Su
Why Rapid HIV Tests, Widely Sold Overseas, Have Eluded the US: Wall Street Journal (12.20.01) - Thursday, December 20, 2001; Geeta Anand; During the past decade, many companies have developed HIV tests that produce nearly instant results in a clinic or doctor s office. According to CDC estimates, each year one- third of the 2.1 million people tested for HIV at public clinics don t come back for their results. The CDC and US Army officials say an easy-to-
$17,500 in Grants Given to Local AIDS Agencies: Dallas Morning News (12.17.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Macy s West and the Federated Department Stores Foundation awarded four grants totaling $17,500 to AIDS Arms Inc., the AIDS Interfaith Network, the AIDS Resource Center, and AIDS Services of North Texas last month. The four Dallas agencies were among 62 HIV/AIDS agencies selected nationwide for their efforts reaching o
Bulgaria Presses Libya on HIV Case: BBC News (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy is due in Libya today to discuss the trial of six Bulgarians who have been accused of deliberately infecting nearly 400 children with HIV. The six Bulgarians - five nurses and a doctor - could face the death penalty if found guilty of injecting the children with HIV- contaminate
Child Trafficking Profitable, on Rise, Forum Told: New York Times (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Reuters; Likening the trade to a modern form of slavery, the UN estimates more than 30 million women and children have fallen victim to sex trafficking over the past three decades in Asia alone. The issue is high on the agenda of a global conference being held near Tokyo this week on the commercial sexual exploitation of childr
Court Tells City to Improve Services for AIDS Victims: New York Times (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Nichole M Christian; A federal judge in Brooklyn has ordered the City of New York to issue rent subsidies and Medicaid emergency housing to thousands of people living with AIDS. The ruling by Federal District Court Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. follows his September 2000 decision that some 27,000 people dependent upon the city agency were chr
Nutrition and HIV: ABCNews.com/Healthology Press (12.14.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Meredith Liss, MA, RD, CDN, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell; Use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV disease has improved immune status for those people who have access to the drugs and can tolerate them. However, maintaining a good physical appearance and overall health continue to be significant concerns for most patients. People with HIV must contend
Kenya to Ban Female Genital Excision: Los Angeles Times (12.15.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Davan Maharaj; Kenyan women last week won a 20-year battle to outlaw genital excision of young girls, but doubts remain over whether the government will vigorously enforce the ban. Even after President Daniel Arap Moi promised to sign the legislation criminalizing it, many parents defied him by subjecting their daughters to the proce
Another Chinese Province Is Hit by HIV: Wall Street Journal (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Leslie Chang; World attention has focused on extraordinarily high rates of HIV in some villages of central Henan province south of Beijing, where poor farmers contracted HIV while selling blood to unlicensed operators. Yet, 250 miles from those Henan hamlets is the beginning of an AIDS outbreak in Shaanxi province. Farmers in Shaanx
South African Government to Appeal Court Ruling Forcing It to Provide Key AIDS Drug: Associated Press (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Mike Cohen; The South African government said Wednesday it would appeal a court ruling compelling it to provide a key AIDS drug to HIV- positive pregnant women that would lower chances of passing the virus on to their children. We have instructed our legal counsel to appeal the judgment to the Constitutional Court as soon as pract
AIDS Ride Management Dispute Leads to Lawsuit, Competing Event: Associated Press (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; Kim Curtis; The California AIDS ride, an event in which 11,000 cyclists have raised $40 million since 1994, is being abandoned by the non-profit agencies it benefits. They say it s unacceptable that they get only 50 cents of every dollar raised. Fund- raising expenses generally should not exceed 35 cents per dollar, according to t
Study Finds Drug-Resistant HIV in Half of Infected Patients: Washington Post (12.19.01) - Wednesday, December 19, 2001; David Brown; About half the people infected with the AIDS virus in the United States harbor a strain of the microbe that is resistant to at least one drug used to treat the disease, according to a new study. The findings, presented yesterday in Chicago at the American Society for Microbiology s annual meeting on infectious diseases
Pitt Gets $8 Million to Study Alcohol-HIV Link: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (12.17.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; To study how alcohol use and abuse interacts with HIV infection and treatment, the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Medical Center have received an $8 million grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. We know that alcohol and unprotected sex are common bedfellows. Al
Senate Votes to Emphasize Abstinence in Sex Ed Courses: Associated Press (12.18.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Sex education teachers would be required to emphasize abstinence under legislation approved Monday by the New Jersey Senate. The legislation, which has already been approved by the Assembly, goes to Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco, who voted Monday in favor of the bill. Supporters of the legislation say children need
AIDS Fund Officials to Meet Soon: Associated Press (12.17.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Paul Geitner; The 18-member policy-setting board of the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria will hold its first meeting Jan. 28- 29. The officials will seek to develop procedures for allocating the $1.6 billion already committed to the fund. Donor countries and developing nations will have seven seats each. Non- governmental a
Preventing AIDS: New York Times (12.18.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Amy Coen; To the Editor: The recently passed House bill authorizing increased spending to combat AIDS is a step in the right direction. It is mystifying, however, that an AIDS bill emphasizing prevention fails to mention, even once, one of the most critical weapons in the battle: condoms. Condoms, combined with education, are c
Christmas Project Gives AIDS Patients a Brighter Holiday: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (12.15.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Joy Victory; Cilicia Valdez found out she had HIV at one of the worst possible times - when she was seven months pregnant. Valdez is grateful for the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation s annual Christmas Project in which volunteers can adopt clients and help them have a better Christmas. But Joe Garcia, the foundation s special events co
The Care of HIV-Infected Adults in Rural Areas of the United States: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (12.01) Vol 28: P 385-392 - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Susan E Cohn; Mark L Berk; Sandra H Berry; Naihua Duan; Martin R Frankel; Jonathan D Klein; Martha M McKinney; Afshin Rastegar; Stephen Smith; Martin F Shapiro; Samuel Bozzette; Over the past two decades, HIV infection has diffused from large metropolitan cities to smaller cities and rural areas. The rise in HIV/AIDS cases in rural areas presents new challenges for already overburdened rural health care systems: systems with physician shortages, underdeveloped social and home care support and
AIDS Forum Calls for Greater Dignity for Victims: Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo) (12.15.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Hiroko Ihara; Experts at a recent symposium in Kobe, Japan , called for renewed efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and safeguard the rights of patients. At the Nov. 29 symposium, sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun in Osaka and the World Health Organization Center for Health Development in Kobe, speakers discussed new ways to prevent the sprea
Red Cross Urges Asia to Prevent AIDS Pandemic on an African Scale: Agence France Presse (12.17.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Asia must seize on a window of opportunity to prevent the HIV/AIDS crisis from developing into a pandemic on the scale that has devastated Africa, according to officials from the Red Cross. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced Monday at the Fifth International Conference on Hom
Back from Africa, Dean Speaks on AIDS Education, Travel Expenses: Associated Press (12.17.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Anne Wallace Allen; Vermont Gov. Howard Dean on Monday said the United States needs to catch up with other countries in the way its public health officials fight to prevent AIDS. In Africa they re probably ahead of us in terms of public health education on AIDS, said Dean, who traveled to Ouagadougou, Burki
Drug-Resistant HIV on Rise as Medicines Misused: Newsday (N.Y.) (12.18.01) - Tuesday, December 18, 2001; Laurie Garrett; Widespread misuse of HIV drugs has led to drug resistance in at least half the US population under treatment, scientists are reporting today. Contrary to forecasts made in 1996 when combination drug therapy was introduced, it is not the poor and IV drug users who have the highest rates of resistance because of failure
Samoan Healers to Share AIDS Drug Profits: USA Today (12.17.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; The families of two Samoan women who passed on knowledge of a tree s healing powers will share in profits from any AIDS drug developed from the rain forest plant. The medicine women used the mamala tree to treat hepatitis. The plant s bark and wood contain prostratin, which inhibits HIV infection, according to an abstr
Elton John Puckers Up to Model Lipstick: Reuters (12.13.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; Makeup maker MAC announced last week that pop legend Elton John will help promote its new Viva Glam IV, the latest in a line of lipsticks sold to benefit the MAC AIDS fund. Joining John in the campaign will be soul singer Mary J. Blige and Shirley Manson, lead singer of the rock band Garbage. The ad campaign, photograp
Volunteer Group is Honored for Work; Congregation Beth Torah Prepares Meals for AIDS Patients: Kansas City Star (12.08.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; Melodee Hall Blobaum; Since May 9, 1993, volunteers from the Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, Kan., have been responsible for the Sunday night meal at SAVE Home, a midtown Kansas City assisted living facility for men and women with AIDS. Laura Aaronson, SAVE Home s project coordinator, and Congregation Beth Torah were honored for t
The Acceptability of a Vaginal Microbicide Among South African Men: International Family Planning Perspectives (12.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; Gita Ramjee; Eleanor Gouws; Amy Andrews; Landon Myer; Amy E Weber; As the HIV epidemic enters its third decade, women bear the burden of infection. In sub-Saharan Africa, where heterosexual HIV transmission is the dominant mode of infection, the number of infected women is startling. It is estimated that there are 12 infected women for every 10 infected men. The escalation of HIV infe
AIDS Group in Hong Kong Makes Explicit Video on Dangers: Reuters (12.06.01) Chee-may Chow - Monday, December 17, 2001; A Hong Kong AIDS awareness group has launched the most candid publicity campaign yet in the territory - an explicit video about the dangers of having sex with prostitutes across the border in mainland China . The film s graphic language and scenes were a deliberate attempt to grab the attention
South African Gold Company Forms Pact with Labor to Treat HIV/AIDS: Agence France Presse (12.14.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; South Africa s second largest gold producer, Goldfields, has sealed an agreement with mining unions to test and treat workers for HIV/AIDS. The agreement has been approved by the influential National Union of Mineworkers and is the first such accord between trade unionists and employers in South Africa. Willie Jacobsz
Meeting to Fight Child Sale to Brothels: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (12.17.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; Andrew Perrin; Military tensions run high between Thailand and Myanmar ( Burma ), but trade in drugs and daughters continues across the Mae Sai River. The region is known as the Golden Triangle, and the explosion in the recruitment of young girls into the sex industry has placed it squarely on the agenda of the Second
Thailand Blazes Trail in AIDS Fight: BBC News (12.17.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; Simon Ingram; Addressing the needs and rights of people with HIV/AIDS is the subject of a major conference this week in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. More than 2,000 activists, researchers, public health officials and AIDS patients are expected to attend the four-day international conference on Home and Community Care for Pe
Delivering Hope By Another Route; HIV Activists Collect Drugs for the Needy Outside the US: New York Times (12.15.01) - Monday, December 17, 2001; Jenny Holland; Jesus Aguais started Aid for AIDS in 1996 after a woman from Venezuela walked into his office at St. Vincent s Manhattan Hospital in need of expensive AIDS medications. Aid for AIDS today collects donated medication from various sources across the United States and Canada , inclu
Across the USA: West Virginia: USA Today (12.11.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Some 2,500 West Virginia women with little or no health insurance will be tested next year for human papillomavirus (HPV), a risk factor associated with cervical cancer. The project will be funded by a $498,000 federal grant. West Virginia University s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center will help recruit and train doctor
Coastal AIDS Network Awarded $20,000: Bangor Daily News (12.08.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Coastal AIDS Network (CAN) has been awarded a total of $20,000 in grants from the Maine Community Foundation Equity Fund, the Until There s a Cure Foundation of California and the Maine Community AIDS Partnership. The Maine Community Foundation grant will be used to support CAN s Coastal Outreach program for gay, lesbi
Utah AIDS Foundation Gets a $10,000 Grant: Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) (12.09.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; The Utah AIDS Foundation has received a $10,000 grant to support its Season s Giving program that provides families living with HIV/AIDS festive holiday meal baskets. It also allows families to request items they need, including clothes, household items, toys and games. The grant was from the Children Affected by AIDS
Merger Combines AIDS Services: Portland Press Herald (12.07.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Mark Shanahan; Financial pressures are forcing two of Maine s largest AIDS organizations to merge. Hoping to save money without sacrificing services, the AIDS Project and Peabody House announced last week that they are coming together to create the Frannie Peabody Center. This is the beginning of a journey that will provide better, m
Agency Pleads with Tampa to Restore Aid: St. Petersburg Times (12.14.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Christopher Goffard; Desperate to keep their HIV-housing program afloat, leaders of the Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP) pleaded with the city yesterday for $522,000 in federal funds that have been frozen while a scandal continues to shadow the non-profit group. Jim Hammond, who recently took over as THAP s CEO, told the city council
Modified AIDS Virus Is Utilized for Blood-Cell Disorder in Mice: Wall Street Journal (12.14.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Laura Johannes; Massachusetts researchers successfully used a modified form of the AIDS virus, carefully stripped of potentially harmful components, to cure sickle-cell anemia in mice. The gene therapy work, published in today s issue of Science (Vol. 294; No. 5550), used a form of the AIDS virus to deliver a therapeutic gene to the b
WHO: African Countries Negotiate with Thailand to Produce Generic HIV Drugs Locally: Associated Press (12.13.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Brahima Ouedraogo; Two African countries are negotiating with Thailand s government to learn how to produce cheap, generic HIV drugs on the continent hardest-hit by AIDS, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Zimbabwe and Ghana are finalizing deals under which Thailand would provide the technical expertise needed to set up
Court Orders Government to Provide Key AIDS Drug to Pregnant Women: Associated Press (12.14.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Dina Kraft; AIDS activists and pediatricians won a landmark lawsuit against the South African government today, forcing it to make a key AIDS drug available to expectant mothers with HIV. AIDS activists who packed the Pretoria court gallery cheered and hugged each other as Judge Chris Botha read a brief judgment stating that the g
Hated in San Francisco, Duo Gets Help from Afar: San Francisco Examiner (12.13.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Tanya Pampalone; A group of prominent AIDS and gay advocates across the country are uniting on an unlikely front: They re calling for fair treatment of two activists who have harassed many in San Francisco s AIDS community for years. Most in the local AIDS community were jubilant when Michael Petrelis and David Pasquarelli were charged
Clinton Urges Action Against AIDS: BBC News (12.13.01) - Friday, December 14, 2001; Delivering the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Lecture on AIDS in London on Thursday, former President Bill Clinton called on governments, businesses and individuals to do more to fight HIV/AIDS. Estimates of 100 million AIDS cases by 2005, he warned, could become a reality unless more is done to fight the epidemic.
AIDS Kills 70,000 Malawians Annually: Agence France Presse (12.10.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; About 70,000 Malawians die of AIDS every year, health authorities said Monday. We estimate 70,000 productive lives go annually due to AIDS, said Owen Kalua, executive director of the National AIDS commission. Malawi last year launched a five- year, $110 million national plan aimed at breaking the silence about the dise
Percentage of Hetero AIDS Rises: Calgary Sun (12.05.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Nova Pierson; New HIV/AIDS numbers show the percentage of new cases among heterosexuals has risen to its highest level yet in Canada . For the first time, heterosexual exposure topped 30 percent of positive HIV tests in the first six months of 2001 - reaching 31.9 percent. The January to June 2001 numbers from the Centre for Infecti
$750 Million Funding for CDC Clears House: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (12.13.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Melanie Eversley; The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation Wednesday authorizing $750 million for the CDC for 2002 and 2003. The vote was 418-2, with 13 members not voting. Of the $750 million, $600 million would go for construction and $150 million would aid bioterrorism preparedness. The money would help the CDC
The Global Fund Confronts AIDS: New York Times (12.13.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; This week the House passed a bill that would authorize greatly increased spending to combat AIDS overseas, including a doubling of the American contribution to the new Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It is critical that Congress actually appropriate the full $750 million the house has authorized f
New Heart Helps Treat Illness, Lets Man Resume Normal Life: San Jose Mercury News (12.11.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Cordula Tutt; On Feb. 4, Harvard University biostatistician Robert Zackin got a heart transplant. After enduring the wait for a lifesaving organ, he became one of only three HIV-positive patients to receive such an operation since 1996. Zackin s heart problems had multiple causes, the most devastating being long-term chemotherapy fo
The Injection Century: Massive Unsterile Injections and the Emergence of Human Pathogens: Lancet (12.08.01) Vol 358; No 9297: P 1989-1992 - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Ernest Drucker; Phillip G Alacabes; Preston A Marx; The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every year unsafe injections result in 80,000 to 160,000 new HIV-1 infections, 8 million to 16 million hepatitis B infections, and 23 million to 47 million hepatitis C infections worldwide. Together, these illnesses account for 13 million deaths. Even within WHO region
Quest for African AIDS Vaccine Hampered by Focus, Virus Mutation: Agence France Presse (12.13.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Richard Ingham; Researchers in Burkina Faso at the conference on AIDS in Africa heard evidence that the search for a vaccine to fight HIV on the continent is being clouded by a focus on viral sub- types predominant in the West and by the virus ability to mutate. Two-thirds of the world s 40 million HIV-positive people live in sub-Saha
Educating Sex Workers Is Best Weapon in Africa's AIDS Fight: Experts: Agence France Presse (12.12.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Providing HIV awareness counseling to prostitutes in Africa is a life-saving strategy that is more than 2,000 times as cost- effective as treating AIDS patients with antiretroviral drugs, according to research presented Wednesday at the African AIDS conference in Burkina Faso . Advising sex workers on risky practices a
AIDS Unit to Acquire Charity: Albuquerque Journal (12.12.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; Wren Propp; A nonprofit medical center for AIDS patients in northern New Mexico will acquire the assets and fund-raising events of a charity for people with HIV/AIDS. An official of Santa Fe Cares, an 11-year-old fund-raising organization that sponsored the annual AIDS walk and the star-studded musical event Live at the Lensic, sa
AIDS Ride Planners Sue San Francisco Charity over New Race: San Francisco Chronicle (12.13.01) - Thursday, December 13, 2001; The Southern California company that operated the California AIDS Ride for the past eight years is suing the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) in an attempt to stop it from having its own cycling event in May. Los Angeles-based Pallotta Teamworks filed suit last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court against SFAF
Internet Becomes Health Info Source: Associated Press (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Anick Jesdanun; Three-quarters of teenagers and young adults online have used the Internet to find health information, including details on depression, birth control and STDs, according to a survey released this week. The Internet is empowering young people, said Vicky Rideout, vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, the sourc
Thailand to Host International AIDS Treatment Meeting: Associated Press (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; The fifth International Conference on Home and Community Care for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS will be held in the northern Thailand province of Chiang Mai Dec. 17-20. A senior official with the Thai Red Cross Society, Phan Wannamethi, said that 3,000 activists, researchers, medical personnel and HIV- infected persons
FBI Declines Request to Investigate Activists: Los Angeles Times (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; The FBI has declined a request by a University of California at San Francisco researcher to pursue federal criminal charges against two AIDS protesters accused of making harassing and obscene telephone calls to newspaper reporters and public health officials. The request was made under the new domestic terrorism law si
HIV, Hairdos and Tickets to See 'Lutha': Los Angeles Times (12.07.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Lynell George; HIV, Luther and hair? It s an odd mix that s got some around Sensation s Beauty Salon in a South Los Angeles mini-mall murmuring. But for Tony Wafford, a community activist, it makes perfect sense. Right here, everybody talks about just about everything - world religion, politics, dope and sex - and sex! He reaches int
Malaria Drug Could Block Mother-Child HIV Spread: Reuters Health (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; New research offers hope that a cheap and widely available malaria drug may be used to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A report in the November 23rd issue of the journal AIDS (2001;15:2205-2207) suggests that women may be able to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to their child via breast milk by taking t
Education 'Prevents Underage Sex': BBC News (11.30.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Teenagers who leave school early are less likely to practice safe sex and more likely to become pregnant, a major British study suggests. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles 2000 found a strong correlation between family background, underage sex and teenage pregnancy. The study also found that those
UN Report Looks at Child Sex: Associated Press (12.12.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Edith M Lederer; Millions of children are being bought and sold for use as sex slaves, according to a new UNICEF report. It recommends a global campaign to eradicate a multibillion-dollar industry in the sexual exploitation of youngsters. UNICEF called for laws to protect children from abuse and said the laws must be enforced with toug
New Studies Back Use of Anti-HIV Retrovirals in Africa: Agence France Presse (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Two news studies have confirmed the stunning effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs in Africa, dealing a blow to critics who claim the continent is ill-equipped to administer the powerful AIDS treatments. The research, reported at the AIDS conference underway in Burkina Faso , strongly backs the usefulness of the AIDS d
Africa's $4.5 Billion AIDS Underspend: CNN.com (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Reuters; UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said Monday that Africa needs $5 billion a year to fight AIDS - 10 times the amount currently being spent to combat the disease. In Africa it would require $5 billion to organize effective prevention, to care for people living with HIV and to support AIDS orphans, Piot told repor
House OKs $1.3 Billion for AIDS Education: Associated Press (12.11.01) - Wednesday, December 12, 2001; Jim Abrams; The House of Representatives voted to spend $1.3 billion to fight the global AIDS epidemic through bilateral and multinational programs aimed at education, prevention, treatment and research. The funds, approved by voice vote yesterday, are double what is budgeted for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, but House Intern
Pregnant Boy Pitches Abstinence: Associated Press (12.05.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; New Mexico health officials hope their message promoting abstinence reaches teens through a new media campaign showing a pregnant teenage boy standing next to a pregnant girl. The It s Your Baby Too! slogan was unveiled during a news conference last week. New Mexico has ranked among the top five states in teen birth ra
Health Care Groups Rip Rudy's Cuts: Daily News (New York) (12.08.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; Frank Lombardi; Health care advocates blasted Mayor Giuliani s proposed budget cuts on Friday, saying the city s poorest communities will suffer the most. Among Giuliani s slated health care cuts: $2.2 million for an education program to reduce infant mortality, and $2.6 million in funding to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among Africa
In Nobel Talk, Annan Sees Each Human Life as the Prize: New York Times (12.11.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; Sarah Lyall; Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UN, used the occasion of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize lecture today to make an impassioned case for the continued importance of the organization as a promoter of peace and a champion of individual rights in an unstable and unequal world. Annan won the Peace Prize jointly with the
The Naked Truth: Students Urged to Take STD Tests at Syracuse University: Daily Orange (Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.) (12.06.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; Allyson Collins; One-third of Americans will have an STD by age 24, according to Planned Parenthood, and two-thirds of all STDs occur in people age 25 or younger, the American Social Health Organization (ASHO) says on its Web site. ASHO, a non- governmental group that works frequently with the CDC and provides information about STDs, s
New Findings Explain T-Cell Loss in HIV Infection: National Institutes of Health (12.10.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; News Release; Many scientists have believed that HIV depletes its primary target, CD4 T cells, by blocking new production. Two new studies now challenge that view, showing that HIV does not block such production but instead accelerates the division of existing T cells. Following the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy
Sex and 'u' Web Site Designed to Fight STDs: Gazette (Montreal) (12.04.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; Chris Zdeb; The u in www.sexualityandu.ca could be a 15-year-old boy trying to decide whether he s ready to have sex for the first time; a 23-year-old sexually active woman who doesn t want to get pregnant; a mother afraid to talk to her kids about sex; or a doctor who wants to communicate better with his patients about STDs. The
Spread of AIDS in Rural China Ignites Protests: New York Times (12.11.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; Elisabeth Rosenthal; As China s central government takes steps to address its growing AIDS crisis, continuing suppression of protesting villagers with HIV is becoming increasingly difficult. The government media have also begun to report more on the issue. In late November, as China marked its first World AIDS Day in Beijing, officials in
Africa's First Trial of Generic AIDS Drugs Delayed for a Second Time This Fall: Associated Press (12.10.01) - Tuesday, December 11, 2001; Glenn McKenzie; A long awaited program to distribute cheap generic drugs to people with AIDS was delayed Monday for the second time this fall. A Nigerian Ministry of Health official in the capital of Abuja said that organizational delays had slowed down the drugs distribution to 18 health centers where the trial is to begin. The offic
HIV Patients Get Fresh Hopes for Donor Organs: New York Times (12.11.01); Jeff Stryker; Writer and activist Larry Kramer, who has AIDS and hepatitis B, has joined 18,646 patients on the national liver transplant waiting list. Like Kramer, a significant number of people with HIV are also infected with hepatitis B or C or both. A few years ago, organ transplants for people with HIV were unthinkable, since t
Georgia Charities Navigate a New, Leaner Era After Sept. 11: Associated Press (12.09.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Justin Bachman; In a survey conducted after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States , the Georgia Center for Nonprofits found that about 60 percent of charities with annual budgets between $100,000 and $1 million have seen donations decline about 20 percent. One of the things I would suggest is that it s pretty obvious that the Sept
Cuts Force 26 Layoffs in State: Boston Globe (12.06.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Sarah Schweitzer; Anand Vaishanav; Boston city officials said on Wednesday that 26 municipal workers were laid off and a half-dozen social service programs - including AIDS testing, teen mental health counseling and emergency care for domestic violence victims - were eliminated in response to state budget cuts. AIDS counseling has been cut for high-risk
Nobel Laureates: Military Action Alone Won't End Terrorism: Wall Street Journal (12.10.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Associated Press; Nobel laureates who gathered in Oslo on Friday to mark the 100th anniversary of the award denounced terrorism but said it could be better fought by eliminating poverty and weapons of mass destruction than by military strikes. The rest of the world did not go away because New York was attacked, said Jody Williams of the
Global Antiretroviralism: New York Times (12.09.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Tina Rosenberg; With the establishment this year of the United Nations global fund for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, the world will nearly double its AIDS spending in 2002 - and for the first time, much of the money in less-developed countries will go to antiretrovirals. At the beginning of 2001, AIDS drugs in Kenya
AIDS Agency Gives Help on Multiple Fronts: Denver Post (12.02.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Jon Libid; Jeffrey is happy taking 12 pills a day. Just a few years ago, at the height of his battle with HIV, he was taking closer to 60 a day. He knew he wouldn t be able to pay for the medication, which can cost thousands of dollars. He contacted Colorado AIDS Project (CAP), which provided the food, housing and financial assis
NY Children's Charity Short on Toys: Associated Press (12.01.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Sara Kugler; Thousands of New York children with HIV/AIDS may not receive Christmas gifts this year because the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center displaced an organization that collects toys for them. For a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Children s Hope Foundation was forced out of its office three blocks from the d
Can More Progress Be Made? Teenage Sexual and Reproductive Behavior in Developed Countries: Alan Guttmacher Institute www.guttmacher.org (11.29.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale (Canada); Nathalie Bajos (France); Kaye Wellings (Great Britain); Maria Danielsson (Sweden); Jacqueline E Darroch (United States); et al; There is a strong consensus in the United States that teenage pregnancy and birth levels are too high. Despite dramatic decreases in teenage pregnancy rates and birthrates in the United States during the past decade, this country still has substantially higher levels of adolescent pregnancy, childbearing and abortion t
Access to Better Treatment Dominates African AIDS Conference: Agence France Presse (12.10.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Stephane Orjollet; Access to superior AIDS treatments, notably tritherapies, dominated talks Monday at the 12th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Africa (CISMA). Experts stressed that such treatments were vital for Africa, the continent experiencing 70 percent of global AIDS-linked deaths. In rich coun
Activists Oppose AIDS Reporting Rule: Associated Press (12.09.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; AIDS activists in Connecticut are opposing a state policy designed to track the illness by requiring that the names of HIV- positive residents be reported to the state health department. According to Darlene Fassett, an outreach coordinator for the AIDS counseling service Stamford Positive Peers, many residents will re
Ware Named to Lead US AIDS Panel: Washington Times (12.10.01) - Monday, December 10, 2001; Cheryl Wetzstein; A longtime proponent of sexual abstinence education has been named executive director of a panel that will inform the White House on HIV/AIDS issues. Patricia Funderburk Ware s diverse experience and commitment to helping individuals revitalize their lives and communities will further the goals of the Presidential Advi
Thirty-eight People Test Positive for TB at Gaffney School: Associated Press (12.06.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; Thirty-eight of the 630 students and staff at Granard Middle School in Gaffney, S.C., have tested positive for TB, state health officials reported Thursday. All students and staff were screened for the disease by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control after a school custodian tested positive for TB la
Opposition Parties Call for Action Against AIDS Crisis: Associated Press (12.04.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; Three opposition parties in Ethiopia have called on the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to declare a state of emergency to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Horn of Africa nation. An estimated 2.7 million -or more than 4 percent -of Ethiopia s 62.7 million are believed to be infected, one of the highest rate
International Red Cross Urges World Not to Ignore 'Forgotten' Crises: Associated Press (12.04.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Tuesday launched an appeal for $163 million for next year, urging donors to do more for the world s forgotten humanitarian crises. While their attention is rightly focused on Afghanistan , we would still ask donors not to ignore the other crises,
Service Reaches Out to HIV Youth: Toronto Star (12.05.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; Prithi Yelaja; Until Tatiana tested positive for HIV at age 23, she believed AIDS was a problem only for gay men and drug users. I didn t think HIV was a women s issue. It was devastating. I felt so ashamed and dirty. I felt like dying, said the Toronto resident, who contracted the virus through unprotected sex. When she reached out
$11 Million AIDS Campus Planned for West Side: Chicago Sun-Times (11.28.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; Fran Spielman; With a $1.2 million Health Department grant, operating subsidies and 20 vacant, city-owned lots acquired for $1 apiece, Chicago s AIDSCare plans to build a five-building campus in North Lawndale near Roosevelt and Kedzie that will offer AIDS patients an array of social services and living situations. There s no other f
Garlic Supplements Can Lower Potency of HIV Drug: Reuters Health (12.06.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; A new study conducted by the National Institutes of Health has found that garlic supplements can cut blood concentrations of the antiretroviral drug saquinavir by more than half. The clear implication is that doctors and patients should be cautious about using garlic supplements during HIV therapy, study co-author Dr.
Kenya: Churches Said Burning Condoms: BBC News (12.06.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; Some churches in the Mt. Kenya Region of central Kenya have been accused of buying up stocks of condoms and destroying them on the grounds that they are promoting immorality among the faithful, according to the East African Standard. This development is frustrating efforts to combat the AIDS epidemic. Population Servic
Groups to Give $50 Million to Cut Mother-to-Child AIDS Cases: Wall Street Journal (12.07.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; David Bank; Eight philanthropic foundations have committed more than $50 million for a pilot program to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS in developing countries by treating mothers in addition to their newborns. The foundations, which are expected to announce the initiative today, intend eventually to raise $100 mil
Hepatitis A 'Major Concern' for Gays in ATL: Southern Voice - November 30, 2001; Jennifer J. Smith; An increase in reported cases of hepatitis A in metro Atlanta is causing a major health concern and prompting health officials and AIDS agencies to launch prevention campaigns aimed at gay men. A majority of the 600 new hepatitis cases reported across the state of Georgia in the first 10 months of 2001 came from five m
Conference Panel Is Set to Deliver D.C. Budget: Washington Times (12.06.01) - Friday, December 07, 2001; Mary Shaffrey; Congress is expected to approve the District of Columbia s $5.3 billion budget, which would allow local funds for domestic partner benefits and bar any funds for needle exchange programs. We adhered to the original House legislation on the needle exchange language, and while the negotiations took a while, we eventually
New HIV Infection Warning: Evening Mail (United Kingdom) (11.24.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; HIV infection is increasing at a faster rate in the heterosexual population of Birmingham than among gay men, according to new figures. And the number of women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS has doubled, bringing the total number of people with HIV in Birmingham to 754. Health officials urged everyone to guard against the dis
South African Demo Against Child Rape: BBC News (11.26.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Thousands of South African men have demonstrated in Cape Town to protest a series of rapes of baby girls. The rally follows two reported child rapes, one of which involved an eight- month-old girl. The demonstration -led by government ministers and the Archbishop of Cape Town under the banner Real Men Don t Rape -marke
Middle-age Sex 'Unsafe': Mirror (United Kingdom) (11.24.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Heather Ramsay; More middle-aged Scots are catching STDs, health experts said last week. Scottish National Health Service figures revealed the number of men and women over 35 who get STDs has risen by almost 30 percent in the last five years. Last year alone, a 10 percent rise brought the number to more than 4,000. The alarming rise i
Health Board Clears Way for Needle Exchange: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (11.28.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Deborah Mendenhall; The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday declared a state of public health emergency for HIV and blood borne diseases, paving the way for a clean needle exchange program for intravenous drug users. The pilot program will be administered by an agency that has yet to be chosen. This action will make it easier fo
London Britches Falling Down, Sex Survey Finds: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (11.30.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Associated Press; Britons have more sexual partners, more homosexual encounters and indulge in more two-timing than they did a decade ago, a survey of British sexual habits has found. The survey, which gives the clearest picture to date of the sex lives of Britons, is published this week in the Lancet (December 1, 2001; Vol. 358; No. 92
Young Activist's Mother Will Speak at World AIDS Day Fund- Raiser: Los Angeles Times (11.28.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Pam Noles; Jeanne White, whose son Ryan died of AIDS just a few months before Congress passed a federal program in his name, will be a featured guest at the Foothill AIDS Project s World AIDS Day activities Saturday. The memorial and fund-raiser includes a candlelight vigil, walk and two receptions and also features entertainer C
No Letting Up on AIDS: Washington Post (11.29.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Kofi Annan; Every day more than 8,000 people die of AIDS. Every hour almost 600 people become infected. Every minute a child dies of the virus. Just as life -and death -goes on after Sept. 11, so must we continue our fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Before the terrorist attacks two months ago, tremendous momentum had been ach
District Convenes Meeting On AIDS: Washington Post (11.30.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Andrew DeMillo; Washington, D.C., launched a three-day HIV/AIDS conference on Thursday in an attempt by health officials to reach out to the community and to identify groups under-served in the fight against AIDS. Bringing together health officials, activists and educators, the conference is meant to provide the public access to exper
Sheriff OKs Condoms for Gay Inmates: Los Angeles Times (11.30.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Beth Shuster; The Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department has quietly begun distributing condoms to gay inmates at its downtown jail, joining just six other jails and prisons in the country in an effort to stop the spread of AIDS and other STDs. Under California law, sex in jails and prisons is considered a felony. Sheriff s officia
Coinfection Does Not Appear To Augment TB Infectivity: TB & Outbreaks Week (11.20.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Michael Greer; TB from patients coinfected with HIV is not usually more infective than TB from HIV-negative patients, according to researchers in Italy . Mario Cruciani and colleagues at the Center for Preventive Medicine-HIV Screening Center in Verona and the University of Genoa s Institute of Infectious Diseases conducted a retrosp
MSF Calls for Worldwide Adoption of Anti-AIDS Drugs: Agence France Presse (11.28.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; The French medical volunteers, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) on Wednesday called on governments worldwide to provide treatment with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to fight AIDS. Since prices of ARV drugs have fallen, and will continue to fall as a result of public pressure and generic competition
2 AIDS Activists Accused of Stalking: Los Angeles Times (11.29.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; Charles Ornstein; On Wednesday, San Francisco Police arrested Michael Petrelis and ACT UP San Francisco spokesperson David Pasquarelli on charges of criminal conspiracy, stalking, and making terroristic threats. They are accused of calling reporters and public health officials at home repeatedly past midnight, making threats and leaving
HIV Testing Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities -United States, 1999: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (11.30.01) (50(47);1054-8) - Friday, November 30, 2001; The percentage of Americans who report being tested for HIV has increased significantly over the past decade, but a considerable number of at-risk individuals have never been tested. According to results from the most recent National Health Interview Survey, 31 percent of survey respondents reported HIV testing, up fro
War on Terror Diverts Attention from War on AIDS, but Long- Term Optimism Persists: Associated Press (11.29.01) - Friday, November 30, 2001; David Crary; The Sept. 11 attacks and the ensuing war on terrorism have diverted attention and resources from another global battle, the campaign against AIDS, just as its front-line combatants were savoring a rare stretch of good news. Since the attacks, donations to the UN Global Fund to Fight AIDS have slowed sharply. The US gov
Wilkinson to Resign as Chief of AIDS Project: Miami Herald (11.22.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; South Beach AIDS Project Executive Director Jeffrey Wilkinson has resigned, effective Nov. 30. He held the job since June 1998. Wilkinson said he will remain available to the organization during the transition period and will also continue to do volunteer work on special projects. He leaves to become editor-in-chief of
City Hosts Rally to Fight AIDS: Richmond Times-Dispatch (11.28.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; The Minority AIDS Program of the Richmond, Va., Department of Public Health will host a rally against AIDS on Friday at 11 a.m. at the 6th Street Marketplace Food Court. The event will feature a presentation on the impact of HIV and AIDS in the community. Richmond Mayor Rudolph C. McCollum, Jr., Del. Viola O. Baskervil
AIDS Fight Weakens African Countries: Associated Press (11.27.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; The World Bank said Tuesday it would consider providing an additional $500 million in no-interest loans to help developing countries combat HIV/AIDS. The 183-nation lending organization said the loans would go to African countries, which are home to an estimated 25 million of the world s 36 million HIV-positive people.
Needle-Exchange Program Endorsed: San Diego Union-Tribune (11.28.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; Ray Huard; Under a one-year pilot program approved Tuesday by the San Diego City Council, intravenous drug users will be given clean needles to curb the spread of hepatitis and AIDS. The only alternative we have is to do nothing, and if we do nothing people will become infected and they will die, said Councilmember Donna Frye.
Studies: Delaying Drugs for Some HIV Patients May Be Safe: Associated Press (11.28.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; Lindsey Tanner; Symptom-free HIV patients can safely hold off taking AIDS drugs longer than previously thought, according to two new studies. The studies suggest the drugs can still be effective if started when the patient s CD4 count is even lower -at least 200 -and even if there are high levels of virus circulating in the blood. The
Pregnant Women Have No Right to Access Key AIDS Drug, Says South African Government: Associated Press (11.28.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; Dina Kraft; A pregnant HIV-positive woman has no inherent right to a key AIDS drug that could save her baby from the deadly disease, lawyers for the South African government argued Tuesday. AIDS activists and pediatricians have sued the state in a bid to force it to make the drug nevirapine available to HIV-positive exp
AIDS Epidemic Sweeping Across Eastern Europe, Hitting Russia Hard, UN Report Says: Associated Press (11.28.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; The AIDS epidemic is sweeping across Eastern Europe, with HIV infection rates rising faster within the former Soviet Union than anywhere else in the world, according to the latest UN report on AIDS, published today. The combination of economic insecurity, high unemployment and deteriorating health services in this regi
No Time to Be Shy over AIDS Among Blacks: Chicago Tribune (11.25.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; Bob Condor; Gail E. Wyatt, MD, a UCLA psychiatrist and sex researcher, is calling for a new direction on how we approach HIV/AIDS prevention. Commenting in the December issue of Vibe magazine, Wyatt pointed to recent government findings that most new HIV/AIDS cases occur in blacks, who represent only 13 percent of the US populatio
Native American Group Says Stigma Surrounding AIDS Prevents Many from Receiving Treatment: Associated Press (11.27.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; Nicholas K Geranios; Many Native Americans infected with HIV/AIDS are not treated for the disease because of the stigma surrounding it in their communities, members of an Indian group said at an annual meeting. Poverty, isolation and poor medical care also contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS among Indians, said participants in a briefing
Syphilis Cases Drop to Record Low Amid Efforts to Eradicate the Sexually Transmitted Disease: Associated Press (11.28.01) - Wednesday, November 28, 2001; Erin McClam; Syphilis infection dropped to an all-time low in the United States last year, with fewer than 6,000 cases reported nationwide, the government said today. The CDC said it recorded 5,979 cases, down nearly 10 percent from 1999. Syphilis cases are down 30 percent since 1997, when health officials announced a national plan
Cuban Scientists Plan to Test AIDS Vaccine: NewsMexico.com (11.19.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Cuban scientists plan to test an AIDS vaccine on HIV- infected volunteers, officials in Havana said on Sunday. The idea is to do a pilot study using the vaccine together with tri- therapy or the cocktail, a therapeutic vaccination composed of three different drugs, said Carlos Duarte, head of the AIDS Department at the
Vatican Supports Relief on AIDS Drug Costs: Dallas Morning News (11.17.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Vatican officials last week welcomed new steps by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to help poor, AIDS-stricken populations gain access to life-prolonging drugs. Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, said that without such steps, entire n
Foreign Aid Bill Snags on Population Fund: Washington Times (11.19.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Stephen Dinan; Senate and House negotiators compromise on the foreign aid bill is threatened by Republican representatives who say it gives too much money to the UN Population Fund, which they accuse of complicity in China s one child per family policy and forced abortions. The fund runs clinics and provides education and assistance
World AIDS Day Stresses Education, Prevention: Daily Cougar (University of Houston) (11.19.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Melissa Kummer; With World AIDS Day approaching on Dec. 1, both treatment and prevention are once again issues of great interest. This is a day to raise awareness about this epidemic, said Laura Ruppert, AIDS Foundation Houston (AFH) communications coordinator. Of the 18,585 AIDS cases diagnosed in Harris County through 2001, 89 perce
Mandatory AIDS Testing of Pregnant Women, Jail Inmates Proposed: Associated Press (11.19.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Dr. Frederico Cruz-Uribe, director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department in Washington, has proposed that all pregnant women, jail inmates facing sex- or drug-related charges, as well as those who visit doctors for symptoms of STDs be tested for AIDS. Cruz-Uribe said hearings on the proposal should begin in Jan
Predictors of Use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Among Persons with AIDS in San Francisco, 1996-1999: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (12.01) Vol 28; No 4: P 345-350 - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Ling C Hsu; Eric Vittinghoff; Mitch H Katz; Sandra K Schwarcz; Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been shown to reduce viral load and increase CD4 lymphocytes in persons infected with HIV, delay onset of AIDS and prolong survival with AIDS. In San Francisco, as well as elsewhere, AIDS incidence and mortality have declined substantially since 1996 due to HAART. Yet, m
40 Percent of Pupils Aged 11 Have Not Heard of AIDS: Observer (United Kingdom) (11.18.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Ben Summerskill; According to a British study, a decade after AIDS information was placed on the school curriculum, large numbers of adolescents just below the age of consent have little knowledge of how to avoid contracting HIV. More than 40,000 children were questioned for the survey last year. Sixteen percent of 15-year old boys bel
Ghanian Police Round Up Prostitutes as HIV Spreads Alarmingly: Agence France Presse (11.15.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Ben Ephson; A drive launched by regional police has led to the arrest of scores of prostitutes in Ghana s capital Accra and its outskirts. The campaign is aimed at cleaning up Accra s streets and fighting HIV/AIDS. Officials in the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) told AFP that the number of Ghanaians currently infected with HIV totals
As China Faces Crisis, People with HIV Are Kept Largely Invisible: Washington Post (11.20.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Philip P Pan; I want to tell my story, said Zhao, 39, who sneaked out of one of China s few AIDS clinics because doctors barred reporters from visiting him there. I want to appeal to society to save my life and my son s life... We are desperate, and I am not afraid to speak out openly. For the Chinese government, that is the proble
A New Generation: Teenagers Living with HIV: New York Times (11.20.01) - Tuesday, November 20, 2001; Linda Villarosa; On the surface, Alora Gale of Boulder, Colo., is an average teenager. But unlike most teenagers, Alora seems cautious, wary and fragile. She has good reason. In 1993, her mother, Linda, was found to have AIDS. Tests showed that Alora and her younger brother had also been infected, almost certainly while in their mother
Brandon Abernathy, 43, AIDS activist Was 'Messenger of Hope': Atlanta Journal-Constitution(11.18.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; Derrick Henry; Brandon Ross Abernathy, 43 of East Point, Ga., died Wednesday of complications from AIDS. Diagnosed in 1987, Abernathy began speaking out about AIDS and why the diagnosis is not a reason to stop living. With the AIDS Survival Project, he led workshops he called The Emerging Survivors, addressing what it took to be long
Health Officials Encourage Bar's Patrons to Get TB Test: Associated Press (11.17.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; Health officials from Butler County, Ohio, announced last week that anyone who has visited Dixie s Hillbilly Heaven in Middletown in the last two months should seek a TB test. The bar has been linked to one case of TB and 10 other cases of TB exposure. The bar was closed Nov. 8 and officials have tested 57 people so fa
US-based Johns Hopkins to Open HIV/AIDS Resource Center in Addis Ababa: BBC (11.19.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; A new resource center with accurate, up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS will be established by Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs (JHU/CCP) in Ethiopia , a country that has one of the world s highest HIV prevalence rates. The new center is made possible through a $300,000 cooperation agreement
TV Reporter Goes Public with HIV Status: Associated Press (11.16.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; After more than a year of keeping it a secret, WSB-TV Atlanta reporter Roby Chavez revealed he is HIV-positive. He made the disclosure last week during a speech to the Atlanta Executive Network, a monthly networking event for gay and lesbian professionals. Chavez, 37, tested positive for the virus in August 2000, but k
Importance of Mental Health Assessment in HIV-Infected Outpatients: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (11.01.01) Vol 28: P 240-249 - Monday, November 19, 2001; Christine Zinkernagel; Patrick Taffe; Martin Rickenbach; Regula Amiet; Bruno Ledergerber; Anne-Christine Volkart; Udo Rauchfleisch; Alexander Kiss; Verena Werder; Pietro Vernazza; Manuel Battegay; Swiss HIV Cohort Study; HIV infection, even when well controlled, is often associated with important mental health problems. This study sought to investigate anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life using screening measurements in patients with HIV infection, and their relation to biosocial parameters linked to HIV. Three hundr
Secrecy Blamed for HIV/AIDS Spread in Tanzania: Panafrican News Agency (11.08.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; Health authorities blame parents and teachers lack of openness about HIV/AIDS as one of the factors contributing to the spread of disease in Tanzania . A recent survey conducted by the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) in some parts of the country showed that youths are not being told the truth about the HIV/AIDS pa
Conference Focuses on AIDS' Spread Along Border: San Diego Union-Tribune (11.17.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; Anna Cearley; Baja California health officials are concerned about the spread of HIV/AIDS along the border. The state has the fifth- highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in Mexico , with about 2,500 residents diagnosed since 1984. Half of those were found in Tijuana, which is adjacent to the largest border crossing along the US-Mexico b
AIDS: The Crisis Left Behind: Boston Globe (11.18.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; John Donnelly; Donations to the new Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from June to Sept. 11 amounted to $1.5 billion. But the amount donated from Sept. 11 to today is just $2,000. For many leaders in Africa, this pause in global action against AIDS, TB, and malaria is maddening. Malawi Vice President Justin Malewezi op
Teen Pregnancy Rate Down Statewide: State (Columbia, S.C.) (11.17.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; Jaymi Freiden; According to year 2000 data released last week, fewer South Carolina teens are getting pregnant, continuing a six-year trend. The figures released by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control show that last year, 10,732 girls ages 10 to 19 became pregnant -173 fewer than in 1999. Of the pregnant
Review Ordered for HIV Programs to See if Campaigns Too Sexy: Associated Press (11.16.01) - Monday, November 19, 2001; Margie Mason; Faced with accusations that their HIV/AIDS workshops are too sexy, public health officials in San Francisco say they will comply with federal guidelines following a review that found some gay workshops were obscene and encouraged sexual activity. The review of workshops run by San Francisco s Stop AIDS Project prompted
CAMC Receives Grant to Help Treat HIV Patients: Associated Press (11.14.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; The Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) Health Education and Research Institute in West Virginia has been awarded $690,000 to care for HIV patients -the largest grant ever received by the institute. The Ryan White Title III grant will go toward providing comprehensive early intervention and primary care services for
Medi-Cal Offers Coverage for New HIV Treatment: Associated Press (11.14.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; California s Medi-Cal program will begin covering the newly approved drug HIV/AIDS Viread , officials said Tuesday. The drug is also now available to those enrolled in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which provides medication for individuals earning less than $50,000 annually. The state began coverage 17 days after t
Frist to Co-chair Panel Dealing with Issues Surrounding HIV and AIDS: Associated Press (11.14.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said on Tuesday that he would co- chair a task force about AIDS. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, is organizing the task force, which will spend two years focusing on public policy issues related to the disease. Expert panels plan to study fund
Center to Study 'Spiritual Palliation' for AIDS End-of-Life Patients: AIDS Weekly (11.12.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, part of the Yale School of Medicine, has been awarded a two-year, nearly $200,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the benefits of a meditation and massage- intervention program for people with AIDS at the end of life. Working in collaboration with
Longer Treatment Recommended for Coinfected Patients: TB & Outbreaks Week (11.13.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Michael Greer; Patients coinfected with TB and HIV have a heightened risk of TB relapse, according to recent research by Cynthia R. Driver and colleagues from the New York City Department of Health Tuberculosis Control Program. Coinfected patients should receive longer treatment regimens or be checked regularly for TB recurrence, the
Niger Stages AIDS Awareness Campaign: Panafrican News Agency (11.07.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Niger s National AIDS Control Program, whose mission is to increase public awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and its causes, recently visited the southwest district of Tahoua, which is seriously affected by the pandemic due to emigration. The mission aimed at sensitizing people in the rural areas who are facing a ru
Farm Subsidies Final Hurdle Before WTO Agrees to Talks: Newsday (New York) (11.14.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; James Toedtman; Ministers from 144 nations neared agreement on a new round of global trade talks Tuesday night, succeeding where they had failed at the calamitous Seattle meeting of the World Trade Organization two years ago. Only a last-minute snag on future farm subsidies delayed an announcement that negotiators would begin a new th
Infected Peasants Kept in Hospital During AIDS Conference: Agence France Presse (11.14.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Boris Cambreleng; Seven Chinese peasants with AIDS who traveled to Beijing for the nation s first conference on HIV/AIDS are now confined at Ditan hospital and will not be released until the conference is over, a source close to them said Wednesday. They have also been denied access to telephones at the hospital, the source told AFP. Th
Speed, Social Mobility of China's Economic Growth Could Help Spread AIDS, UN Official Warns: Associated Press (11.14.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Ted Anthony; Members of the increasingly affluent middle class that is powering China s growth can carry AIDS up the economic ladder from poorer environments where infections spread most rapidly, a UN official warned Tuesday at the nation s first-ever AIDS conference. The problem, common in such countries as Vietnam
Risk Seen in $66 Million Cut to Health Budget; Swift Plan Is Called Ill-Timed: Boston Globe (11.13.01) - Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Ralph Ranalli; The administration of Massachusetts Acting Governor Jane Swift risks reversing years of progress against disease by proposing $66 million in cuts to state Department of Public Health (DPH) programs, specialists and advocates say. Millions of dollars invested in research, screening and education on diseases from cancer
Don Donaldson: AIDS Policy Official: Washington Post (11.09.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Don Donaldson, 52, a former resident of Arlington, Va., who was coordinator of an AIDS education program for federal employees, died of AIDS Nov. 7 at a hospice in Tulsa, Okla. Donaldson, a native of Louisiana, developed diversity programs for the Energy Department before being detailed to the White House Office of Nat
Vatican Slams UN Refugee Sex Manual: Associated Press (11.08.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; A UN manual for handling sexual issues in refugee camps promotes without reserve the morning-after pill for contraception, presents sterilization as simple birth control, and takes a nonjudgmental attitude on extramarital and homosexual relations, the Vatican charged on Thursday. The Vatican decried what it said was yo
At CDC, Bush Lauds 'New Heroes in America': Atlanta Journal-Constitution (11.09.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; MAJ McKenna; I truly believe you have saved hundreds of lives, and for that I am grateful, President George W. Bush told about 250 members of the anthrax task force on Thursday at the CDC in Atlanta. It gives me great confidence to know you are working overtime. While the president praised the agency s efforts, he stopped short of
Tuberculosis Can Go If We Care: International Herald Tribune (10.31.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Gro Harlem Brundtland; James D Wolfensohn; Four people die every minute somewhere in the world from tuberculosis. The ancient disease killed almost 2 million people last year. ...More HIV-infected people die from tuberculosis than from any other opportunistic infection because it thrives when immune systems are impaired. Tuberculosis is largely a disease of po
HIV Researcher Says Vaccine Not Impossible: Reuters Health (11.02.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; A vaccine against HIV is still realistically at least 5 years away, said Dr. Robert Gallo, HIV co-discoverer and director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, at the 1st World Congress on Men s Health in Vienna, Austria . Gallo noted that antiretroviral drugs developed in the 1
Herpesvirus Infection May Slow HIV: Reuters Health (11.01.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Merritt McKinney; New research raises the possibility of harnessing a common type of herpes virus to treat or even prevent HIV infection. In laboratory tests, the human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) slowed the reproduction of forms of HIV that are active in the early stages of HIV infection. But it did not have the same effect on more aggressiv
Online Diary Describes Lonely Plight of People with AIDS in China: Associated Press (11.08.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Martin Fackler; The 27-year-old man traces the beginning of his nightmare to a drunken night two years ago, when a colleague took him to one of Shanghai s dozens of illegal brothels disguised as beauty salons. Two months later, he learned he had the AIDS virus. Like many with AIDS in China , he has not told friends and family for fear
A Push to Cut Cost of AIDS Drugs: Newsday (New York) (11.09.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Laurie Garrett; On Friday, the leaders of 60 poor nations teamed with activists to challenge the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Doha, Quatar. They are angry that the Bush administration was willing to force price reductions for Bayer s anthrax drug Cipro but was unwilling to exercise similar clout to reduce the cost of AIDS
State Agency Helps HIV-Positive People Get Back into the Workforce: San Francisco Examiner (11.05.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Tanya Pampalone; Thanks to improved drug therapies, HIV-positive people are re- entering the workforce in higher numbers each year. Many are eager to get back to work, but that can be tough in a job market reeling from the economic downturn. Earlier this year, the California Employment Development Department took action, implementing J
Wyoming AIDS Numbers Don't Tell Entire Story: Denver Post (11.09.01) - Friday, November 09, 2001; Allison Sherry; One new person has been diagnosed with AIDS this year in Wyoming. That s one person in 500,000 residents, tying this state with North Dakota for the lowest AIDS rate in the nation. Comparably, Colorado has 140 new AIDS cases in about 4.3 million people; California has had roughly 2,300 new cases this year in its 34.4 m
Zambia Seeks to Criminalize Deliberate AIDS Spread: CNN.com (11.01.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Reuters; The government of Zambia last week said it would introduce a law making the deliberate spread of HIV/AIDS a crime punishable by up to 20 years in jail. If enacted, the legislation would be the first such law in Africa. One Zambian adult in five has HIV/AIDS.
No Second Term for Surgeon General: New York Times (11.06.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Gina Kolata; US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher has announced he will leave office when his term expires on Feb. 12. Satcher, who was appointed by President Clinton and took office in 1998, has issued more reports than any other surgeon general. Last summer, Satcher released a report on sexuality that supported sex education, say
Rio Man Become First Brazilian to Test Potential AIDS Vaccine: Associated Press (11.05.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Michael Astor; A 38-year-old man was injected with an experimental AIDS vaccine Monday, becoming the first Brazilian to take part in clinical trials of two potential vaccines already being tested in the United States . The US National Institutes of Health is sponsoring the Brazil study in conjunction with the Federal University of Ri
Kenyans Seek Help in AIDS Fight: Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (11.03.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Rhonda Bell; Last week, Mary Makokha and Dawo Kawa were in New Orleans to gain support for the battle against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kenya with the help of American nonprofit groups. Makokha and Kawa were guests of the National Minority AIDS Council, which held workshops for about 200 HIV/AIDS activists. The council is one of se
AIDS Conference Puts Focus on Minority Women's Issues: Denver Post (11.04.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Sheba R Wheeler; More than 180 women attended the annual 2001 Women of Color Conference on HIV and AIDS Saturday in Colorado. The Colorado AIDS Project, which coordinated and sponsored the conference, reported that HIV/AIDS continues to be on the rise among Hispanic and black women. Primary factors include a lack of information, cultur
Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of Injectable Heroin Prescription for Refractory Opioid Addicts: A Follow-up Study: Lancet (10.27.01) Vol 358; No 9291: P 1385 - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Jurgen Rehm; Patrick Gschwend; Thomas Steffen; Felix Gutzwiller; Anja Bobler-Mikola; Ambros Uchtenhagen; The 1980s saw an increase in problems related to heroin use in Switzerland . Partly due to the easy availability of drugs and negative public attitudes, the problem continued to increase into the 1990s. Public health authorities implemented various measures to cut down on the spread of disease due to increased drug use
AIDS Activists Applaud ASEAN Drug Initiative: Agence France Presse (11.06.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Southeast Asian AIDS activists hailed an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declaration Monday to launch a four-year war on the regional HIV/AIDS epidemic. The program would include the supply of affordable drugs for people living with AIDS. People living with HIV/AIDS need care and support not only for imp
AIDS Myth Fuels South Africa's Child-Rape Scourge: CNN.com (11.05.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Reuters; South Africa is in shock over a surge in the rape of children and even babies -fueled, activists say, by the myth that sex with a virgin will protect a man against AIDS. On Monday, 3,000 demonstrators outside the courthouse in Upington demanded the reinstatement of the death penalty for six men accused of raping a 9-
AIDS Czar Visits New York City: New York Blade (11.02.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; Inga Sorensen; On a visit to New York last week, White House Office of National AIDS Policy Director Scott Evertz sought to reassure advocates that HIV/AIDS won t vanish from the Bush administration s radar screen in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks against the United States . Nothing has changed around HIV/AIDS. In fact, as you know
HIV Practices Face Grim Financial Times: New York Times (11.06.01) - Tuesday, November 6, 2001; David Tuller; As new drug combinations are helping HIV-infected people live longer, a growing number of doctors treating them are struggling to keep their practices afloat, largely due to changes in health care financing. I loved the private practice, but I could see the handwriting on the wall, said Dr. Jeff Goodgame, who left his
Technology News in Brief from California: Associated Press (11.02.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; Freeplay Foundation of South Africa is a recipient of the first Tech Museum of Innovation Awards. The company distributes wind-up/solar-powered radios to people in Africa as a way to spread AIDS prevention information. Freeplay was one of five recipients honored with $50,000 awards Thursday night in San Jose, Calif. Th
AIDS Devastates Pool of South African Teachers: Associated Press (11.04.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; The number of South African teachers who died of HIV/AIDS in the past year increased by more than 40 percent. Citing figures compiled by the country s major teachers union, the Sunday Times said that 1,011 union teachers died between June 2000 and May 2001 from HIV/AIDS-related diseases, compared to 701 the previous ye
More than 41,000 People Infected with HIV in Vietnam: Associated Press (11.04.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; Vietnam has 41,030 people who have tested positive for HIV, a health ministry official said Monday. As of the end of September, 6,138 people were known to have AIDS while another 3,372 had died from the disease since the first HIV case was detected in 1990. The official said 7,047 people were found to be HIV-positive
Threat of a Different Disease: Los Angeles Times (10.31.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; Refugee camps near Afghanistan , now being sought out by hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the war, are in danger of becoming giant petri dishes for the spread of a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease: tuberculosis. Last year in the United States , TB was at an all-time low, infecting 16,
Feisty Priest Brings Hope to Bangkok's Neediest: Toronto Star (11.05.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; Leslie Scrivener; The images slide by -beautiful children with the hollow- eyed look of sickness. Father Joe Maier knows each by name, and his commentary is heartbreaking. They re both dead. God love them. Maier s work in Bangkok s slums is heroic. More than half a million people have benefited from the schools, hospices, legal aid clin
Neighborhood Poverty and the Resurgence of Tuberculosis in New York City, 1984-1992: American Journal of Public Health (09.01.01) Vol 91; No 9: P 1487-1493 - Monday, November 5, 2001; R Graham Barr, MD, MPH; Ana V Diez-Roux, MD, PhD; Charles A Knirsch, MD, MPH; Ariel Pablos-Méndez, MD, MPH; The resurgence of tuberculosis in New York City in the 1980s and early 1990s was due to a group of factors that included AIDS, immigration, injection drug use, multi-drug resistance, homelessness and nosocomial transmission, as well as a breakdown in public health measures. As TB incidence grew from 1,307 cases in 1978
HIV Rise in Russia May Lead to TB Epidemic-Doctors: Reuters (11.02.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; A rapid rise in the number of people infected with HIV in Russia could lead to a TB epidemic there, scientists warned on Friday. An estimated 16 million people, or one in six, in Russia are already infected with TB. A 33-fold increase in HIV infections since 1997 could propel the number even higher, Russian and America
Southeastern Asian Leaders to Seek Cheaper AIDS Drugs to Fight Regional Epidemic: Associated Press (11.05.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; Rohan Sullivan; Noting that political and economic turmoil in Southeast Asia has accelerated the spread of infection, the heads of state of 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced today that they would treat AIDS as a national priority. The declaration came during ASEAN s annual summit, attended also
Patents or Poverty? New Debate over Lack of AIDS Care in Africa: New York Times (11.05.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; Donald G McNeil Jr; A new debate over the AIDS epidemic in Africa has erupted, pitting traditional foes against each other: drug companies vs. AIDS activists. Marshaled by a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , the foes face-off as the November 9th meeting in Doha, Q
Official: War on Disease Still Key: Associated Press (11.02.01) - Monday, November 5, 2001; George Gedda; Dr. Norman Neurieter, who advises Secretary of State Colin Powell on science and technology issues, said on Friday that the war on terrorism must not deflect attention from the need to combat infectious diseases, some of which could engulf entire continents if left unchecked. The United States and the international
Tuberculosis Scare: Associated Press (10.31.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; Merrimack High School in Merrimack, N.H., tested 130 people for TB after a student was confirmed to have the disease. High school staff learned of the student s illness over the weekend and officials decided to treat other people at the school on Monday.
One Percent of Pregnant Women in Delhi HIV Positive: Times of India (11.01.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; One percent of all the pregnant women in India s capital are HIV-positive, according to the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. It is feared that up to 30 percent of children born to these women will get infected with the virus. Due to the urgency of the situation, the academy organized a two-day National Conference on Pedia
Official HIV Cases in Kazakstan Double in a Year: Associated Press (10.31.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; The official number of people infected with HIV in Kazakstan has nearly doubled this year, the country s chief doctor announced Wednesday. Although the official count this year is 2,256, he estimated that the actual figure is ten times higher. Anatoly Belonog told a news conference in the capital of Astana that most pe
An Altered AIDS Debate: Washington Post (11.02.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; Rich countries have been so indifferent to the developing world s AIDS crisis that it is easy to overlook an instance in which they have done the right thing. In a speech on Tuesday Robert Zoellick, the administration s trade representative, announced two concessions to developing countries that cannot afford patented
AIDS Walk Revenue May Drop 30 Percent: Southern Voice (Atlanta) (10.26.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; Laura Douglas-Brown; Organizers of Atlanta s 11th annual AIDS Walk say revenue from this year s event could total 20 to 30 percent less than last year, meaning a cut in funds for all 15 benefiting agencies. The Oct. 14 walk raised a little over $1 million, said Chris Parsons, financial director for AID Atlanta. AID Atlanta coordinates the
CD-ROM Brings HIV/AIDS Information to Countries with Poor Internet Services: Associated Press (11.01.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; For doctors in developing countries in Africa and Asia, finding the latest information on HIV/AIDS is nearly impossible because of sluggish and unreliable Internet connections. A new CD-ROM produced by University of California-San Francisco s (UCSF) HIV InSite may help to bridge the information gap. The CD, titled Wome
HIV-Positive Individuals May Delay Telling Casual Sex Partners: Reuters Health (10.31.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; Some people with HIV infection may not tell their sexual partners or family members until the disease has progressed. The last in line to know of a person s HIV status seem to be casual sex partners, according to a study presented at the American Public Health Association meeting in Atlanta last week. Megan E. O Brien
Zambia Seeks HIV Test for Presidential Candidates: Associated Press (11.01.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; The Zambian government was expected to present this week a bill compelling presidential candidates to undergo an HIV/AIDS test, a parliament source confirmed Thursday. It is true the bill is among those coming for reading before the adjournment on Friday. Members of parliament are expected to expediently pass it, said
Stop TB Partnership to Focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan: Lancet (10.27.01) Vol 358; No 9291: P 1431 - Friday, November 02, 2001; Khabir Ahmad; The Stop TB Partnership Forum in Washington, D.C., warned in late October that efforts to control TB in Afghanistan have been seriously disrupted. The coalition of more than 120 organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, launched the Global Plan to Stop TB. The multi- billion dolla
Activists Protest US Position on Patent Rights: Washington Post (11.02.01) - Friday, November 02, 2001; Activists wielding paper skulls gave a rousing send-off Thursday to US trade representatives heading to Qatar for next week s meetings of the World Trade Organization. Just before evening rush hour, about 300 people gathered outside the Washington, D.C., office of US Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. The activis
General Assembly Tentatively Reschedules Children's Summit for May: Associated Press (10.30.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; The UN Children s Summit, which was postponed because of the terror attacks on the United States , has been tentatively rescheduled for May, UN officials said Tuesday. All regional groups in the General Assembly have agreed to hold the summit May 8-10. More than 75 world leaders, thousands of delegates and hundreds of
Across the USA: Michigan: USA Today (10.29.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; Magic Johnson, a former Michigan State basketball star, is returning to play against the Spartans in an AIDS benefit. The former Los Angeles Laker will lead his own all-star squad in the exhibition game Friday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Johnson, who tested HIV-positive 10 years ago, has been raising f
South Africa to Spend More Fighting Crime, AIDS: Associated Press (10.30.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; South Africa plans to boost spending to fight crime and the AIDS pandemic over the next three years, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel told Parliament Tuesday. Provincial governments spent $430 million this year on HIV-related disease. That spending will increase over the next three years, Manuel said, though he gave no
Haunted House Wants Safer Teen Sex: Newsday (New York) (10.30.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; Lucas L Johnson II; Teenagers may have outgrown their fear of ghouls and goblins, but Nashville health officials believe their haunted house has something far scarier: gonorrhea and genital warts. Hoping to combat one of the nation s highest rates of STDs, health officials have staged the STD Free! Haunted House. We want to scare their pa
HIV Study: City News Service (Los Angeles) (10.22.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; It s no secret that stress is bad for your health, but the consequences could be especially severe for those infected with HIV, according to a UCLA study. Stress enables HIV to spread more quickly in infected persons and prevents antiretroviral drugs from restoring immune system function, according to a UCLA statement.
Dr. Peter Piot Discusses the World's AIDS Epidemic and Ways to Combat It: Fresh Air -National Public Radio (10.24.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; Terry Gross; Dr. Peter Piot is executive director of UNAIDS , the United Nations agency coordinating the fight against AIDS. He is a physician and microbiologist and one of the co-discoverers of the Ebola virus. He grew up in Belgium . Excerpts from his interview follow. GROSS: What s the connection between AIDS and political
HIV Complacency Fears: BBC News (10.30.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; Members of Parliament are concerned that the British public has become too complacent about the continuing threat of HIV/AIDS. In a backbench debate on sexual health in Westminster Hall Tuesday, members called for a high-profile TV campaign to keep the issue at the forefront of public consciousness. Last year, 3,616 pe
People Living with AIDS and HIV Say Discrimination Tops List of Concerns: Associated Press (10.30.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; Angela Potter; When Elmar Wishart became seriously ill from HIV complications, he said doctors in the South American country of Guyana refused to treat him. Facilities there are inhuman, said the 45-year-old Guyana native, who was diagnosed with the virus in 1990. Wishart and others at this week s 10th International Conference for Pe
Campaign Against AIDS Targets Women Along US-Mexico Border: NewsMexico (10.30.01) - Wednesday, October 31, 2001; A new program, Women and the HIV Virus, offered through the Binational Committee against AIDS, offers Hispanic women who live in Imperial County, Calif., and Mexicali, Mexico , access to HIV prevention information and free medical analysis in cooperation with area hospitals and medical centers. We want to focus on
New African Soap Opera to Help War Against AIDS: Times of India (10.30.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Agence France Presse; Africa s airwaves are shortly to become a platform for the war against AIDS with Kenyan television stars and numerous government agencies participating in a new soap opera for the continent. Heart and Soul will address other issues of concern to the UN but one of the principle edutainment themes will be reducing the tr
South Africa Urges Change to AIDS Drug Deal: CNN.com (10.29.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Reuters; South Africa urged delegates to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday to make AIDS drugs cheaper for the developing world and said that the drug industry is putting patents before lives. South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala- Msimang told a group preparing a drug policy statement for the WTO meeting i
AIDS Initiative to Receive $10 Million from Gates Foundation: Associated Press (10.29.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Five major humanitarian organizations have become partners to form the Hope for African Children Initiative to benefit children orphaned or otherwise affected by the AIDS epidemic. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will provide $10 million to the project. Plan International, Save the Children, the Society for Wom
Have They Nothing Better to Do?: Washington Post (10.30.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Judging from this week s planned assault on the District s fiscal year 2002 budget by a group of willful Republican senators, you might think the nation was not under a bioterrorism attack, the US armed forces weren t fighting a war overseas, the economy wasn t on the brink of a recession and the Senate s legislative
Differential HIV Risk in Bathhouses and Public Cruising Areas: American Journal of Public Health (09.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Diane Binson, PhD; William J Woods, PhD; Lance Pollack, PhD; Jay Paul, PhD; Ron Stall, PhD, MPH; Joseph A Catania, PhD; Social scientists have investigated the environments outside the home where men who have sex with men (MSM) meet other MSM for casual, usually anonymous sex. The variety of settings is large, but they generally allow participants to secure a minimum of privacy, at least in terms of not being harassed or interrupted. So
Safe Sex in Kenya Taxis: BBC News (10.22.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Noel Mwakugu; The Belgium-based International Center for Reproductive Health (ICRH) has started an aggressive initiative to educate Kenyans about safe sex. Kenya s minibus taxis are fast, colorful and often dangerous. Decorated with pictures of music idols and sports stars, the so-called matatus also carry less than encouraging slog
Health Care for HIV/AIDS Needs to Be Priority, Conference Delegates Say: Associated Press (10.29.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Angela Potter; Workers picketed outside an AIDS clinic in Port-of- Spain , Trinidad , on Monday, complaining of garbage-strewn examination rooms and old equipment. About 20 doctors and nurses protested at the government-funded Queens Park Counseling Center and Clinic before it opened yesterday.
University of Arizona to Study Teens' Risky Sexual Behavior: Associated Press (10.29.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; University of Arizona (UA) researchers have received a $2.5 million grant to study why some teenagers are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors than others. The challenge of getting teenagers to refrain from risky behavior is the reason UA researchers, with Valerie Reyna, director of UA College of Medicine s
America Responds: At CDC, Everything Rearranged to Put Anthrax Fight First: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (10.28.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; MAJ McKenna; Late Friday afternoon, trucks and cranes surrounded the CDC placing concrete barriers on three sides of its Atlanta headquarters. The safety barrier, mandated by Congress, is one signal of the enormous changes at the CDC as it tries to respond to the ongoing anthrax attack. The changes are extensive. Labs have been com
Feeling the Pinch -Nonprofits Reeling Since Sept. 11: ABCNEWS.com (10.29.01) - Tuesday, October 30, 2001; Rose Palazzolo; The AIDS Walk in Washington, D.C., usually attracts close to 25,000 people and raises up to $1 million for local AIDS services. But this year, only 5,000 people showed up for the walk, which raised only about $400,000. With the public rattled by the Sept. 11 attacks and the ongoing anthrax scare, some people s interest
World's First AIDS Vaccine Factory to be Built in Inchon: Korea Times (10.22.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Thursday s Prevention News Update summary of this article incorrectly stated the size of the VaxGen factory to be built in Inchon. The facility will be 99,000 square meters in size.
Papua New Guinea: Health Official Reports HIV/AIDS Victims on Increase: BBC (10.17.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; HIV/AIDS is on the rise in Papua New Guinea , Health Secretary Dr. Puka Temu said last week. Statistics showed that of AIDS patients, 17 percent were children; 21 percent were housewives; and 24 percent were unemployed. Only 8 percent were sex workers. The whole community is in trouble.
Colleges Participate in AIDS Seminar: State (Columbia, S.C.) (10.26.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Students from the state s historically black colleges answered the call to Save Yourself! Save Your Community! by attending an AIDS awareness seminar at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg on Thursday. The college joined the S.C. Legislative Black Caucus and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Con
Abstinence Programs Receive Federal Welfare Dollars: Associated Press (10.24.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Louisiana will use $150,000 of federal welfare funds to pay for programs to encourage abstinence and reduce STDs and unwanted pregnancies. The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget unanimously approved giving the money to the Governor s Program on Abstinence on Wednesday after disagreeing about the item last week.
Disarray Intensifies as Second Hope House Chief Quits: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (10.26.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Shana Gruskin; Turmoil continued at Hope House, Palm Beach County s biggest provider of housing for people with HIV/AIDS, this week with the resignation of its second interim director, Bruce Halstead. Halstead replaced interim Director Bruce McDonald this summer. McDonald, a former Palm Beach County school administrator who served as
Diabetes, Cyclosporine Use Are Risk Factors for Posttransplant Tuberculosis: TB & Outbreaks Week (10.16.01) P 2 - Friday, October 26, 2001; Researchers in India have identified some of the factors that put kidney transplantation patients in danger of potentially deadly postoperative TB. Post-transplant tuberculosis (post- TxTB) occurs in 12 to 20 percent of patients in India and results in the death of 20 to 25 percent of those patients, according to Dr.
City Ponders Retractable Needles for Pilot Project: Ottawa Citizen (10.24.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Bev Wake; Ottawa s health department announced Tuesday it is considering a pilot project that would replace standard syringes in its needle exchange program with special ones featuring a retractable needle. After an injection is complete, the needle automatically retracts back into the plunger of the syringe. Retractable needles
Developing Nations Emboldened by US in Drug Demands: Wall Street Journal (10.26.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Rachel Zimmerman; Geoff Winestock; AIDS activists and developing nations are seizing on US Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson s threat to bust the patent on the antibiotic needed to fight the anthrax attack. They want poor countries also to be allowed to exercise such powers to improve access to essential medicines. The issue will reach a peak at
Big Spike in Syphilis Cases; Gay, Bisexual Men Affected Most: San Francisco Chronicle (10.26.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Christopher Heredia; Syphilis is spreading at startling rates in San Francisco, especially among the city s gay and bisexual men, according to Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, director of STD prevention for the city s Department of Public Health. Similar syphilis spikes have been detected in San Diego, Florida, Boston and Chicago, Klausner said. The
Senate Okays Foreign AIDS Money: Reuters Health (10.25.01) - Friday, October 26, 2001; Todd Zwillich; The Senate on Wednesday night approved $415 million in international aid next year geared toward prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The package includes $40 million for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria announced by UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan last summer. That money is in addition to $50 million for th
World's First AIDS Vaccine Factory to be Built in Inchon: Korea Times (10.22.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; The US-based vaccine firm VaxGen signed a 10-year factory site lease with the Inchon city government for a 3.3 square meters- facility in Songdo. The company plans to build production facilities as well as a research center. VaxGen is due to complete development and clinical tests for its AIDS vaccine, AIDSVAX, by 2005
School Alert as Hospital Checks Student for TB: Daily Mail (London) (10.23.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Adam Powell; Wellacre School in Flixton, Greater Manchester, was at the center of a TB scare Monday night after it was learned that a pupil had been hospitalized with a suspected case of the contagious and potentially fatal disease. Staff and 600 students are awaiting test results after a doctor gave an initial diagnosis that one o
Teen AIDS Survivor Will Speak to Youths: Indianapolis Star (10.23.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Hydeia Broadbent, a 17-year-old AIDS activist, will give the keynote speech at the 2nd annual Mayor s Teen Summit on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Murat Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. in Indianapolis. Broadbent, who was born with HIV, was orphaned at 6 weeks and has lived with AIDS since she was 5 years old. Her adoptive pa
South Africa Needs to Tell the Truth About AIDS: Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (10.17.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Concealing the prevalence of AIDS in South Africa will not make the disease any less deadly. Nevertheless, that nation s government is delaying the release of a report on the prevalence of AIDS within its borders. A new report by the autonomous but government-funded Medical Research Council predicts that, without majo
Roanoke NAACP Chapter to Begin Educating Minorities on HIV, AIDS: Roanoke Times & World News (10.23.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Kathy Lu; With blacks accounting for 51 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in Roanoke, Va., the local chapter of the NAACP decided it needed to take action. On Monday, outside the Roanoke City Health Department, the organization declared a health state of emergency in the Roanoke Valley. For at least the next year, it will work with
Effect of Concomitant HIV Infection on Presentation and Outcome of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Malawian Children: Lancet (08.18.01) Vol 358; P 550-555 - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Nigel A Cunliffe; Carl D Kirkwood, Stephen M Graham; Ndina M Nhlane; Benson D M Thindwa; Winfred Dove; Robin L Broadhead; Malcolm E Molynexu; C Anthony Hart; Rotaviruses are the main cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children throughout the world. By contrast with more-developed countries, in which rotavirus causes few deaths (
South Korea Remains Largely Inactive in Prevention of AIDS Epidemic: Korea Herald (10.23.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Yoo Soh-jung; On Oct. 8, Korea s National Institute of Health (NIH) released the latest AIDS statistics on South Korea , placing the total number of HIV/AIDS cases at 1,515. Of those infected, 1,326 are men and 189 women. The NIH said the number of new AIDS cases reached 235 in the first nine months of the year, representing a 43 pe
China Begins HIV/AIDS Tests for Military Recruits: Agence France Presse (10.24.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; The People s Liberation Army in China added HIV testing to the physical examination for new recruits in a move that reflects growing government concern about the spread of the virus. The Shanghai Morning Post said HIV testing will begin in three districts in Beijing this year and will widen across China in coming years
No Immediate Changes Planned to South Africa's AIDS Policy, Says Mbeki: Associated Press (10.24.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Mike Cohen; In a statement before Parliament on Wednesday, President Thabo Mbeki said South Africa has no immediate plans to adjust its program of fighting AIDS or to put more money into efforts to stop the disease. The statement came a week after a controversial study by the highly respected Medical Research Council indicated tha
'Poppers' Link to HIV Prompts Call for Warnings in San Francisco: San Francisco Chronicle (10.25.01) - Thursday, October 25, 2001; Christopher Heredia; A Board of Supervisors panel has recommended that the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and the district attorney s office revive health warnings about poppers, a chemical inhalant whose use as a sexual stimulant has been shown to increase the risk of HIV transmission. The resolution, which will go befo
Number of HIV Infection Cases Doubles This Year in Latvia: Baltic News Service (10.17.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; The number of people with HIV in Latvia has doubled in one year, according to a bulletin of the National Environment Health Center. During nine months in 2000, as many as 303 new HIV cases were registered, while during the same period this year the figure is 648. Data from the AIDS Prevention Center show that from 1987
China to Strengthen Fight Against Tuberculosis: Xinhua (10.18.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Yin Dakui, vice minister of health, said that China would set up an efficient and ongoing medical system to fight against TB, aiming to cure 4 million TB patients by 2010. According to the official, China is one of 22 countries in the world suffering from severe TB epidemics. The Ministry of Health and some related min
Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City to Send All Drug Addicts to Rehabilitation Centers: Associated Press (10.13.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Authorities in Vietnam s Ho Chi Minh City plan to send all of its 17,000 known drug addicts to rehabilitation centers by the end of next year, an official from the city s Anti-Social Vices Department said on Oct. 12. Drug addiction has become an increasing problem in recent years, contributing to the spread of AIDS thr
Students to Seek Expanded Sex Education: Orange County Register (10.22.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Theresa Walker; Sexuality usually isn t a topic that teens and adults feel comfortable discussing together. However, that s exactly what the 15 teens in the Speak Out! Program, sponsored by Camp Fire USA, plan to do at the Tuesday meeting of the Santa Ana Unified School District board. Speak Out! wants the school district to broaden i
Black Coalition on AIDS to Host Open House: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (10.18.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Cynthia Laird; The Black Coalition on AIDS (BCA) will open its doors to the public today in San Francisco. David Wallace, communications director for the agency, noted that the open house celebration will allow community members to see the agency s new South of Market location and learn more about the programs and services provided i
Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV: The MARCH to Behavior Change: American Journal of Public Health (10.01) Vol 91; No 10: P 1602- 1607 - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Christine Galavotti, PhD; Katina A Pappas-DeLuca, MA; Amy Lansky, PhD; The CDC has initiated the Global AIDS Program, which seeks to implement projects in primary prevention, improve community- and home-based care and treatment, and develop capacity and infrastructure. In the area of primary prevention, the Global AIDS Program has developed a model strategy for changing behavior that inte
New Vaccine for TB: BBC News (10.22.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Scientists are working on a new TB vaccine that would work in combination with the existing BCG medication. The six-year study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, is being conducted by a team of researchers at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, England, with parallel trials in Africa. Known as MVA85A, the new vaccine, w
South Africa Hits Out at Firms on AIDS Drugs: San Diego Union-Tribune (10.22.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Steven Swindells, Reuters; South Africa said on Monday AIDS Drugs were ineffective and produced side effects almost as bad as the disease itself. The African National Congress (ANC) government accused an alliance led by the pharmaceutical industry, and including AIDS activists and churches, of trying to force it into dispensing harmful antiret
Officials Say Baton Rouge AIDS Cases Growing at Alarming Rate: Associated Press (10.22.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; The Baton Rouge, La., metropolitan area is one of seven areas nationwide to have between 1,000 and 2,000 new AIDS cases diagnosed in the last five years. Baton Rouge ranks 16th in the nation with new AIDS cases. The metro area has a higher rate of new AIDS cases than the metro areas of Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago
Study Shows Gay Men in San Francisco Less Afraid of HIV - Attitude May Be Leading to More Infections: San Francisco Chronicle (10.22.01) - Tuesday, October 23, 2001; Christopher Heredia; According to a just-released University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) study, gay men don t find HIV as threatening as they once did; ads for AIDS drugs are seen as glamorizing life with HIV; and there is increased acceptance of unprotected sex. Recent San Francisco Department of Health projections indicate a risin
Unimpeded Access to Kitsap Clinic to Be Restored: Seattle Times (10.20.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Florangela Davila; A military checkpoint erected to provide security for naval housing in Bremerton, Wash., will be moved next week after public health officials complained it was scaring off clients who needed to reach a nearby county health clinic. Health and county officials raised concerns about the checkpoint, which was installed af
89-Year-old Harvey Chosen as Queen for Fantasy Fest: Associated Press (10.20.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Wilhelmina Harvey, the 89-year-old former Florida Keys mayor, was crowned queen of this year s Key West Fantasy Fest on Friday night. She will preside over the 10-day festival of costuming and masking with Tom Wheaton, owner of a local health club. The royal campaign is more than a popularity contest. Winners are crown
A Celebration of Life and Loved Ones for Those Participating in AIDSWalk: Philadelphia Inquirer (10.22.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Marcia Gelbart; An estimated 30,000 people participated in the 15th annual Philadelphia AIDSWalk on Sunday. About 800 teams registered for the event -33 percent more than last year. Susan L. Higginbotham, executive director of the AIDS Fund, said the event raised $615,000 to add to the nearly $12 million that has been raised since the
Hull's Zahn Ready for AIDS Hike in Africa: Boston Globe (10.11.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Emily Shartin; Jean Zahn was affected by a TV news segment that detailed the plight of South African children orphaned because of AIDS. Now she is preparing for a 75-mile hike through South Africa s rugged mountains next April. The Hull, Mass., resident will be joining at least 145 hikers -including 17 from Massachusetts - on the Afr
Painter Tackles a Giant 'Hero': Washington Times (10.20.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Geoff Edgers; Eric Waugh s latest painting, Hero, will be twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. Three trucks will be needed to move it. Hero will be shown just once, at the North Carolina Museum of Art in December. The Montreal-based artist hopes to raise $4 million for children with AIDS and other illnesses by selling posters of
Prevalence of Adverse Events Associated with Potent Antiretroviral Treatment: Swiss HIV Cohort Study: Lancet (10.20.01) Vol 358; No 9290: P 1322-1327 - Monday, October 22, 2001; Jacques Fellay; Karim Boubaker; Bruno Ledergerber; Enos Bernasconi; Hansjakob Furrer; Manuel Battegay; Bernard Hirschel; Pietro Vernazza; Patrick Francioli; Gilbert Greub; Markus Flepp; Amalio Telenti; In view of the adverse affects that accompany antiretroviral therapy, precise data on effects have long been indicated. Background data on adverse events to antiretroviral treatment have been recorded in clinical trials, post-marketing analyses, and in anecdotal reports. But no systematic study has been done to assess
Marijuana Prescription Law OK'd: Newsday (New York) (10.19.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Anthony Deutsch; The Dutch Cabinet on Friday approved a bill to allow Netherlands pharmacies to fill prescriptions, paid for by the government, for marijuana. An increasing number of patients suffering illnesses such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis receive medicinal cannabis, said a statement released by the government. Many pat
Thai Government to Make Own, Cheaper AIDS Drugs By End of Year: Associated Press (10.22.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; Busaba Sivasomboon; Thailand s state pharmaceutical enterprise, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), announced on Friday that by the end of next year, it plans to manufacture most of the drugs commonly used to treat people with HIV. This will cut the cost of treatment in half, said Thongchai Tavichachart, director of the orga
Cases of HIV Among Inmates in State Prisons Are Leveling off: Associated Press (10.21.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; The occurrence of HIV among inmates in Indiana prisons has leveled off, though it still remains about 10 times higher than the known incidence of HIV in the state s overall population. There are an estimated 215 people in Indiana prisons this year with HIV. Department of Correction officials said that roughly 1 percent
A $9.3 Billion Proposal Outlines Global Campaign Against TB: Boston Globe (10.22.01) - Monday, October 22, 2001; John Donnelly; World Health Organization (WHO) officials, together with businessman George Soros, have developed a plan that says $9.3 billion is needed in the next five years to significantly reduce the incidence of TB. Unlike still-developing global efforts to battle HIV/AIDS and malaria, the TB plan has detailed blueprints on ho
A Case of Security vs. Liberty in Bremerton: Seattle Times (10.19.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; Florangela Davila; In Bremerton, Wash., a new military checkpoint is worrying public health officials who say it is scaring clients away from an area health clinic. The Austin Drive checkpoint sits at the entrance to the Navy s Jackson Park housing complex. Anyone wanting to access the county health facility, housed in a former barracks,
Malawi: Doctors Shun HIV Tests: Africa News Service (10.17.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; Malawian doctors are turning down specialist training offered in the Republic of China because they are reluctant to submit to the AIDS test required to travel there. As part of its development assistance to Malawi, Taiwan has offered 10 scholarships a year for specialist training since 1999.
Fears over Teen Sex -Tenfold Increase in Young Suffering from Diseases: Evening Mail (United Kingdom) (10.19.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; In Walsall (West Midlands, Britain), the number of teenagers with an STD soared by ten times during the past five years, health chiefs revealed Wednesday. Teenage cases of gonorrhea shot up by 1,050 percent, and chlamydia was up by 466 percent. Gonorrhea cases among all those under age 30 increased by 138 percent; chla
A Model Example: Rebekka Armstrong, Former Playboy Playmate Turned HIV Activist: Guardian (London) (10.16.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; Rebekka Armstrong, 34, a former Playboy Playmate turned HIV activist, is on a speaking tour of the United Kingdom to address sexual boundaries with teenagers. At 18, she escaped to Los Angeles where she became what she euphemistically calls a swimwear and lingerie model. She was soon incredibly successful, becoming Pla
HIV Highly Contagious Before Symptoms Show: Study: Reuters Health (10.18.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; HIV may be highly transmissible before an infected person experiences its first, flu-like symptoms, and before HIV tests can detect the virus, researchers reported last week. The findings underscore the importance of consistent safe sex in preventing AIDS. The investigators studied five couples in whom HIV transmission
European Regulators Approve Gilead AIDS Drug: Financial Times (London) (10.19.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; David Firn; Patients who no longer respond to their AIDS drugs were given new hope on Thursday when European regulators approved Viread , a new antiviral treatment developed by Gilead, the US biotechnology company. Gilead said it expected to launch its AIDS drug in Europe early next year, following faster-than- expected approval b
Free Distribution of Needles Reduces Spread of AIDS in Brazil: EFE News Service (10.17.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; The distribution of syringes to Brazilian drug addicts free of charge has reduced the spread of AIDS among IV drug users, the Brazilian Health Ministry reported. Official figures made public at a seminar in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday show a reduction of more than 40 percent in the AIDS infection rate among IV drug use
Asian Governments Approve Plan Against Child Sexual Exploitation: Associated Press (10.19.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; Delegates attending a preparatory regional meeting in Asia for the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children committed their governments to deadlines for legal and social frameworks to protect children and aid survivors. Some 200 government and UN officials, as well representatives of non
Bombing Aftermath -Health Specialists Fear TB Outbreak: Boston Globe (10.19.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; John Donnelly; World health officials are increasingly concerned about possible outbreaks of TB in Afghanistan and Pakistan following the US-led bombing campaign, prompting calls yesterday for a plan to monitor the health of refugees and displaced people in the region. Pakistan and Afghanistan are among the world s top 20 countries i
Volunteers Give the Peace Corps a Chance: Christian Science Monitor (10.17.01) - Friday, October 19, 2001; Nicole Itano; As the Peace Corps celebrates its 40th birthday this year, the stereotypical left-leaning, 20-something idealist who defined the corps for many years is giving way to a new type of volunteer: middle-age, mid-career individuals who want a break from life in the fast lane, and retired professionals like Mary Jo Reimer. T
Fans Welcome Guillen Back After TB Scare: Atlanta Constitution (10.18.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Seattle Mariners Carlos Guillen was greeted by the song Welcome Back and a standing ovation as he stepped to the plate for the first time in three weeks. Diagnosed with pulmonary TB 19 days earlier, Guillen started as shortstop Wednesday and batted second in the opener of the American League Championship Series against
More Cancer Drugs Found to Be Diluted: Associated Press (10.18.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Two more cancer drugs were found to be diluted at a Kansas City, Mo., pharmacy where a drug-tampering investigation is being conducted, the FBI said Wednesday. Pharmacist Robert Courtney, 48, has pleaded innocent to 20 counts of tampering, adulterating and misbranding the chemotherapy drugs Gemzar and Taxol. Tests cond
Augusta Rally to Focus on AIDS Program Funds: Bangor Daily News (10.17.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; The Eastern Maine AIDS Network (EMAN), in conjunction with other AIDS service organizations throughout Maine, will hold an informational rally from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 24 on the steps of the Capitol in Augusta. State funding for HIV prevention and programs serving those living with HIV has remained level without even i
Face of AIDS is Growing Older in Tarrant: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (10.17.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Mitch Mitchell; Joseph Manuel assumed that he would never get AIDS. He was older than 40, white, middle class and heterosexual. He didn t belong to any demographic groups targeted for safer sex messages. He might have worn a condom had he been 10 years younger, Manuel said. Like others his age, Manuel believed that he was safe as long
Retaining Hard-to-Reach Women in HIV Prevention and Vaccine Trials: Project ACHIEVE: American Journal of Public Health (09.01) Vol 91; No 9: P 1377- 1379 - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Pamela Brown-Peterside, PhD; Evelyn Rivera; Debbie Lucy, MS; Izzie Slaughter, MPH; Leigh Ren, MS; Mary Ann Chiasson, DrPH; Beryl A Koblin, PhD; Finding a preventive vaccine for HIV will mean asking people at high risk for HIV infection to participate in vaccine efficacy trials. Although vaccine preparedness studies indicate that high- risk cohorts are willing to participate in trials, many women at risk for HIV infection in the United States are poor and d
Action Is Needed to Stop Heroin Epidemic: Belfast News Letter (10.18.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Ross McKee; The author of a new report on the experiences of heroin users in Northern Ireland has warned that her recommendations need to be acted upon to stop an epidemic of heroin and HIV emerging there. Dr. Karen McElrath of Queens University, whose report follows a two-year study based on interviews with 43 current or former h
Cambodia Takes Measures Against HIV/AIDS: BERNAMA (Malaysian National News Agency) (10.15.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Specialists of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Southeast Asia HIV and Development Project have warned that Cambodia still remains one of the world s most HIV/AIDS-affected countries. This is true despite the fact that the estimated prevalence among adults ages 15 to 49 has shown a steady decline from 3.9 percent in
'Don't Forget to Fight AIDS, Poverty': UN Envoy Stephen Lewis Says Terrorist Attacks Should Not Blind People to Other Issues: Vancouver Sun (10.16.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Glenn Bohn; Canada s former ambassador to the UN, Stephen Lewis, urged Canadians on Monday not to forget global issues like AIDS and poverty after responding to the victims of terrorist attacks in the United States . Lewis, now a UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, was speaking before an international conference on charitable
South Africa; Denial Won't Make Child Sex Tourism Go Away, Conference Told: Africa News Service (10.17.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; Every now and then an issue comes up that polarizes people and gets labeled controversial, Western Cape social services Director Sharon Florentine said Tuesday at the conference Sex Tourism, Myth or Reality in Cape Town, South Africa . I m reminded of our reaction to HIV/AIDS. The delay in dealing with it is costing u
US, Mexico Team up on Health Care: Los Angeles Times (10.17.01) - Thursday, October 18, 2001; James F Smith; The United States and Mexico this week took some imaginative steps to combat health problems -including TB, diabetes and AIDS -that plague border communities and migrant workers. Meeting in El Paso, Texas, and neighboring Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, health experts from the two nations agreed on a 10- year agenda for improvi
Tanzanian President Urges People to Be Wise on AIDS: Xinhua News Agency (10.15.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa on Sunday urged his people to respect professional advice on how to combat HIV/AIDS, warning them that antiretroviral drugs are not a solution to the killer disease. Although many people know about AIDS, he said, that knowledge was not leading them to change their behavior. A national
Bout with TB Doesn't Keep Mariners' Guillen out of Lineup for Long: USA Today (10.17.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Mike Dodd; Two-and-a-half weeks after being diagnosed with pulmonary TB, Seattle Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen has been cleared to return to the field and was expected to be activated for the American League Championship Series. Manager Lou Piniella said it was almost assured that Guillen would be added to the roster and woul
Elderly, High-Risk People Urged to Get Flu Vaccine; Healthy Urged to Wait: Associated Press (10.17.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Randolph E Schmid; Supplies of flu vaccine this year will be adequate to meet demand, but because deliveries are running late, healthy people are being asked to postpone their shots so the elderly and other high-risk groups can be vaccinated first. Nancy Cox of the CDC said Tuesday that 79 million doses of vaccine -4 million more than la
AIDS During Wartime: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (10.04.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Matt Sharp; ... The deluge of dollars from public and private sources has been astonishing in the aftermath of the [Sept. 11] attacks. In two weeks, charities raised half a billion dollars for victims and their families. The US government is said to have committed $40 billion to the disaster. The entertainment industry presented
Grant to Help Jail Care for Inmates with AIDS: Press Journal (Vero Beach, Fla.) (10.15.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Jayne Hustead; Indian River, Fla., county jail inmates with AIDS would be better off in a Florida state prison, say public health, legal and law enforcement representatives. The Florida prison system has state-of-the-art AIDS treatment available. Prison inmates receive medication while incarcerated, and upon release get a 30- day sup
3,500 Brave Weather for AIDS LifeWalk; Nonprofit Director Says Fund-raiser Didn't Come Close to Meeting Goal: Dallas Morning News (10.14.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Sherry Jacobson; Organizers of the 11th annual LifeWalk for AIDS to benefit AIDS Arms Inc. drew an enthusiastic crowd of about 3,500 people to downtown Dallas on Saturday. However, the financial contributions generated by the event fell far short of expectations. We were hoping to raise $500,000 in cash this year, said Rodney Holcomb,
AIDS Patients Do OK with Transplants: United Press International (10.15.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Ed Susman; According to researchers at the World Congress of Nephrology in San Francisco, patients infected with HIV appear to do well following the receipt of donor kidneys and livers. Despite the fact that patients routinely must receive cyclosporine, an immuno-suppressant administered so that organ rejection does not occur, HI
Patents Said Not to Cut AIDS Drug Access: Boston Globe (10.17.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; John Donnelly; A study on Africa in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Vol. 286, No. 15, October 17, 2001) cites a lack of global aid as the primary impediment to drug access for individuals with AIDS there. A review of company information on patents for 15 antiretroviral drugs in sub- Saharan Africa found that onl
Study Says AIDS Is Now Chief Cause of Death in South Africa: New York Times (10.17.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Rachel L Swarns; According to a long-awaited report by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in Johannesburg -the South African equivalent to the US National Institutes of Health -AIDS is the leading cause of death in South Africa. Young adults are especially hard hit, with the overall death rate of women in their 20 s now higher than tha
New Law Promises Instant HIV Results: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (10.04.01) - Wednesday, October 17, 2001; Katie Szymanski; According to the CDC, of the 2.5 million people who get tested annually for HIV at public sites, 30 percent never return to learn their status. With the rise in HIV transmission, California Assembly member Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) authored and pushed through bill AB1263, which was signed by Governor Gray Davis o
Unprotected Sex More Common in Taiwan than in Other Asian Nations: Deutsche Presse-Agentur (10.14.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; More people in Taiwan have unprotected sex than anywhere else in Asia, local media reported on Sunday. About 14 percent of sexually active Taiwanese use no contraceptive methods, resulting in the highest pregnancy rate in Asia. An average of two people on the island contract HIV each day, and between 320,000 and 400,00
Tuberculosis Case Leads to Testing of Some SLU Students: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10.16.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; Jennifer LeFleur; A student at St. Louis University contracted TB in the first week of October and was hospitalized. The student, who did not live in a campus residence hall, has since gone home. Students who may have come into contact with the patient have been notified that they need to undergo a tuberculin skin test. Last week, St. L
A Look at Bills Signed and Vetoed by Gov. Gray Davis: Associated Press (10.16.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; Bills signed included -Domestic Partners: Provides many of the same rights enjoyed by married couples to 16,000 registered gay, lesbian and senior domestic partners. Bills vetoed included -AIDS: Budgets $3.1 million to expand AIDS prevention instruction to include prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
Garden City Man Travels Southwest Kansas Fighting HIV: Associated Press (10.09.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; Determined to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among Latinos in southwest Kansas, Arturo Ponce travels to cantinas in Dodge City, Garden City, Ulysses, Hugoton, Satanta, and Liberal - places he says he d never otherwise go. There are too many male Latinos who share old fashioned beliefs that they are macho men. It w
Extra-relational Sex Among Mexican Men and Their Partners' Risk of HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases: American Journal of Public Health (10.01) Vol 91; No 10: P 1650- 1652 - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; Julie Pulerwitz, ScD; Jose-Antonio Izazola-Licea, MD, ScD; Steven L Gortmaker, PhD; Predominant global AIDS prevention strategies encourage monogamous sexual relationships. However, this strategy has been inadequate for many women. Women s main risk for HIV and other STDs is often their male partners sexual behavior, and negotiation of safer sex is frequently controlled by men. The current investigati
AIDS Orphans Forced into Life on the Streets: Agence France Presse (10.09.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; The Save the Children fund announced last week that more than 13 million children under age 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS in the 20 years of the epidemic. Speaking in Australia before the 6th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, the charity told conferees that many orphans end up in prosti
AIDS: #1 Killer Inside City Prisons: NewsMexico.com (10.08.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; AIDS has become the biggest killer of prison inmates in Mexico City, the Mexican daily paper Milenio reported. Enoe Uranga, president of the city s Human Rights Commission, visited the Santa Martha penitentiary in April and found deplorable medical conditions and inadequate facilities. There were HIV- positive inmates
Many Lack Gynecological Care: Los Angeles Times (10.15.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; Linda Marsa; More than half of American women avoid going to the gynecologist, a national survey has found, largely due to lack of insurance, lack of money, or language or cultural differences with their physician. According to the American Social Health Association, which conducted the poll, these results have alarming implication
Experts Fear a Risky Recipe: Viagra, Drugs and HIV: New York Times (10.16.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; David Tuller; Like many straight men, many gay men are using Viagra as a remedy for erectile dysfunction. But surveys disclose that many gay Viagra users are taking it along with Ecstasy and other illegal drugs, leading some HIV educators to fear a rise in unprotected anal intercourse. And, when combined with the nitrite-based poppe
Study: HIV Patients with Case Managers Have Fewer Unmet Needs: Associated Press (10.16.01) - Tuesday, October 16, 2001; Joann Loviglio; HIV-infected adults with case managers who help coordinate their health care had fewer unmet needs and higher use of HIV medications, according to a study in today s issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (October 16, 2001; 135 (8): 557-565). The study reported on 2,437 HIV-infected adults who visited inpatient and outpa
AIDS 10K Walk Pulls More Than $1 Million: Atlanta Constitution (10.15.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Dana Tofig; On Sunday, thousands of walkers turned out for the annual AIDS Walk Atlanta. The walk raised more than $1 million, according to organizers, and will benefit AID Atlanta and 14 other metro area AIDS service and education providers. Last year, the event raised $1.4 million. I don t think we could have picked a more diffi
More Adolescents Abstaining from Sex: Washington Times (10.14.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Kim Folstad; A report from the CDC entitled The Cautious Generation? indicates that more high school students are graduating as virgins now than did a decade ago. Half of the teens surveyed for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy s 2000 report said the main reason not to have sex is the fear of pregnancy and STDs. Eight
Clinton at Yale: Optimistic on Crisis, But Work is Ahead: New York Times (10.14.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Former President Bill Clinton wrapped up Yale University s yearlong 300th birthday celebration with an Oct. 6 speech on globalization. Summing up what optimists would say about the 21st century, as well as what a pessimist or a designated worrier might say, Clinton included in the latter concerns about a world engulfed
$300,000 Awarded to AIDS Agency: Houston Chronicle (10.04.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Patrick Reynolds; A local community residence for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS has gotten a financial boost from the Houston City Council. Stevens House received almost $300,000 in federal funds through a Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant. Stevens House has operated since 1992, helping HIV- positive patients live
Seaweed Derivative Could Prevent HIV Infection: Researcher: Australian Associated Press (10.09.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Rada Rouse; Dr. Peter Kilmarx of the CDC is coordinating early trials of a microbicide called Carraguard that is derived from the seaweed Chrondrus crispus. This seaweed is used already in foods and cosmetics and has been shown in animal studies to have no significant problems of irritation, Kilmarx said. Studies showing that wome
Bloodborne Pathogens in Rhode Island: Is the Greatest Threat Inside or Out?: HIV Hepatitis Education Prison Project Newsletter (HEPP) (08- 09.01) Vol 4; No 8 & 9: P 5-7 - Monday, October 15, 2001; Betsy Stubblefield; What is the risk of contracting a bloodborne disease while serving a prison term? At the Adult Correctional Institute (ACI) of Rhode Island, this question may be first in the minds of any of the 15,000 people who pass through ACI intake every year. Two studies conducted by Grace Macalino, Ph.D., and her colleagues in t
US Gives Mozambique $11.5 Million for AIDS Program: Agence France Presse (10.09.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has granted $11.5 million to Mozambique for an HIV/AIDS program, officials said last week. The program, called the Development Corridor of Hope, will involve individuals and communities living along the Maputo Development Corridor -a key road and rail link
HIV Cases Increase Rapidly in Goa: Times of India (10.10.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; The HIV prevalence rate among commercial sex workers in the red-light area of Bania, South Goa, is as high as 55 percent, according to officials at the Goa State AIDS Control Society. Most HIV carriers are male. Since the first HIV case was detected in Goa in 1987, the number of cases has increased steadily. In 2000, t
Colombian Rebels Forcing AIDS Tests: Associated Press (10.13.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Juan Pablo Toro; Elected officials in Vista Hermosa, Colombia , are powerless to stop the nation s largest guerrilla army from forcing all the town s residents to be tested for AIDS. Three people who tested positive have reportedly been expelled from the rebel safe haven. The leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) sa
Men Who Sleep With Men: Essence (10.01.01) - Monday, October 15, 2001; Tamala Edwards; Years ago HIV-infected women usually contracted the disease through drug use. But these days one of the main methods of infection is heterosexual sex. In some instances, women are having sex with men infected through drug use. But researchers say that, more female infection than is generally suspected has come through
Come Take a Walk for AIDS Research: Atlanta Journal & Constitution (10.12.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; AID Atlanta and 14 other AIDS services organizations will benefit from this Sunday s AIDS Walk Atlanta. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. in Piedmont Park. For information, telephone 404- 876-9255 or visit www.aidswalk.net/aidswalkat.
South Africa Government Gives Census Takers Condoms: Associated Press (10.07.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; The 100,000 census takers who fanned out across South Africa this week were issued packs of condoms as part of an AIDS awareness campaign. No workers are forced to take them, however. But it would be good if they had it with them in the event that something happened while they re visiting a house, said Owen Thothela,
Council Committee Advances Clean-Needle Proposal: Union-Tribune (San Diego) (10.11.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Ray Huard; By a 3-2 vote on Wednesday, the San Diego Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee backed a one-year pilot program to give clean needles to intravenous drug users. If approved by City Council, the privately financed program will use a motor home to distribute syringes in neighborhoods chosen because of high
Grandmother in Forefront of AIDS Fight: Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.) (10.08.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Lynne Langley; Mary Etta Brown N Jie of Johns Island, S.C., has been living with AIDS for 12 years. Although she does not have the disease, she has taken care of a daughter and granddaughter who both died of HIV/AIDS. Granddaughter Megan Ashley Jewel Brown was born weighing 18 ounces. Her grandmother immediately gave two units of blo
Coroner Urges Changes After Inmate's Death: Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh) (10.12.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Ann Belser; Allegheny County, Pa., Coroner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht on Thursday recommended changes in the way the county jail provides medical care to inmates after a Hill district man died in custody. Wecht said his office was not recommending any criminal charges be filed, and he would not comment on whether the quality of care for T
Tuberculosis Pleurisy More Severe in HIV-Positive Patients: TB & Outbreaks Week (10.02.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Michael Greer; Researchers in Uganda have found that HIV-positive patients face greater risk from TB-related lung inflammations than do HIV- negative patients. H. Luzze of Uganda s National Tuberculosis Treatment Center and the Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration at Kampala s Mulago Hospital and colleagues c
Afghanistan Bombing Could Cause AIDS Explosion: Reuters (10.12.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Wendy Pugh; The US-led attacks on Afghanistan will eventually disrupt the flow of opium from one of the world s top suppliers and could cause heroin-injecting to surge in neighboring Pakistan , leading to a potential AIDS catastrophe, researchers said on Friday. Intravenous drug use is one of the major causes of the spread of
UN, Kofi Annan Win Nobel Peace Prize: Associated Press (10.12.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; The UN and its Secretary-General Kofi Annan won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world. UN spokesperson Fred Eckhard woke Annan and told him the news shortly after 5 a.m. Friday. Speaking on CNN, Eckhard called the award a vote of confidence in our common future.
Close Call with TB a 'Scary' Experience for Guillen: Seattle Times (10.12.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Bob Sherwin; When Seattle Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen was diagnosed with TB, staying alive -not returning to baseball -was his top priority. After struggling since July with a persistent cough, nosebleeds and weakness, Guillen learned on Sept. 7 that he had pulmonary TB. I called my Mom and asked her, What s tuberculosis? Gu
Federal Judge Extends Order Against TennCare: Associated Press (10.11.01) - Friday, October 12, 2001; Tom Sharp; US District Judge William Haynes, after two days of testimony in his Nashville court, on Thursday agreed to extend a restraining order issued last month prohibiting TennCare from closing its enrollment to people who cannot get medical insurance. Haynes will rule on the merits of the case once he has had time to review
AIDS Walk Has Plenty in Store: Dallas Morning News (10.11.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Robert Miller; Organizers of the annual AIDS Arms LifeWalk in Dallas this Saturday are hoping to raise at least $500,000. Corporate sponsorships have already brought in an estimated $381,000. Last year s walk raised $385,000. The walk begins at 9 a.m. at City Hall and will wind through the downtown Neiman Marcus store. For informatio
Director of AIDS Organization to Step Down: Associated Press (10.10.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Larry Kessler, co-founder of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, announced Wednesday that he will step down as the organization s executive director. He will remain on the job until a search firm finds a replacement, which could take four months to a year. Kessler, whose new title will be founding director, sai
After the Parade Passes by: Patriotic Fervor Can Give Way to Depression as New Reality Takes Hold: Boston Herald (10.10.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Azell Murphy Cavaan; Experts say the unity and patriotism that flowered after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States are typical responses to enormous tragedy. But as the holidays approach and the terrorist threat continues, more people are at risk for depression and related problems. High levels of stress and anxiety tend to lead peopl
US Life Expectancy Reaches New High: Reuters (10.10.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Maggie Fox; The CDC reported Wednesday that Americans are surviving longer, and more are dying of diseases associated with old age. American life expectancy reached a new high of 76.9 years, up from 76.7 years in 1999, mostly because fewer people are dying early from heart disease and cancer. Death rates from murder, suicide, acci
Panel to Review Needle-swap Program: Union-Tribune (San Diego) (10.10.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Ray Huard; A privately financed pilot program to let drug users exchange dirty needles for clean ones was scheduled to be reviewed yesterday by a San Diego City Council committee. The program is aimed at curbing the spread of hepatitis, AIDS and other blood-borne diseases among intravenous drug users. We have some really responsi
Tuberculosis Associated with Infliximab, a Tumor Necrosis Factor Neutralizing Agent: New England Journal of Medicine (10.11.01) Vol 345; No 15: P 1098-1104 Joseph Keane, MD; Sharon Gershon, PharmD; Robert Wise, MD, MPH; Elizabeth Mirabile-Levens, MD; John Kasznica, MD; William D Schwieterman, MD; Jeffrey N Siegel, MD; M Miles Braun, MD, MPH - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Infliximab is a humanized antibody used in the treatment of Crohn s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It is active against tumor necrosis fact (TNF-a). Infusions of infliximab can be administered in a single dose, a monthly regimen, or on day 0, day 14, day 42, and then every 8 weeks. The half-life of infliximab is 10
Thai Volunteers in Fighting AIDS: Xinhua News Service (10.05.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Huang Heng; Yang Qingchuan; Huang Yong; When Namani Nangpon became a teacher 13 years ago in Nongboudang School, located in the suburb of Chiang Rai, Thailand , she never heard of AIDS. Certainly she never imagined that her students would die from the terrible disease. Since then the northern area of Thailand, including Chiang Rai, has been hit hardest by AI
Vietnam Barbers Spread Anti-AIDS Message: Union-Tribune (San Diego) (10.03.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Angela Takats, Reuters; In a country where access to mass media is limited, 50 barbers in Haiphong, a busy port city in Vietnam , have been trained as AIDS educators by the nonprofit organization Family Health International (FHI). Barber Tien snips away at the mop of dark hair in front of him, chatting with his young male customer. You reall
Government Casts Doubt on AIDS Report, but Agrees to Its Release: Associated Press (10.10.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; The South African government on Wednesday cast doubt on the findings of a report, which it commissioned, that claims AIDS accounted for a quarter of all deaths in the nation last year. The Medical Research Council s (MRC) report said AIDS was responsible for 40 percent of adult deaths last year, and it estimated that A
AIDS Conference Urges End to Discrimination and Drug Profits: Agence France Presse (10.10.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; The 6th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific wrapped up Wednesday in Melbourne with a call for an end to religious and traditional barriers that prevent people with HIV from getting proper treatment. AIDS workers also asked drug companies to put care before profit to help turn back the HIV pandemic th
TennCare Patients, Doctors, Advocates Try to Prevent Enrollment Closure: Associated Press (10.11.01) - Thursday, October 11, 2001; Karin Miller; US District Judge William J. Haynes, Jr. could decide as early as today whether to prevent Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist from closing TennCare, the state s insurance plan for the poor, to people who cannot get insurance elsewhere. The closure is the first step in the state s plan to overhaul TennCare and divide it into
Babies Ingesting Certain Milk May Test Positive for TB: Kyodo (10.08.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Japan s Snow Brand Milk Products Co. said on Friday that babies who drink one of its powdered milk products could test positive for tuberculosis even though they are not infected with TB. Two such cases have been reported so far, and one case has been temporarily isolated, the company said. Both babies tested negative
Russian AIDS Official Issues Gloomy Forecast: BBC (10.08.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Vadim Pokrovskiy, director of the Federal Research Center for AIDS Prevention, told the Russian news agency Interfax that 150,000 of those currently infected with HIV in Russia will have AIDS by 2006. Between 1996 and 2000, HIV was spread in Russia mainly through the use of intravenous drugs, according to the center. I
Alleviating Poverty Imperative to Stop Spread of HIV/AIDS IN Asia: Associated Press (10.08.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Emma Tinkler; Alleviating poverty is imperative if Asia and the Pacific are to slow the spread of AIDS, according to Indrana Gupta, associate professor at the Institute of Economic Growth in New Delhi. She cited a recent World Bank report showing that in 1998, 522 million people, or 40 percent of the population of South Asia, were s
Cross Purposes? The Black Church Struggles with AIDS: Essence (10.01.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Afi-Odelia E Scruggs; For a long time, the AIDS battle was fought primarily in the public health arena. But activists and educators, wanting to reach the black community, have pointed to a crucial role for black churches. It is a role that churches are now assuming, but with a complicated mix of messages and moral values. The Rev. Marvin Mc
Community-based Approaches to HIV Treatment in Resource-poor Settings: Lancet (08.04.01) Vol 358;P 404-409 - Monday, October 08, 2001; Paul Farmer; Fernet Léandre; Joia S Mukherjee; Marie Sidonise Claude; Patrice Nevil; Mary C Smith-Fawzi; Serena P Koenig; Arachu Castro; Mercedes C Becerra; Jeffrey Sachs; Amir Attaran; Jim Yong Kim; AIDS mortality has dropped precipitously in affluent countries, in large part because of access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The main objections to the use of these agents in less developed countries have been their high cost and the lack of health infrastructure necessary to use them. However, the
Roche Laments AIDS Drug Delivery: Associated Press (10.05.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; With AIDS drug prices slashed for the poorest countries, the problem now is how to get the vital medicine delivered to people with the disease, the head of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said Friday. We re committed to playing a part in fighting AIDS and for that purpose we re supplying our drugs at no profit or free
Tackling Growing Asian AIDS Epidemic to Cost Billions: Associated Press (10.06.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Emma Tinkler; On Saturday at the 6th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, International AIDS Society President Stefano Vella said that tackling the Asian epidemic would require billions of US dollars annually. It would also mean adaptations in research efforts and in complex drug therapy regimens, which are often
Glaxo Licenses AIDS Drug to Generics Firm: Wall Street Journal (10.08.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Rachel Zimmerman; Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline PLC has announced it will allow a South African generic drug maker to produce and market three of its patent-protected AIDS medicines. The move is expected to have a broad impact on pharmaceutical industry economics in developing world markets. Under the deal, United Kingdom-based G
Walkers Turn Out for Clinic; Shadow of Sept. 11 Hurts AIDS Event: Washington Post (10.07.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Petula Dvorak; The AIDS Walk crowd on Saturday in Washington, D.C., at one point stretched the length of the Mall, as the leaders of the pack turned at the Capitol and the rear guard whipped around the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The crowd was smaller than in previous years, but it was a sign of determined life: Those who decided
AIDS Vaccine Available Within 10 Years, US Health Expert Says: Associated Press (10.07.01) - Monday, October 08, 2001; Emma Tinkler; Researchers are optimistic an AIDS vaccine will be available within 10 years, but it is unlikely to be fully effective against all strains of the virus, a US health expert said Sunday. Margaret Johnston, associate director of AIDS vaccines at the National Institutes of Health, said there are dozens of vaccine prototype
Mariners Notebook: Guillen Released from Hospital: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (10.05.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; John Hickey; Carlos Guillen was released from the hospital yesterday, his case of TB no longer contagious. But there is no telling when the Mariners shortstop might be able to play again. He s in an improved condition, Mariners team physician Mitch Storey said. He ll be re-examined Wednesday, and we ll make a judgment on his status
Business News in Brief from Around New Jersey: Associated Press (10.05.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Dr. Luc Montagnier, a virologist and co-discoverer of HIV, has joined the Regent Group Inc. as a member of its subsidiary Millenium Biotechnologies Inc. research team. Montagnier will oversee clinical trials in the United States and Africa, as well as publishing data, for Resurgex, the company s recently released nutri
AIDS Walk on Saturday: Washington Post (10.05.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; AIDS Walk Washington 2001 will take place Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. at the Washington Monument grounds. The walk, which raises money for those living with HIV and served by the Whitman Walker Clinic, starts and ends at the monument. The post-walk program starts at 10:30 a.m. and includes a concert by the Coats. Regi
Living with Mom May Help Curb Risky Sex: Reuters Health (09.24.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Charnicia E Huggins; Teenage African-American girls who live with their mothers and who feel that they have supportive families may be less likely to engage in sexually risky behavior, according to a new study. Kids need to feel that they have the support of their family, lead author Dr. Richard Crosby of Emory University Rollins School of
London TB Summit as Seven a Day Are Infected: Evening Standard (London) (10.03.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Zoe Morris; TB experts met this week to discuss ways of tackling the resurgence of the disease in London. Almost half of Great Britain s new TB cases occur in London. On an average day, seven Londoners show the first signs of the disease -a persistent cough, chest pains and sweats. Almost 140 toddlers, parents, staff and caregiver
Volunteers Hand Prostitutes Condoms, Advice: Moscow Times (10.02.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Elizabeth Wolfe; As night falls in Moscow, a 28-year-old man and a teenage girl approach a group of prostitutes with an unusual proposition: free condoms, pamphlets about safe sex, brochures about the risks of HIV/AIDS, and advice on where to go for a free doctor s consultation. The volunteers work with Harm Reduction, whose Moscow bra
Life Skills for Young Orphans: Christian Science Monitor (10.02.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Danna Harman; Ervline Awino, 15, is her family s sole provider. Her father died of AIDS five years ago; her mother is infected now; and her five sisters are under age 10. Ervline is one of a growing number of Kenyan children forced by the AIDS epidemic to play the part of adult at home. And while orphanages can offer a bed and meals
Thousands of Delegates Converge on Melbourne for AIDS in Asia and Pacific Congress: Associated Press (10.05.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Emma Tinkler; Delegates at an international conference on HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific warned governments that HIV is gathering pace through the region and that they could no longer ignore the epidemic. Representatives from more than 40 countries are due to attend the gala ceremony Friday night opening the 6th International Cong
AIDS 'Leading Killer' in South Africa: BBC (10.05.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; South Africa s AIDS epidemic has reached shattering dimensions and accounted for one in four deaths last year, according to researchers. In a Medical Research Council report, suppressed by the South African government but leaked to the Johannesburg-based Mail and Guardian newspapers, AIDS is designated as the leading c
People with HIV Reaching Top of Transplant Lists: New York Blade (09.28.01) - Friday, October 05, 2001; Lisa Keen; Because the overall health of a patient is among selection factors, fewer than 40 HIV-positive patients have received life- saving liver transplants -even though many gay men with HIV are infected with hepatitis B. But with antiviral drug combinations prolonging the lives and improving the health of those with HIV, mor
Government Report -Richmond City Council: Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) (10.03.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; Among other actions taken at its Sept. 24 meeting, the Richmond City Council authorized $33,000 from the Virginia Commonwealth University Central Virginia HIV Care Consortium for the purpose of improving identification of persons who are at risk for or infected with HIV and other STDs; prompt identification of partners
Angola -Around 3.5 Percent of Population Suffers from AIDS: BBC (10.02.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; According to figures released at a recent national meeting on AIDS, about 3.5 percent of Angola s population of approximately 12 million have AIDS. Pregnant women and people with TB are the sectors of society at highest risk. The country s hardest-hit areas are border regions.
Mariners Notebook: Guillen Surgery a Setback: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (10.03.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; John Hickey; Carlos Guillen s medical odyssey took another turn yesterday when the Seattle Mariners shortstop underwent surgery to correct bleeding in his lung. The problem is thought to be an offshoot of the tuberculosis that sent Guillen to the hospital on Friday. In the operation, an artificial clot was inserted to control bleed
Caring for HIV Patients: San Francisco Chronicle (10.03.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; If it s true that a society is judged by how it cares for the elderly, the sick and the poor, the state s reputation for charity and compassion will be greatly impaired if a health care bill for HIV patients dies on the governor s desk. That s where AB937 has languished since leaving the floor of the Legislature on Se
Duke University Researchers Study Topical HIV Killing Compounds: Associated Press (09.25.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; A researcher at Duke University is addressing important unanswered questions about the use of topical microbicides intravaginally to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. With a team of biomedical engineers, Dr. David Katz is studying crucial issues of whether candidate topical microbicides would reach the right tiss
Baby Born via Artificial Insemination Using Sperm of HIV- Positive Man: Agence France Presse (10.02.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; A Japanese woman has given birth via artificial insemination using sperm from her HIV-positive husband, with both mother and child confirmed infection-free, doctors said Tuesday. It was the first successful birth using HIV-infected sperm in Japan, according to Tasuku Harada, a gynecologist and lecturer at the medical d
San Francisco Bans Filters in Libraries: CNET.com (10.02.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; Gwendolyn Mariano; San Francisco officials have voted to ban Internet filters on computers in local public libraries, risking the loss of some $20,000 in federal funds. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Monday unanimously to prohibit filters on city-owned computers used by the public, excluding Internet terminals designated ex
Health Department Director Explains Grant Loss: Associated Press (10.02.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; The director of the Arkansas Health Department said on Monday that the state missed out an a $725,760 grant to help AIDS patients because officials misunderstood federal grant law. The grant would have provided backup funding for medicines provided by pharmaceutical companies to about 100 patients in a state program. D
FDA Panel to Vote on AIDS Drug: San Francisco Chronicle (10.03.01) - Wednesday, October 03, 2001; Tom Abate; Today, a Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) advisory panel will vote on whether to recommend approval of an AIDS drug for patients who have become resistant to other medicines. If the vote is favorable, as is expected, the FDA will also decide whether the new treatment will be a last resort drug or one sanctioned for
250,000 Ethiopian Children Under Five Have HIV: Health Ministry: Agence France Presse (10.02.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; Some 250,000 Ethiopian children under age five are HIV- positive, the Health Ministry stated Tuesday. On national radio, the ministry called for further AIDS prevention measures as it released the figures. A UNICEF official coordinating AIDS projects in Addis Ababa confirmed the official figures but said they were esti
Teens Unaware of STD Prevalence: USA Today (10.02.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; One in four sexually active teens will contract an STD this year, but only 28 percent of surveyed teens ages 12 to 17 assessed the risk correctly. Twenty-eight percent thought the risk was one in 40; 22 percent thought it was one in 400; and 19 percent thought the risk was one in 4,000. Kaiser Family Foundation conduct
Hepatitis Outbreak Infects About 200 People in Ukrainian Town: Associated Press (10.03.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; A hepatitis outbreak in eastern Ukraine has infected about 197 people, including 43 children, emergency officials said Tuesday. The first cases of the hepatitis A outbreak were reported in the town of Torez on Sept. 17. After a week, more than 100 people were infected with the virus, and the number of victims has since
Southern Kazakh Region Prepares TB Vaccines, Housing for Afghan Refugees: BBC (10.03.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; South Kazakhstan has received an additional 50,000 doses of TB vaccine for refugees from Afghanistan and other countries, according to the regional sanitary and epidemiological service. The regional administration met behind closed doors to discuss possible accommodation of Afghan refugees, taking stock of summer camps
Security Concerns Shift AIDS Walk: Los Angeles Times (10.04.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; The 17th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles, which has previously started and ended at Paramount Pictures, has been moved to the Pacific Design Center because of security concerns following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials announced yesterday. The Oct. 21 event was moved because of the heightened security at souther
An Intervention for Parents with AIDS and Their Adolescent Children: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) Vol 91; No 8: P 1294- 1302 - Thursday, October 4, 2001; Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, PhD; Martha B Lee, PhD; Marya Gwadz, PhD; Barbara Draimin, DSW; In the United States , increasing numbers of parents have AIDS, and these individuals will either live with a chronic, life- threatening illness or they will die. Parents with AIDS must cope with physical health symptoms, complex medication regimens, stigma, and fear of AIDS-related death, as well as caring for their f
Irianese Women Targeted in HIV/AIDS Campaign: Jakarta Post (09.30.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; Irian Jaya has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia . The curve of HIV spread follows that of Papua New Guinea or the African curve; it has reached an alarming level, said Dr. Paul Crouch-Chivers, who works for the mining company PT Freeport Indonesia.
'Explosive' AIDS Epidemics Hit Asian Sex Workers: Reuters (10.04.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; Wendy Pugh; Prostitutes in China , Indonesia and Vietnam are falling victim to explosive AIDS epidemics that will spread to their customers wives and girlfriends, a UN-funded report said today. While large-scale preventive action had kept the disease at bay in parts of Asia, there was clear potential for HIV/AI
FDA Panel Recommends Approval of New HIV Drug: Wall Street Journal (10.04.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration yesterday supported approval of the new HIV drug Viread , made by Gilead Sciences Inc. The panel was split on whether to recommend the drug for all patients or only for those who have failed other courses of therapy. The drug targets reverse transcriptase, an en
Questions Surround Guillen's Illness: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (10.04.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; Dr. Charles Nolan, director of TB control for Public Health/Seattle and King County, said it is extraordinary that Seattle Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen developed such a severe case of pulmonary tuberculosis before it was diagnosed last Friday. Some Seattle physicians have said Guillen s symptoms should have prompt
Donors Wanted to Help, but Some Blood Rejected As Infected: Associated Press (10.03.01) - Thursday, October 4, 2001; Hundreds of people in Michigan and in other parts of the country who donated blood for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks may soon find out their contribution was rejected because of infection. Most tainted blood comes from first-time donors, and nearly 65 percent of people who gave blood in the days after the attacks
New Nevada Laws Take Effect Oct. 1: Associated Press (09.30.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; More than 125 new laws take effect in Nevada today. Among these is AB453, which legalizes medical marijuana. The new medical marijuana program will be run by the state Agriculture Department; it enables people with chronic and debilitating conditions, such as AIDS and glaucoma, to use pot for pain relief. The law also
Somali TB Patients Left Without Drugs After Aid Agency Pull Out: Agence France Press (09.26.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; TB patients in the southern Somali town of Jowhar complained last Wednesday that they had been left without medicines after the withdrawal of an Italian aid agency. The relief agency left Jowhar following a dispute with the regional administration headed by Mohamed Omar Habeb, a former member of Somalia s transitional
Tuberculosis Rates Rising in State's Foreign-Born Population: Associated Press (09.28.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; In Benton County, Ark., TB rates among the foreign-born population are rising, according to Scott Jones of the CDC. While infection rates among the county s Hispanic population are consistent with Caucasians, rates among Asian and Pacific Island ethnic groups are up. TB rates across the rest of Arkansas have been falli
'Still Here' -Transit Shelter/Billboard Project About HIV/AIDS -Set to Debut in Berkeley, San Francisco: Associated Press (09.26.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; With a little over one month to go, Bay Area artists Sharon Siskin, Nancer Le Moins and Robert Corti are pulling together the elements of Still Here. The postcards will debut on Nov. 4, and run through Dec. 15, 2001 in Berkeley in the Addison Street Windows, and from Nov. 14, 2001 through Feb. 15, 2002 in transit kiosk
HIV Infection in Children -Clinical Review: British Medical Journal (09.22.01) Vol 323: P 670-674 - Monday, October 1, 2001; Haroon Saloojee; Amy Violari; HIV has transformed pediatric practice in developing countries. A specialty that once dealt mainly with acute illnesses is now consumed, in many settings, with managing chronically ill and dying children. Last year, 600,000 children were newly infected with HIV, with 90 percent of occurrences in sub-Saharan Africa. Alm
Princess Royal Berates Drug Firms Over Prices: Scotsman (United Kingdom) (09.26.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; Alastair Dalton; Britain s Princess Anne last Tuesday attacked drug companies for simplistic philanthropy that was failing to tackle disease in developing countries. In a hard-hitting speech to the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Glasgow, Princess Anne said firms should focus on effective long-term measures, such as cutting drug p
Political Resistance in South Africa Blocks Wide Use of HIV Drugs; Leaders Ambivalent About Distribution of Antiretrovirals: Washington Post (10.01.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; Jon Jeter; The Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (GRIP) moved into unoccupied offices of the two public hospitals in Nelspruit 18 months ago, dispensing counseling and AIDS medicines to abuse victims in this rural province on South Africa s eastern border. Volunteers helped women and children file police reports, provid
Brazilian Women Ravaged By AIDS; Infection Rate Rises In Culture of Denial: Washington Post (10.30.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; Anthony Faiola; Although Brazil , Latin America s largest country, has one of the most progressive anti-AIDS programs in the world, women - and housewives in particular -are becoming infected at an alarming rate. A recent government survey showed that new AIDS cases reported among women shot up 75.3 percent from 1994 to 1998, compared
Mariners Will Have Tests for TB: USA Today (10.01.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; Mike Dodd; The entire Seattle Mariners team and coaching staff will be tested for pulmonary TB following word that shortstop Carlos Guillen was diagnosed with the contagious disease during the weekend. We don t believe anybody else is at risk to become ill with tuberculosis ... but we re going to test them and take the precaution
Some Charities Hurting Because of Terror Relief Effort: Associated Press (09.28.01) - Monday, October 1, 2001; Leon Drouin Keith; Some charities not playing a direct role in the half- billion- dollar-plus Sept. 11 relief efforts have delayed fundraising, stopped direct-mail programs and told their fundraisers to keep a low profile. They have done so out of respect for the victims of the terror attack and out of fear of angering would-be donors. A
Estonia: HIV Gaining Ground Among Schoolchildren in Tallinn: Baltic News Service (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; HIV is gaining ground among the students of the Estonian school in Tallin. Estonians proportion among the infected has risen to 30 percent. Whereas some time ago the ratio of Russian- speaking and Estonian HIV-infected was 90 to 10, the ratio now is 70 to 30. Greta Lehtla, nurse and social worker with the AIDS preventi
Company's HIV-resistance Test Receives Approval from FDA: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (09.27.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; Bloomberg News; Visible Genetics, Inc. said yesterday that the FDA had approved its genetic test for HIV resistance. The TruGene test is the first agency-approved test for analyzing weaknesses in a patient s strain of HIV. It can help doctors pick the AIDS drugs that are likely to be the most effective against the virus.
15th Annual AIDS Walk Scheduled for Oct. 21: Philadelphia Inquirer (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; The 15th annual AIDS WalkPhilly will be held Sunday, October 21. Walkers can register and get sponsor forms online at www.aidswalkphilly.org or by calling 215-731-9255.
UN's Annan Tipped for Nobel Prize: New York Times (09.27.01) Reuters - Thursday, September 27, 2001; UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to be chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize when the Nobel committee meets on Friday to pick a winner. The decision comes at a bleak time for peace - after this month s attacks on the United States and on the one- year anniversary of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupa
Health Professionals Must Confront HIV/AIDS: Journal of the American Medical Association (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; Gro Harlem Brundtland, MD; The 20th anniversary of the first diagnosis of HIV infection has come and gone. ... Headlines made when UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan appealed for the world to act on the global emergency AIDS represents have been superseded by other events. It s back to business as usual. Or is it? It must not be. The AIDS crisis
Effectiveness of Hepatitis B Vaccination in Babies Born to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positive Mothers in Italy: Journal of Infectious Disease (08.14.01) Vol 184; P 905-908 - Thursday, September 27, 2001; Alfonso Mele; Francesco Tancredi; Luisa Romanò; Anna Giuseppone; Mario Colucci; Aldo Sangiuolo; Rosina Lecce; Brunella Adamo; Maria Elena Tosti; Gloria Taliani; Alessandro R Zanetti; Viral hepatitis type B is a major health problem worldwide. Infection may progress to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Age at acquisition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a key determinant of chronicity, since the rate of development of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs
Red Cross Launches HIV/AIDS Orphan's Care Pilot Project: Africa News Service (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; The Lesotho Red Cross Society has embarked on a two-phase initiative of prevention and care measures for people living with HIV/AIDS. The first phase includes prevention and has been piloted in the districts of Mafeteng and Mohale s Hoek, while the second project will focus on care for HIV/AIDS orphans and will start i
Burma Faces AIDS Explosion: BBC News (09.25.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; Larry Jagan; Medical experts say Burma is facing an AIDS epidemic that will soon eclipse the worst situation in Africa. AIDS specialist Dr. Chris Beyrer of Johns Hopkins University said that while UN figures suggest that 2 percent of adults in Burma have HIV, he believes the figure is nearer to 4 percent. His research, using the go
Homosexual Blood Donors Debate Causes Uproar; Commission Calls for Lifting of Gay Ban: Belfast News Letter (United Kingdom) (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; A claim that gay blood donors could pass on the AIDS virus provoked an uproar in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday. Assembly member Edwin Poots (Democratic Unionist Party-Lagan Valley) attacked the Human Rights Commission s call for the lifting of a ban on blood donations by homosexuals.
3M to Receive $100 Million for Herpes Drug: Associated Press (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; 3M Co. will receive a $100 million up-front fee and potentially large payments later from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. in a licensing deal for a new drug for herpes. Under the deal announced Tuesday, Indianapolis-based Lilly gets worldwide commercial rights to the drug resiquimod for treatment of
Company: Jail Medication Mix-Up Rare: Boston Globe (09.26.01) - Thursday, September 27, 2001; John Ellement; The private company that provides medical care to inmates at the Suffolk County jail said the drug mix-up that sent five prisoners to the hospital was a highly unusual mistake. On Sunday morning, inmates who were supposed to get a prescribed amount of Viracept , an anti-viral drug, instead were given high doses of E
Kenyans Reject Safe Sex Despite AIDS: BBC (09.24.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Yesterday s PNU summary of this article included a typographical error in one sentence. The sentence should have read, In an independent poll commissioned by Kenya s leading media organization, the Media Institute, more than 55 percent said they thought condoms encouraged immorality.
Help Stomp Out Disease During AIDS Walk: Detroit News (09.26.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Twenty-four AIDS service organizations will benefit from the funds raised at the third annual Detroit AIDS Walk this Saturday. Registration begins at 10 a.m. at Detroit s Belle Isle Casino; the walk starts at noon. Telephone 313-446-9818.
Inmates Recovering from Drug Mix-Up: Boston Herald (09.25.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Two of three inmates who overdosed on the antidepressants they were accidentally given instead of their AIDS medication were returned to the Suffolk County House of Correction in Boston on Monday. A third prisoner remained hospitalized on Monday night but was expected to recover fully. The incident occurred Sunday. Two
On Politics: Washington Post (09.26.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Al Kamen; Harriett Babbitt, the former ambassador to the Organization of American States and later the deputy administrator of the Agency for International Development, has been named executive director of AIDS Action.
Pop Notes: Washington Post (09.26.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Plans for the funds raised by a new recording of Marvin Gaye s What s Going On have changed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attack on the United States . The project, organized by U2 singer Bono and Jermaine Dupri, was originally slated to raise money for African AIDS education. Its proceeds will now be split between
16th Annual AIDS Walk Misses Money Goal: $413,000 Raised by 7,000 Participants in Stanley Park: Vancouver Sun (09.24.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Yvonne Zacharias; Vancouver s 16th annual AIDS Walk came up short of its fund- raising goal this year despite the efforts of about 7,000 participants in Stanley Park on Sunday. Organizers estimate the event brought in $413,000; they had hoped to collect $450,000; last year s walk raised $460,000. However, AIDS Walk spokesperson David Ma
Group Gives Support to HIV-Positives: Challenge of Working or Returning to Work is Focus of Meetings: Detroit News (09.26.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Robert Alan Glover; A new support group called Power of Work (POW) has formed to help HIV-positive people re-enter the job market. The nonprofit group has 25 members and meets bi-weekly at Goodwill Industries in Detroit. Founded through the efforts of Dr. Oliver Johnson, director of Psychiatric Support at Canfield Mental Health Services i
Lou Gehrig's Symptoms Seen in People with HIV: Reuters Health (09.25.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Merritt McKinney; Two teams of scientists report that HIV may trigger cases of a neurological disorder similar to amyothropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig s disease. But unlike normal ALS, which is always fatal, symptoms of the HIV-related neurological disorder stopped progressing or improved once patients began the
Success Story with Free Condoms: Straits Times (Singapore) (09.23.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Devi Asmarani; Government-issued condoms may be one reason why family planning is one of Indonesia s enduring success stories. Health ministry condoms are handed out for free to Indonesia s poor. They come in green wrappers bearing the Indonesian family planning logo -stick figures of a two-child family holding hands. The slogan read
Brazil Wins Support for Health on WTO Agenda: CNN.com (09.26.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Reuters; Brazil announced on Tuesday that it had won enough support from more than 50 countries to include public health on the agenda at the next meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Qatar . During three days of negotiations in Geneva, Brazil actively sought countries to rally behind its proposal to discuss drug
Virus Hits at the Country's Life Force: Financial Times (London) (09.26.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; Nicol Degli Innocenti; Botswana has the unenviable record of being the country with the highest infection rate for HIV/AIDS in the world. With more than 38.5 percent of the sexually active population between ages 15 and 49 HIV-positive, the disease threatens to undermine all of the economic and development gains the country has made in the
EEOC Files Suit on Behalf of Fired HIV-Positive Teen: American Health Line (09.24.01) - Wednesday, September 26, 2001; The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a federal lawsuit last Thursday on behalf of Korrin Krause, a 16-year old Wisconsin girl who was reportedly fired from her job at a grocery store because she has HIV, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The EEOC suit contends that Quality Foods IGA, a gr
TB Cases at Ten Year High in City: Evening Mail (United Kingdom) (09.24.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Paula Marsh; A report by Birmingham Health Authority reveals new cases of TB reached 356 last year -a 44 percent rise since 1998. Dr. Surinder Bakhshi, director of communicable diseases at Birmingham Health Authority, said the number of health professionals qualified to treat the disease in the city was among the lowest in the coun
Moldova Reports Rise in HIV: BBC (09.24.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; A press release issued by Moldova s National Center of Preventive Medicine said that this year the number of people infected with HIV rose by 55 percent. A total of 157 HIV- positive people were registered in the first eight months of 2001, whereas 101 HIV patients were recorded in the same period of 2000. Since 1987,
Hepatitis Outbreak Puts More than 100 People in Hospital in Eastern Ukraine: Associated Press (09.25.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; A hepatitis outbreak in the eastern Ukrainian town of Torez sent 108 residents, including 16 children, to a local hospital. Victims began to arrive on Sept. 17, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. According to the Holos Ukrainy daily, health officials have warned town residents to improve hygiene, suspecting bad dr
Tuberculosis: Deadly Disease Can Be Cheaply and Easily Defeated: Houston Chronicle (09.22.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Every year, tuberculosis kills 2 million people worldwide, more people than die from AIDS. But unlike the costly anti- viral cocktails doctors must give patients to fight AIDS, a full course of TB drugs costs as little as $10 in developing countries and cures up to 95 percent of cases. The Chronicle urges the US Senat
Thousands Run For A Cause: Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (09.24.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Alan Barnes; On Sunday, successful charity walks and runs in Toronto, Canada raised money for medical research. About 3,200 entrants raised more than $500,000 for the AIDS Committee of Toronto and partner agencies. They took part in an 8.5-kilometer walk through downtown, starting at 2 p.m. from Nathan Phillips Square. A party in t
Drug Addicts Get Clean Needles from AIDS Prevention Group: Houston Chronicle (09.22.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Tim Collie; Yes, they re drug addicts. Yes they re committing a crime with the needles we give them, said Dr. Jose Vargas Vidot, the man behind the Community Initiative at the Luis Llorens Torres housing project in San Juan, Puerto Rico , and throughout the capital. But I m a doctor, and the point here is to save lives. That shou
Association of Pulmonary Tuberculosis with Increased Dietary Iron: Journal of Infectious Diseases (08.17.01) Vol 184: P 936- 939 - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Innocent T Gangaidzo; Victor M Moyo; Elisha Mvundura; George Aggrey; Nyasha L Murphree; Hlosukwazi Khumalo; Thokozile Saungweme; Ishmael Kasvosve; Zvenyika AR Gomo; Tracey Rouault; Johan R Boelaert; Victor R Gordeuk; To determine whether increased dietary iron could be a risk factor for active TB, dietary iron history and HIV status were studied in 98 patients with pulmonary TB and in 98 control subjects from rural Zimbabwe . Dietary iron overload, which affects PRIVATE TYPE=PICT;ALT= 10 percent or more of some rural African popula
Kenyans Reject Safe Sex Despite AIDS: BBC (09.24.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; A new survey on HIV/AIDS in Kenya has revealed that many people there have not changed their sexual behavior, despite the fact that the disease is killing up to 600 Kenyans a day. In an independent poll commissioned by Kenya s leading media organization, the Media Institute, more than 55 percent said they thought condo
Survey: Religion Affects Teen Sex: New York Times (09.25.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Associated Press; A new survey and report, commissioned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, found that teens say morals, values and religion -not just AIDS and pregnancy -play a major role in their decisions about sex. The survey of 502 teens, conducted Sept. 5-9, also found that half of teens said their parents were mos
Some Blood Donors Now Need Help Themselves: Associated Press (09.25.01) - Tuesday, September 25, 2001; Since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States , thousands of Americans have rushed to give blood in an effort to aid the victims. Now, however, some of those donors are themselves asking for help. Many people are donating blood for the first time, and some of them have learned they have viral diseases such as hepatit
Ford Foundation Honors Los Angeles Community Leaders: Associated Press (09.21.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; On Thursday, the Ford Foundation announced its 20 Leadership for a Changing World Award winners, who were chosen from 3,000 nominees nationwide. The winners included Phil Wilson, director of the African American AIDS Policy and Training Institute. Wilson created a think-tank devoted to educating people about preventing
Ghana's Rawlings Lands in Ethiopia to Tackle AIDS: CNN.com (09.23.01) Reuters - Monday, September 24, 2001; Former Ghananian President Jerry Rawlings arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Sunday for a three-day visit to discuss the spread of HIV/AIDS with government and religious leaders. We shall not let HIV/AIDS devastate the whole of the production section of Africa and wipe out all [the continent s] skills, Rawlings told r
Africa, Mediterranean to Discuss Reproductive Health Problems: Agence France Presse (09.24.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; Kenya is hosting international talks aimed at improving reproductive health in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean where 40 percent of the world s pregnancy-related deaths occur, according to the World Health Organization . Policy makers, health care managers and scientists will meet for five days to discuss a host
We Are All AIDS Sufferers: New York Times (09.23.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; John Corigliano; Today, we are all Israelis. Is this the closest analogy to the way we live now: shaken by terror, reeling from loss, amazed by hatred, wondering desperately if ours are to be the next deaths? No. I remember reading, almost 20 years ago on another airliner, the first New York Times article about GRID, or gay- related
Initiatives Address Issues of HIV Co-infection, Prevention: AIDS Policy & Law (09.14.01) Vol 16; No 17; P 4 - Monday, September 24, 2001; Hepatitis C, a viral infection that principally affects the liver, is a blood-borne pathogen, generally transmitted through injection drug use. Approximately 15 percent of hepatitis C cases are transmitted through sexual contact, according to the CDC. Hepatitis C is a growing health risk, particularly for people with H
Condom Dispensers Save Face: South China Morning Post (09.22.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; Residents of the Chinese capital s high-tech and university quarter will have a new way to buy condoms next month when the district installs 500 condom vending machines to promote birth control and safer sex. Beijing s Haidian district and the Beijing Ai Lun Si pharmaceutical company will install 70 machines in hotels,
Libyan Court Postpones Verdict in AIDS Case Against Foreigners: Associated Press (09.22.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; Mariam Fam; Libyan judges put off a verdict in the case of seven foreigners accused of injecting 393 children with the HIV- contaminated blood, saying Saturday they needed more time to study defense arguments. The court decided to continue studying the rebuttals presented by the defense lawyers due to the size and importance of th
Computer Chartrooms Get AIDS Message: Miami Herald (09.24.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; Johnny Diaz; With the AIDS epidemic in its third decade, Marc Cohen and other AIDS-prevention advocates are invading chatrooms to get the word out. Finding new ways to reach at-risk groups - especially young gay and bisexual men, and blacks -long the province of AIDS awareness conferences, is now more direct and more personal thank
Legislators Ask Congressional Delegation to Help on Lost AIDS Grant: Associated Press (09.21.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; A pair of legislative panels in Little Rock has agreed to ask Arkansas members of Congress to help learn why the state lost a $725,760 federal grant for medicines for low-income AIDS patients. After reports that the state health department failed to meet a deadline to complete an application for the money, state health
Other Causes Hurting: New York Post (09.24.01) - Monday, September 24, 2001; Hannele Rubin; In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States , Americans have given generously to disaster relief efforts. But with an already troubled economy, a turbulent stock market and people giving all they can to the emergency effort, will other worthy causes see their funding falter? Many organizations are fea
Burkina Faso Creates New Body to Fight AIDS, STDs: Agence France Presse (09.20.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Burkina Faso , one of the west African countries worst hit by the AIDS pandemic, has created a national body to fight the disease, officials said Thursday. The new body, the National Council to Fight Against AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, will be chaired by President Blaise Compaore and will meet once a year
S. African Prisoners Dying of AIDS Up 328 Percent: Minister: Agence France Presse (09.18.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; A total of 1,101 South African prisoners died of HIV/AIDS in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 328 percent over the same period last year, Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana said Tuesday. Personal and environmental hygiene within prisons is compromised by overcrowding, Skosana said, and a high
HIV/AIDS: 'Call to Commitment Day' Postponed: American Health Line (09.18.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and the Coordinating Committee for National Call to Commitment Day have postponed their Oct. 1 event in the wake of last week s national tragedy, deeming it insensitive to so many who have lost so much to pursue the planned action on that date, according to a NAPWA r
There She, Uh, He Is ... Miss'd America: Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) (09.21.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Judy DeHaven; Miss d America is Atlantic City s other beauty pageant, held one night after the Miss America Pageant and just a few blocks away from the site of the big event. Started 10 years ago by Atlantic City Councilperson John Schultz as little more than a bar contest, the drag pageant has become a local institution. It s a spo
Sheriff Sues over City Jail: Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) (09.20.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Alan Cooper; Richmond Sheriff Michelle B. Mitchell has filed suit with the city, demanding a new City Jail or the correction of the inadequacies of the current one. Filed in Circuit Court, Mitchell s suit invoked state laws that require the city to provide a jail that is secure, in good repair and otherwise adequate. The jail, whic
Children with HIV Might Benefit from Immunization: Vaccine Weekly (09.12.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Between 500,000 and 870,000 children die each year from rotavirus diarrhea in developing countries, where diarrheal disease is a leading cause of illness and death among children with HIV. This study, conducted by Nigel Cunliffe and colleagues from Liverpool University, U.K., and the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratorie
What's Wrong with Our Blood: Times of India (09.19.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Indian Health Minister C.P. Thakur recently offered to send 100 doctors and 1,000 liters of blood to New York to help in crisis management following the terrorist attacks in the United States . Perhaps he was not aware that hospitals in the United States were not accepting blood donations from people who have been to c
Foreigners in Libya Face Death Penalty in Case of 393 Children Who Contracted AIDS: Associated Press (09.20.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Donna Abu-Nasr; In Libya , six Bulgarians and a Palestinian -all doctors and nurses -face the death penalty if they are convicted of killing 393 children by injecting them with AIDS-contaminated blood. The defendants are charged with murder and conspiracy in the deaths. A panel of five judges will hand down the verdicts Saturday.
Religious Leaders, AIDS Activists Urge Government to Declare AIDS National Emergency: Associated Press (09.20.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; South African religious leaders and AIDS activists appealed to the government Thursday to declare the HIV pandemic a national emergency. An unreleased report by South Africa s Medical Research Council estimated that AIDS caused 40 percent of South African deaths last year. AIDS activists have accused the government of
Leaders Say Eased Patent Accord Could Hurt AIDS Research: Boston Globe (09.20.01) - Friday, September 21, 2001; Robert Evans, Reuters; Leaders of the international pharmaceutical industry warned Wednesday that research and development into AIDS drugs could cease if global trading rules on patents are loosened. The warning was issued at a session of delegates to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. The session was convened to discuss whether Trade R
Newly Registered TB Patients Drop to 39,000 in 2000: Kyodo News Service (09.20.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; The number of newly registered TB patients in Japan last year fell 4,400 from a year earlier to about 39,000, marking the first decline in four years, health officials said Thursday. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said 39,384 people registered themselves as having TB in 2000, down from 43,818 in 1999. Howeve
AIDS Agency Cuts Staff After Donation Drop: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (09.20.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; The Lifelong AIDS Alliance has cut 14 staff positions and slashed its budget by more than $600,000 because of decreased donations and a slowing economy. The non-profit agency provides support services to people affected by HIV and AIDS. The alliance has seen both individual giving and special- events attendance drop si
India: Minimize Socio-Economic Fallout of AIDS, Says Prime Minister: Hindu (09.20.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee has called for urgent measures to minimize the economic and social fallout of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and he urged industry to play a more significant role in this regard. Launching an Industry Business Trust for HIV/AIDS formed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at a funct
Children Deserve a Chance: BBC News (09.12.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; Carol Bellamy; It s deeply troubling that despite widespread concern about the lack of sustainable development in numerous countries, government leaders, policy makers and development agents seem blinded to one investment opportunity with almost guaranteed returns -ensuring children a good start to life. Whether it is ignorance, apa
Sex Book Should Stay Put, School Panel Says: Associated Press (09.20.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; The Anchorage, Alaska, School District s Controversial Issues Review Committee voted Tuesday to leave the sex education book It s Perfectly Normal on school library shelves. The 10-3 vote followed testimony from Eric and Joan Egeland and Rick and Andrea Steele, parents of students at Oceanview Elementary School. It is
Viewpoint -Private Practitioners and Public Health: Weak Links in Tuberculosis Control: Lancet (09.15.01) Vol 358; No 9285: P 912-916 - Thursday, September 20, 2001; Mukund Uplekar; Vikram Pathania; Mario Raviglione; Communicable diseases dominate the disease burden in poor countries. TB is a leading cause of death in the world for both young people and adults. It results in a million new cases and 2 million deaths each year. Yet, only about 40 percent of TB cases are notified worldwide, despite global attention and implementation
Worried Bulgaria Awaits Libyan HIV Trial Verdict: San Jose Mercury News (09.20.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; Galina Sabeva, Reuters; A Libyan court is expected to announce this weekend its verdict in the trial of six Bulgarian medics and a Palestinian doctor charged with deliberately infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV. The prosecutor has sought the death sentence. Detained in Tripoli in 1999, the defendants -five Bulgarian female nurses
Surgeon General Outlines Prescription for Life at Lecture: Associated Press (09.19.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; US Surgeon General David Satcher outlined his prescription for healthier lives at the first Landon Lecture of the fall semester at Kansas State University. His prescription included moderate exercise, correct nutrition, avoidance of toxins, and responsible sexual activity. When they told me that I was the nation s doct
Racial Divide Extends to Health of South Carolinians: Associated Press (09.19.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; Amy Greir; In South Carolina, a state whose history has been defined along the line between black and white, there is still a racial division in health. AIDS is one of the more vivid examples. A relatively small, poor, rural state, South Carolina ranks eighth in the nation in the rate of AIDS cases. Two-thirds of those with AIDS
CDC Steps Up Security After Terrorist Attacks: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (09.20.01) - Thursday, September 20, 2001; Ben Smith; A commercial jet, hijacked by terrorists, plunges into laboratories next to Atlanta s Emory University and explodes, unleashing some of the world s most deadly viruses. It s bad science fiction, say officials for the CDC. Anything that would destroy the buildings would destroy the viruses, said Barbara Reynolds, CDC sp
Infant Mortality in Latin America Drops by 28 Percent: NewsMexico.com (09.14.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; The mortality rate among children under age five in Latin America and the Caribbean fell by 28.3 percent in the past decade, according to an annual UNICEF report released last Thursday. Deaths among children under five fell to 38 per 1,000, compared to 53 per 100,000 10 years ago. The report singled out
Hospitals Fare OK in Air Ban: State (Columbia, S.C.) (09.17.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; Chuck Crumbo; A ban on air freight slowed the supply of some pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment last week but not enough to affect local hospitals or endanger anyone s health, officials said Friday. We have been affected ... but not at the point that it jeopardizes the care of patients, said Jacque Robinson, spokesperson for
Art AIDS Africa: Black Enterprise (10.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; Leslie E Royal; On June 1, 2000, Dr. Shirley A. Harris, her sister Folami Harris and concerned friend Annemarie Eades founded Art AIDS Africa, a nonprofit organization that uses the money from art sales to support organizations fighting HIV/AIDS on the African continent. This is hard work and a bit of a challenge, since all of us boar
City Scrambles to Take Down Billboards Mayor Deems Inappropriate: Associated Press (09.19.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; Joe Stange; A billboard a few blocks south of Busch Stadium in St. Louis shows two shirtless black men embracing. The caption reads: Brothers Loving Brothers Safely. It includes a number to call for information on getting tested for HIV/AIDS. That is one of at least four billboards that was deemed inappropriate Tuesday by Mayor Fr
TB Test 'Could Save Lives': BBC News (09.18.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; A way of identifying dangerous antibiotic-resistant TB bacteria has been developed in Britain. The test - developed by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) - can analyze the genetic profile of bacteria to see if they are among those that have adapted to fight key drugs. Approximately 6 percent of TB cases in the
AIDS Doc Widow to Carry on His Work: Daily Record (United Kingdom) (09.14.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; The widow of AIDS patient Dr. Sandy Logie will continue his anti-poverty and AIDS work in Africa. Dr. Logie, 62, died seven months ago after being infected with HIV when a needle used on a dying patient jabbed his finger. His widow, Dr. Dorothy Logie, said recently that she intends to help carry out her husband s work
AIDS Greatest Threat to Life in Africa: George McGovern: Agence France Presse (09.19.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; On Wednesday, the US ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said the spread of AIDS is the greatest threat to life in Africa and will kill more people on the continent than a terrorist attack on any scale. It is really a form of terrorism that will destroy more lives than have been destroyed in an
Alabama Launches Awareness Drive for African-Americans: AIDS Policy & Law (08.31.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; Alabama has launched a public information campaign to educate its African-American residents about HIV/AIDS. The state Department of Public Health s Division of HIV/AIDS is sponsoring the awareness campaign in conjunction with Alabama State University in Montgomery. It is our hope that by using an array of communicatio
Foster Tells Conference Children Face Wide Range of Problems: Associated Press (09.18.01) - Wednesday, September 19, 2001; A former health advisor to President Clinton, Dr. Henry Foster, warned this week that many problems facing American children disproportionately affect blacks and other minorities. Foster, who was nominated by President Clinton in 1995 to become US Surgeon General, said a baby born today in
ULL to Hold AIDS Awareness Week: Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.)(09.14.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) is holding an AIDS Awareness Week this week dedicated to educating ULL students, faculty, staff and the general public about HIV/AIDS prevention. Activities include a display of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt; a candlelight vigil; needle-free, anonymous HIV testing
Five-Year Sex Ban for Virgins Upsets Swazi Students: Deutsche Presse-Agentur (09.18.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Swaziland students this week warned of a nationwide strike if officials enforce a planned five-year sex ban on all virgins. Revival of the traditional rite, which is being re-introduced after 20 years, is intended to halt the spread of AIDS. The Umcwasho rite requires that all virgins under age 19 must wear a yellow
Center to Help Soothe AIDS Stress: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (09.14.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Mary Powers; Inside the First Congregational Church s basement in Memphis, Tenn., the Positive Living Center offers people infected or affected by AIDS the chance to attend yoga classes, surf the Internet, play Ping-Pong, study creative writing, or attend a monthly healing service. This is a center that will help people learn to li
Undiagnosed and Unreported AIDS Deaths: Results from the San Francisco Medical Examiner: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (08.01.01) Vol 15; No 27(5): P 467-471 - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Susan Scheer; Mari McQuitty; Paul Denning; Laura Hormel; Boyd Stephens; Mitchell Katz; Sandra Schwarcz; Surveillance of AIDS is necessary to monitor trends in the epidemic, follow changes in the characteristics of persons most severely affected by HIV infection, focus prevention efforts, and plan medical, social services and community programs. It is imperative that surveillance is accurate, complete, and representative
120 NGOs Urge WTO Revision of Patent Accord to Protect Poor: Agence France Presse (09.17.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) this week called upon the World Trade Organization (WTO) to revise an accord on intellectual property rights related to access to drugs, saying that it undermined the rights of the poor. A petition signed by 120 NGOs urged the WTO s November meeting in Doha, Qatar , to
South Africa to Oppose Suit Seeking Low-Cost AIDS Drugs: Boston Globe (09.14.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Brendan Boyle; The South African government will oppose a court bid by AIDS campaigners to force it to provide drugs that cut mother-to- child HIV transmission at birth, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala- Msimang said on Friday. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is demanding that the government start a national program to distribute
WHO Warns Asia Against Complacency After Progress Against AIDS: Agence France Presse (09.17.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Asian countries Monday against complacency after making progress in the fight against AIDS, and it called for attention to the need for harm reduction with intravenous drug users and the strengthening of prevention of STDs. Some one million individuals in the Western Pacific r
Health Officials Warn of Meth Epidemic in Montana: Associated Press (09.14.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Methamphetamine use has risen to epidemic proportions in Montana, according to Dr. Michael Spence, chief medical officer for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. This is a problem that affects everyone, and it s increasing rapidly, he said. Roland Mena, chief of the department s Chemical Dependen
State Agency Allocates $1 Million for New HIV Tests: Southern Voice (Atlanta) (09.06.01) - Tuesday, September 18, 2001; Eric Erickson; A $1 million Georgia state budget allotment will open the door for some people with HIV to receive advanced testing that will screen for drug resistance and help improve drug therapy, according to officials and AIDS activists. The budget for the Georgia Department of Community Health, which was approved Aug. 29, includ
Swaziland: Enlisting Tradition in AIDS Fight: New York Times (09.15.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Agence France Presse; King Mswati III has announced that the government is reviving a chastity rite to preserve virginity among girls and combat AIDS. In the rite, girls wear woolen tassels of different colors depending on their age. A man who dares touch a lady wearing a woolen tassel will find himself having the tassels thrown at him, and
Scripps, Oxford Scientists ID Potential HIV Neutralizer: San Diego Business Journal (08.20.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute of La Jolla and the Glycobiology Institute at Oxford University in the United Kingdom believe they have identified an antibody that can neutralize HIV -a finding they hope to use in creating a vaccine to protect people against the virus. Scientists have long been searching f
Public Health Hero Honored: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (09.17.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Tom Paulson; Dr. William Foege, 66, has been awarded this year s Albert Lasker Award for Public Service. Foege and his wife Paula went to Nigeria in the mid-1960s as medical missionaries. Foege discovered the surveillance and containment strategy that led to the complete eradication of smallpox in 1977. After the smallpox campaign
Thousands Walk to Raise Funds for AIDS: Detroit Free Press (09.17.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Matt Helms; Thousands took to the streets and sidewalks of Royal Oak yesterday for the 11th annual AIDS Walk Detroit to raise money to fight the disease. They were determined not to let last week s terror attacks on New York and Washington diminish the importance of an event that has raised more than $1 million for metro Detroit o
An Off-Season Mardi Gras for AIDS: Los Angeles Times (09.16.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Amy Conway; Supporters of the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County thought a Fat Tuesday fest was the most colorful way to inaugurate a new fund-raiser -an annual World s Fair at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. More than 1,000 people climbed aboard classic midway rides, sampled New Orleans-style fare and watched
Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed: A Mobile Dental Team Serves a Community-Based Program for People with HIV/AIDS: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) Vol 91; No 8: P 1187- 1189 - Monday, September 17, 2001; Georgina P Zabos, DDS; Chau Trinh, MS; Despite a direct referral system of oral health linking primary health care and dental care providers, most HIV- positive patients at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center had been receiving only emergency and episodic dental care between 1993 and 1998. Columbia University s School of Dental and Oral Surgery offers
Report Says AIDS Is South Africa's Leading Cause of Death: Associated Press (09.16.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; A medical report has found that AIDS is the leading cause of death in South Africa . About 40 percent of South Africans ages 15 to 49 who died last year died of AIDS-related illnesses, the South African Medical Council said in a report obtained by the Sunday Times. The report by a government-funded institute has yet to
Blood and Tears: A Chinese Family's Ordeal in a Nation in Denial of AIDS: New York Times (09.16.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Elisabeth Rosenthal; Shen Jieyong was happy to buy his pregnant wife transfusions when she returned to their rural hometown to give birth in 1988. Our home village is poor, so for my wife to receive transfusions seemed like a kind of honor..., he said. But the transfusions were unscreened for infectious diseases and were purchased off the
Blood Donors Have to Meet Health Criteria: Orange County Register (09.15.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Lisa Liddane; Some of the thousands of people who have lined up to donate blood at American Red Cross offices following Tuesday s attack on the United States have found that the agency cannot accept their blood. A history of certain diseases or existing medical conditions can make a person temporarily or permanently ineligible to do
Recovery Raises Health Concerns: Newsday (New York)(09.15.01) - Monday, September 17, 2001; Laurie Garrett; Graham Rayman; Sean Gardiner; As New York continues to deal with the aftermath of its terrorist catastrophe, health and police officials are stepping up efforts to protect the living and deal with the dead. Friday s cool rains, which could promote decay, raised concerns about the status of the bodies and the safety of rescuers. I don t think it s a
Judge Dismisses Inmate's Request for HIV Test as Frivolous: AIDS Policy and Law (08.31.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; Federal Judge Milton I. Shadur has dismissed as frivolous an Illinois inmate s request for an HIV test. Robert J. Scoggins filed the complaint in the US District Court, Eastern Division, saying he had engaged in sexual activity with someone who may be HIV-positive. Shadur said the only recourse for a federal court was
United States Conference on AIDS: We Have to Cancel: www.nmac.org (09.13.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; Following is an excerpt from a statement posted on the Web- site of the National Minority AIDS Council. We have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 5th United States Conference on AIDS scheduled for September 13-16 in Miami Beach, FL. It has now become painfully clear that the nation s transportation syste
Los Angeles Facility for HIV Affected Families Open: Associated Press (09.11.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; A $9 million community of townhouses, developed specifically for homeless and low-income families affected by HIV/AIDS, has officially opened in Los Angeles. The Salvation Army-sponsored facility -reportedly one of the first and largest in the nation -opened Monday. Executive Director Douglas B. Loisel said officials f
Hispanic Group's Aim: AIDS Awareness: Miami Herald (09.13.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; Rosa Mae Neel; In the battle against AIDS, many say that Hispanic voices have been too quiet, even as statistics show that Hispanics are contracting HIV at a rapid rate. Union Positiva, founded four years ago, is the first organization in South Florida dedicated to helping Spanish speakers prevent and treat AIDS. Its founders origina
Less Cervical Cancer in HIV Infected on HAART: Internal Medicine News (08.15.01) Vol 34; No 16: P 25 - Friday, September 14, 2001; Mary Ann Moon; Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) appears to protect HIV-positive women against cervical cancer, Dr. Niharika Khanna said recently at an international conference on AIDS malignancy sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. In a three-year study, she assessed cervical dysplasia in 137 HIV- positive women wh
AIDS Drugs Remain Unaffordable, Says South Africa's Health Minister: Associated Press (09.13.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; Although pharmaceutical companies have cut the price of AIDS medication, South Africa still can not afford to provide the drugs through the public health system, the health minister said Thursday. The government has drawn widespread criticism for not supplying antiretroviral drugs to those infected. The budget I have
A Social 'Neutron Bomb': Newsweek (09.17.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; Eve Conant; Even pros like Elena Yaskevich, who answers one of Moscow s few drug addiction hotlines, have been blindsided by the tidal wave of HIV that has hit Russia in the past two years. This is a serious threat, she said, likening it to a neutron bomb. That bomb has already exploded among intravenous drug users. Now the questi
$2.5 Million Enough to Slash HIV Infection of World's Babies: Agence France Presse (09.14.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; On Thursday, an AIDS conference in Kampala, Uganda , learned that just $2.5 million worth of drugs would drastically reduce mother-to-infant HIV transmission worldwide. The third International Conference on Global Strategies for Prevention of Mother-to-Infant HIV Transmission, attended by 700 experts from 52 countries,
Strange Bedfellows: American Medical News (09.03.01) Vol 44; No 33; P 37 - Friday, September 14, 2001; Sens. Bill Frist, MD (R-Tenn.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- N.Y.) and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson have joined together to promote legislation to enhance collaboration between federal and international health care groups to combat HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The legislation would also establish th
Serious Health Risk Linked to Disaster is Termed Remote: Wall Street Journal (09.14.01) - Friday, September 14, 2001; Ron Winslow; Laurie McGinley; Despite the enormous loss of life and massive destruction from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, public health experts do not believe there is risk for a major epidemic or a significant outbreak of disease. While the quality of the air and other conditions amid the rubble in lower Manhat
More than 40,000 HIV Cases Detected Until April: Associated Press (09.12.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; A study conducted in Malaysia has revealed that the number of HIV cases detected up to April has reached 40,049, with almost 16,000 of the cases in people between ages 13 and 29. Health Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Alias Ali said the majority of those who contracted the virus were drug addicts and those who practic
Doctors Group Helps Spread AIDS Strategy: New York Times (09.13.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; Reuters; Doctors Without Borders said today that it was working with Brazil to export the country s successful AIDS program and its locally made AIDS drugs to other developing countries. The president of the organization, Bernard Pecoul, said he and Brazil s health minister, Jose Serra, had signed a letter of intent as the firs
Zimbabwe HIV/AIDS Policy Framework Adopted by International Body: Xinhua (09.13.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; The International Federation of the Red Cross Society and Red Crescent Society has adopted the Zimbabwean Red Cross Society s policy framework on tackling HIV/AIDS issues, an official said yesterday. Activities being conducted by the local branch in the fight against HIV/AIDS include providing nursing aids for the home
Stop AIDS Project Honors Local Heroes: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; Matthew S Bajko; Established in 1994, the Stop AIDS Project is dedicated to preventing HIV transmission among all gay and bisexual men in San Francisco through multi-cultural, community-based organizing. Celebrating their accomplishments in the battle against HIV, the project announced plans to honor four community leaders at a star-st
Pregnancies Among Teens Decline 30 Percent: Buffalo News (09.08.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; Terry Frank; Chautauqua County, N.Y., health officials say a combination of factors has led to a 30 percent drop in the county s teen pregnancy rate. The results of the county s 1999 survey of girls ages 10 to 17 were announced last week by Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Berke. Jane Fischer, a county public health educator, said th
County Does Its Part to Eliminate Syphilis: Dallas Morning News (09.10.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; Ed Housewright; Dallas County health officials have begun the latest phase of a $50 million national program to eliminate syphilis. Dallas County is one of 28 US counties that account for 50 percent of the nation s total syphilis cases. Most of the counties are in the South. The national campaign, directed by the CDC and begun in 1998
Increasing Voluntary HIV Testing by Offering Oral Tests in Incarcerated Populations: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) Vol 91; No 8: P 1226- 1229 - Thursday, September 13, 2001; Robert L Bauserman, PhD; Michael A Ward, DDS, MPH; Lois Eldred, DrPH, MPH; Anthony Swetz, PhD; Incarcerated populations have a higher prevalence of HIV and AIDS than most other populations. Nationwide, among state prisoners tested in 1997, 2.2 percent of males and 3.4 percent of females were HIV-positive. In Maryland in 1998, 3 percent of male inmates and 4.7 percent of female inmates were HIV- positive; the pre
Vietnam Waging War on Vice as AIDS Cases Rise: San Jose Mercury News (09.12.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; Mark McDonald; Prostitution has become so blatant and prevalent in Vietnam - alarming is the word used by the minister of labor -that the government is launching a highly publicized crackdown on the twin social evils of prostitution and drug abuse. The sharp increases in prostitution and drug abuse have caused a corresponding rise in
AIDS Status Not Relevant to Length of Prison Sentence: AIDS Policy and Law (08.31.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; HIV/AIDS is not a mitigating factor in sentencing, according to a Louisiana appeals court in a case involving a convicted drug dealer. Ransom P. Miller was convicted January 1999 on one count of possession of marijuana and one count of intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 25 years hard labor as a multiple offender
Joint Approach Sought for Ailments Common to US-Mexico Border: Dallas Morning News (09.08.01) - Thursday, September 13, 2001; David McLemore; TB and AIDS, along with heart disease and diabetes, are growing health concerns along the US-Mexico border that stretches nearly 2,000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Death rates from heart disease in males run about 10 percent higher along the border than in either the United States or Mexico,
Victims: A Portrait of America: Newsday (New York) (09.12.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Among those confirmed dead in yesterday s terrorist attacks was the Rev. Mychal Judge, 68, chaplain of the New York City Fire Department. Judge was a widely known Franciscan friar whose busy schedule sometimes included a White House ceremony one day and ministering to impoverished AIDS patients the next. The child of I
Company Drops Feud over AIDS Vaccine: Associated Press (09.11.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Paul Elias; A biotechnology company founded by Jonas Salk ended its multimillion-dollar feud yesterday with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), over the school s conclusion that an AIDS vaccine it developed does not work. Immune Response Corp. funded the school s research on the drug and then tried to block publica
Bicyclists Raise Money for AIDS Research: Associated Press (09.10.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; A 400-mile bicycle ride from Montreal to Portland, Maine, will likely surpass the $4.1 million raised during a similar fund- raiser for AIDS research last year in Alaska, organizers said. More than 1,800 bicyclists completed the five-day ride, which ended Sunday in Deering Oaks. The ride began in Montreal and included
HIV Vaccine Subjects Don't Increase Risky Behavior: Reuters Health (09.10.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Despite concerns that participants in AIDS vaccine trials might feel a false sense of security and engage in more risky sexual behaviors, the results of one study show that participants actually reduce such behaviors. At 12 months into the trial, male participants were less likely overall to engage in unprotected anal
HIV Scare in the Nursery: San Francisco Chronicle (09.10.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Gavin du Venage; In Johannesburg, Evette Harrison s maid would often comfort her employer s infant by having the child suck her breast. For some white South Africans, it was simply part of growing up in Africa, where traditional child-raising methods have resisted change. Harrison, who lives in a small farming community in rural KwaZul
Experts: African Women Have to Stop Breast-feeding to Prevent Passing HIV to Babies: Associated Press (09.11.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; African women infected with HIV have to break with tradition and stop breast-feeding to prevent passing it on to their children, medical experts said Monday at an international AIDS conference in Uganda . The problem of breast-feeding in many countries in Africa is that the decision to feed does not always rest with th
Investors in South Africa 'Bewildered by Action on AIDS': Financial Times (London) (09.12.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; The international investment community is dumbstruck by the inadequate response of the South African government to the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging the economy, according to Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University. Sachs said the government s handling of the crisis had un
China Court Awards Huge Compensation for HIV Blood Transfusion: Agence France Presse (09.12.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Cindy Sui; The Wuxian People s Court in Jiangsu province has awarded up to $1.2 million to the family of a woman who died after contracting HIV from a hospital blood transfusion. The verdict raises the prospect of an avalanche of similar claims, state media and experts said Tuesday. The China Daily reported that the hospital wher
US Conference on AIDS Begins in Miami Beach: Miami Herald (09.11.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Christine Morris; More than 3,500 people involved in the front-line fight against AIDS are meeting in Miami Beach this week to learn what s new in treatment, share war stories with their colleagues and recharge to fight the epidemic. The US Conference on AIDS chose South Florida, site of its first meeting in 1997, because the region ref
Williams Declares a State of Emergency; Clinic to Provide Grief Counseling: Washington Blade Online (09.11.01) - Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Kara Fox; In the wake of yesterday s attacks against the United States , Washington Mayor Anthony Williams declared a state of emergency in the District of Columbia. Whitman-Walker Clinic, the city s largest AIDS services provider, closed, as did many other organizations and businesses and all government offices. The heinou
More than 25 People Test Positive for TB at South Windsor Company: Associated Press (09.10.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; More than 25 people who were screened for TB recently at Output Technologies in South Windsor, Conn., tested positive, the town director of health said. About 400 employees and people who do business with the company were tested last month after health officials alerted the company that one of its employees, whose name
Open-air Films on AIDS Start for Indian Workers in Singapore: Deutsche Presse-Agentur (09.10.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; Open-air films have been launched in Singapore to educate Indian workers about AIDS and the dangers of unprotected sex. The films are part of an educational campaign in the Bengali and Tamil languages targeting mainly foreign construction workers. Civil engineer Ravi Rai, president of the India-based Children of Mother
Mexico Launches AIDS-Education Campaign for Migrants: Associated Press (09.08.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; Seeking to stem a tide of HIV infections among migrants, the Mexican government launched a health education program Saturday aimed at those who cross the border -and who sometimes bring AIDS home with them. Known as the Migrant Health Plan, it includes a series of radio and television ads to inform people about how AID
Beyond Assumptions of Negligible Risk: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Women Who Have Sex with Women: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; Greta R Bauer, MPH; Seth L Welles, ScD, PhD; Few studies have addressed HIV transmission between women, and even fewer have examined the female-to-female risk of STDs that may be transmitted more readily than HIV. An estimated 6.7 percent of American women have engaged in same-sex sexual behavior after age 15, and 3.6 percent have engaged in such behavior within
Vaccine Hits HIV's Weakest Spot; Researchers Say Hurdles Remain: USA Today (09.10.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; Steve Sternberg; Scientists reported Sunday that for the first time they have crafted a vaccine that attacks HIV at the one time it is fully exposed and vulnerable. The vaccine s most remarkable feature, which distinguishes it from other experimental vaccines being tested, is that it apparently can produce powerful antibodies that crip
AIDS Conference Commends Four Countries for Anti-AIDS Efforts: Agence France Presse (09.09.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; At the opening of an AIDS conference in Kampala, Uganda , on Sunday, four countries were praised for reducing mother-to- child HIV transmission by making the appropriate drugs readily available. Botswana , Brazil , Thailand and Uganda were presented with awards at the
Churches Urged to Reach Out to AIDS Patients: Associated Press (09.09.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; Churches carry a responsibility to offer help to people with HIV and AIDS, the Rev. Edwin C. Sanders II said Saturday in Louisville, Ky., during a conference focusing on the epidemic in the black community. The 2001 Kentucky State African American Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS, sponsored by the Jefferson County Hea
Nebraska Board of Education Changes Sex Education Requirements: Associated Press (09.08.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; The Nebraska Board of Education on Friday voted to change language in its accreditation requirements to avoid the appearance that it was requiring schools to teach students about condoms. School districts are free to teach safe sex or birth control in their sex education classes. The state board s policy pertains only
Mississippi Sees Lowest Syphilis Rate in Decades: Associated Press (09.07.01) - Monday, September 10, 2001; Emily Wagster; Mississippi s syphilis rate has plummeted since the mid- 1990s, when the exchange of sex for drugs fueled an epidemic of STDs. State Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson said physicians, nurses and health care investigators have worked aggressively to control the disease. Thompson said Friday that Mississippi now has its low
Packers Fans Can Tackle AIDS Walk: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (09.03.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Marilyn Marchione; Two big changes have been announced for this year s Wisconsin AIDS Walk, the state s largest fund-raiser for people with HIV. The event will be held in Madison as well as in its traditional home, Milwaukee. And for the first time it will be held on a Saturday -Sept. 29 -so as not to conflict with the Green Bay Packers
Rwandan Taxi Drivers Want HIV Clinics Near Pick-up Points: Agence France Presse (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Through their public transport association, drivers of Rwanda s minibus taxis have called for the opening of HIV clinics near the bus stations where they pick up passengers. The drivers have also asked the government to provide AIDS information by way of leaflets, brochures and cassettes. In many African towns, the hub
Officials Say State Didn't Qualify for Funds: Associated Press (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; James Jefferson; After a federal agency s letter did not reach the right person, Arkansas last week was denied a $725,760 grant from the Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Program. But on Wednesday, Health Department spokesperson Donnie Smith told a legislative health subcommittee that we as a state did not qualify to begin with. Smith sa
Bracelet Symbolizes Hope for AIDS Cure: Columbus Dispatch (08.27.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Elizabeth M Barovian; Their dream is that no one else will become infected with HIV. Their goal is to find the cure. To accomplish these goals, they have the bracelet. Columbus, Ohio, retailer the Body Shop along with Virgin Megastores and a number of clothing brands such as Espirit and Kenneth Cole, are selling the bracelet - a quarter-inc
Allegheny County Health Board Backs Trial of Needle Exchange: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Deborah Mendenhall; The Allegheny County Board of Health yesterday endorsed development of a needle exchange program for intravenous drug users as a way to reduce the spread of AIDS and hepatitis. Members of the board will form a panel, begin to establish policies and procedures, select an administrator, and pick either a permanent site f
City Reports Syphilis Cases Increase Among Gay Men: Chicago Tribune (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Karen Rivedal; Alarmed by a spike in syphilis infection among gay men, the Chicago Department of Public Health on Wednesday urged gay men and anyone with symptoms of syphilis to be tested and treated. This year s spike, seen largely in the gay communities of Uptown, Lakeview and Rogers Park, is doubly dangerous because syphilis also
Studies Suggest Hepatitis G Virus Slows Down the AIDS Virus: Associated Press (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Stephanie Nano; Two studies in Thursday s New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 345; No. 10; P 707-714 and 715-724) indicate that infection with a newly recognized virus seems to interfere with HIV, slowing its progression and prolonging survival of AIDS patients. The findings confirm earlier, smaller studies showing that patients wit
Skeptical About AIDS Vaccine; Testing Method Questioned: Newsday (New York) (09.05.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Laurie Garrett; As scientists searching for an AIDS vaccine convene in Philadelphia this week, many leading researchers warn that a newfound optimism in the field may be based upon misleading science. Optimism about an AIDS vaccine has grown recently due to three alleged breakthrough vaccines announced this year, with a fourth to be u
'What's Going On': A Song to Fight AIDS -Artists Raise Their Voices for Africa: USA Today (09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Mark Memmott; In an effort that recalls the mid- 80s all-star recordings We Are the World and Do They Know It s Christmas? some of today s top rock, pop and rap stars are spending the better part of three days in a New York studio recording a song to raise awareness about AIDS and related issues in Africa. They say their goal is not
Philadelphia Conference Focuses on Pursuit of an HIV Vaccine: Philadelphia Inquirer(09.06.01) - Thursday, September 06, 2001; Marie McCullough; With a new optimism about promising approaches to fighting HIV through the development of vaccines, more than 1,000 researchers, public health officials and AIDS community advocates are in Philadelphia this week for AIDS Vaccine 2001, the first scientific meeting focused on vaccine development. This meeting is a celebr
Program Offers Incentives for Syphilis, AIDS Tests: Concert Tickets Given to Those Who Get Checked: Louisville Courier-Journal (09.01.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Sheryl Edelen; People at risk of getting AIDS or syphilis can obtain free tickets (worth $45 each) to see Patti LaBelle in concert in Louisville on Saturday if they undergo free tests for the diseases. Test for Tickets, which has been offered for a month, has attracted people who are normally reluctant to come in for tests, said June
Norway to Finance Regional AIDS Council Headquarters in Ethiopia: Agence France Presse (09.01.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Norway will provide $1.6 million to build a regional AIDS council headquarters in Ethiopia to run programs aimed at preventing the spread of disease, the UN Children s Fund said in a statement on Saturday. The number of HIV-positive people in Ethiopia is estimated to be close to 3 million, including 250,000 children
Five SE Asian Countries Sign Up to Fight AIDS: Agence France Presse (09.05.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Representatives of Cambodia , China , Laos , Thailand and Vietnam on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to fight the spread of AIDS across the region, with a special focu
Fears over HIV Cost Girl Her Job; EEOC Urges Settlement, Finds 'Reasonable Cause': Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (09.02.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Marilynn Marchione; A 16-year-old girl lost her job as a bagger at her hometown grocery store because the manager feared she would send customers home with something besides bread and milk -HIV. Korrin Krause worked only one day at Quality Foods IGA in Schofield, Wis., before the manager called her mother to verify that the girl had HIV,
Partner Violence Tied to HIV for African Women: Reuters Health (09.03.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; In a study of women attending a health clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania , investigators found that among those who had not told their partners their HIV status, fear of violence or abandonment was the major reason. Suzanne Maman of Johns Hopkins University and colleagues followed 245 women who sought HIV testing and c
US Drug Company Calls on Caribbean Nations to Expand Access to HIV-Fighting Drugs: Associated Press (09.04.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Marcelo Ballve; New Jersey-based Merck & Co. said Tuesday that the Caribbean was not doing enough to provide discounted HIV drugs to patients. For years, developing nations complained that prices for HIV drugs put them out of the reach of patients. Then in March, Merck announced it would sell Stocrin and
Chile's Health Budget Facing Shortfall: United Press International (09.03.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Jennifer Pribble; HIV and AIDS cases are growing at an alarming rate in Chile , but the government may delay a public awareness and prevention campaign for another year because of financial shortfalls. The government s last far-reaching information campaign on HIV/AIDS was in 1997. At the UN Special Assembly on HIV/AIDS in June, Ministe
UNAIDS Condemns AIDS Stigma as a Form of Discrimination that Helps Spread the Virus: Associated Press (09.05.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Ravi Nessman; At the world racism conference in Durban, South Africa , Dr. Peter Piot, head of UNAIDS , said countries need to adopt legislation to outlaw discrimination against those infected with HIV. According to Piot, the laws should send a clear message of support to people who are infected, encouraging them to publicly reveal
Health Care Tops Agenda at Convention: Associated Press (09.04.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Ashley H Grant; Dispiriting health statistics greeted delegates yesterday in Minneapolis at the annual convention of a prominent black denomination. The National Baptist Convention USA heard that the average life expectancy for blacks in the United States is 64.4 years, compared with 73 for whites; that black infants have lower birth
Closer to AIDS Vaccine?: USA Today (09.05.01) - Wednesday, September 05, 2001; Steve Sternberg; Today, many researchers, public health experts, drug company representatives and health ministers from hard-hit nations will meet in Philadelphia for AIDS Vaccine 2001. The conference is the first in a series of meetings designed to speed AIDS vaccines into large-scale trials. Nearly 20 prototypes of AIDS vaccines are
Store Denies Firing Because of HIV: New York Times (09.06.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; Associated Press; Bernard Enkro, owner of Quality Foods IGA in Schofield, Wis., said Korrin Krause was offered another job as an office clerical worker after the store discovered she had the AIDS virus. Our interest was in protecting her health, not removing her from the store, Enkro said in a statement on Wednesday. The girl s attorney
Boehringer, Axios Begin to Distribute No-Cost AIDS Drug: Wall Street Journal (09.07.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; Michael Waldholz; German drug maker Boehringer-Ingelheim finally figured out a way to get its offer of no-cost HIV/AIDS drugs to health programs in Africa and other poor nations and has begun shipping 50,000 doses of its drug. Until this summer, Boehringer-Ingelheim was frustrated that few countries or health programs took advantage of
Brazil Targets Older People in Anti-AIDS Program: New York Times (09.06.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; Reuters; Brazil s health ministry said on Thursday it is stepping up efforts to prevent the spread of AIDS among older people with education campaigns and the distribution of condoms. Although the elderly represent only a fraction of the 210,000 registered AIDS cases in Brazil (15,263 cases), infection is on the rise, studies s
Needs at HIV Food Pantry Grow with Rise in Diagnoses: Sunday Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) (08.26.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; Amy Wold; Four months after opening a Baton Rouge food pantry for people with HIV/AIDS, Volunteers of America (VOA) is looking for more space to meet increasing demand. When the Golden Rule Customer Choice Food Pantry opened in April, it was receiving enough Ryan White Care Act funding to provide food for 250 people. Currently,
Collaboration Cooks Up More Than Food; South L.A. Outreach Effort Trains Welfare Recipients While Providing Hot Meals For People with HIV/AIDS: Los Angeles Times (08.27.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; Carla Rivera; A new collaboration between the Salvation Army and Project Angel Food is training welfare recipients for jobs in the food industry while providing hot meals for people with HIV/AIDS. It also seeks to expand AIDS awareness and programs into South Los Angeles and other minority communities where AIDS is spreading rapidly
HIV or AIDS Patients in Line for Help on Housing: San Diego Union-Tribune (08.28.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; Kristen Green; Recently, HIV/AIDS patients have headed into local clinics and agencies to fill out applications for Mercy Gardens, a low- income apartment complex scheduled to open on the Scripps Mercy Hospital campus in San Diego in January. Originally a convent for the Sisters of Mercy, the complex s apartments are being renovated
Challenges Associated with Increased Survival Among Parents Living with HIV: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) Vol 91; No 8: P 1303- 1309 - Friday, September 7, 2001; Martha Lee, PhD; Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, PhD; Increasing numbers of women are being infected with HIV, resulting in substantially higher numbers of infected parents. Some factors found to predict survival in men also predict survival in women; for example, physical health status predicts survival in both men and women. In particular, a high CD4 count appears to be
Activists Hope Firms' Involvement Boosts Battle Against AIDS in Africa: Boston Globe (09.04.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; John Donnelly; In what AIDS activists call a long-overdue development, multinational corporations doing business in Africa are joining the front-line fight against the epidemic. Perhaps the two most under-tapped areas in fighting AIDS are the developing countries themselves taking initiatives and the private sector getting involved,
Pitt Researchers Hope to Get More Blacks in Study: Associated Press (09.06.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; As part of a national effort to get more black men into AIDS studies, University of Pittsburgh researchers are recruiting more participants for the first time in a decade. The National Institutes of Health is funding the effort to get more black men into its Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, in which the Pitt Men s Study
New Vaccines May Keep HIV in Check: Washington Post (09.07.01) - Friday, September 7, 2001; David Brown; Several experimental vaccines that do not prevent infection with HIV but do apparently allow laboratory animals to live more or less healthy lives with HIV were described Thursday in presentations at the AIDS Vaccine 2001 meeting in Philadelphia. The vaccines, delivered by injection, or in one case, by nasal spray, wor
Pakistanis Deported for Testing HIV-Positive Raise Fears at Home: Deutsche Presse-Agentur (08.30.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Pakistan health workers fear a sharp rise in HIV cases as Pakistanis deported from abroad for testing positive for HIV/AIDS return home, according to reports. Pathologists at the research center in Khyber Medical College in Peshawar raised the alarm after relatives of returning men tested positive in July, the newspa
Kenya Plans to Ban AIDS Testing by Employers: Xinhua (08.27.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Kenyan health authorities will ban preemployment HIV testing in accordance with guidelines to be published in six months, according to a local report. Preemployment screening is a common practice in Kenya, ostensibly for medical insurance purposes. When in place, it will be the first such ban in East Africa. But some a
AIDS Leading Cause of Death in Thailand: Associated Press (08.31.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Busaba Sivasomboon; AIDS is the leading cause of death in Thailand , not heart attacks or accidents as previously thought, health officials said Friday. AIDS and its related complications accounted for 16 percent of all deaths in 1998, said Dr. Chanpen Chuprapawan of the Health Ministry, after examining 20,000 deaths in six provinces. Acc
China Finally Faces AIDS: San Francisco Chronicle (08.30.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Chinese officials finally acknowledge that they face a serious threat of an AIDS epidemic. But [their] ... silence denied a vulnerable population the preventive education it needs. As the Beijing leadership turned a blind eye to medical reality, discouraging journalists from looking into the matter and even allowing t
Needle Exchange Program Seeking Permanent Funding: Associated Press (09.01.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; A needle exchange program run by volunteers and private donations is seeking a permanent source of funding. The five- month-old program has cost about $500, said the Program Coordinator Tim Moran. Staff members at the ACT 1/Bridge Program, a Burlington, Vt. detoxification center, have volunteered their time to run the
Researchers Predict That 42 Percent of HIV in San Francisco Will Be Drug-Resistant by 2005: Associated Press (08.31.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Randolph E Schmid; The share of HIV infections that are drug-resistant will jump to 42 percent in San Francisco by 2005, a team of researchers has predicted. The primary reason for the increase, they said, is the development of drug resistance in the virus during treatment. The scientists calculated the increase in drug- resistant HIV si
African Nations Widen Medical Help to Women with HIV: New York Times (09.01.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Associated Press; Clinics in Brazzaville, Congo Republic, this week are beginning to provide the drug Nevirapine free of charge to HIV- positive pregnant women as part of an effort to block mother-to- child transmission. And Ghana said it is in negotiations in partnership with the World Health Organization to start direct m
Myanmar Denies HIV/AIDS Is Rampant Across Country: Associated Press (09.03.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; On Monday, Health Minister Maj. Gen. Ket Sein told the World Health Organization s (WHO) Southeast Asia Regional Committee meeting that contrary to the gloomy picture presented in some reports especially those of the Western media, Myanmar is not suffering from an HIV/AIDS epidemic. Still, the government is committed t
Roche Reaches Accord on Drug with Brazil: New York Times (09.01.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Associated Press; Roche reached an agreement with Brazilian health authorities on Saturday to cut the price of the AIDS drug Viracept by a further 40 percent, ending threats by the government to break the patent and produce the drug locally. The new discount reduces the price of Viracept in Brazil to about 30 percent of what Roche charg
Nigerian Doctor Sees Similarities Between AIDS Problem in Delta, Africa: Associated Press (09.02.01) - Tuesday, September 4, 2001; Shelia Hardwell Byrd; Heat, suffocating humidity, poverty and AIDS are some of reasons Dr. Hamza O. Brimah calls the Mississippi Delta little Africa. In his Greenwood, Miss., clinic, the Nigerian-born doctor wages a battle against a worldwide scourge with compassion and medicine. I think it s because of the situation in Mississippi as well
Five at Fulton Center Test Positive for TB: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (08.31.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; MAJ McKenna; Five cases of TB have been found among children and staff at the Open Arms Lutheran Child Development Center, according to the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness. The department conducted skin tests on 166 children and staff after a person at the center was diagnosed with TB. Two children and two adults we
HIV Cases to Be Reported to State: Associated Press (08.31.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Beginning Oct. 1, the Hawaii Health Department will require case reports of HIV infection from laboratories, doctors and other health care providers throughout the state. This will include both newly and previously diagnosed cases. Special safeguards are in place to ensure the confidentiality of all reported cases, the
Area Group Helps Fight AIDS Crisis in Africa: Santa Fe New Mexican (08.22.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Mickey Rogers; Since February, three New Mexico women -Leslie Temple- Thurston, Victoria More and Judy Miller -along with their community, have raised more than $44,000 to help Africa children orphaned by AIDS. Their project, Seeds of Light, is sponsored by CoreLight, a Santa Fe nonprofit organization committed to fostering world pea
The Needle and the Damage Undone: Creative Loafing (Atlanta) (08.29.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Kevin Griffis; In one hour on a recent morning, Atlanta Harm Reduction Center (AHRC) staff members, working from a van parked in a downtown neighborhood near the Georgia Dome, distributed 1,800 syringes to intravenous drug users. Anyone who wanted one received a bleach kit with distilled water, tourniquets, alcohol patches and other
Two-drug TB Combination Has Been Linked to at Least Five Deaths from Liver Damage: Associated Press (08.31.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Erin McClam; A two-drug combination for latent TB has been linked to at least five deaths and 16 other cases of severe liver damage since February, according to the CDC. Up to now the CDC has been recommending the two-month therapy with the drugs rifampin and pyrazinamide for latent TB. In light of the new findings, the CDC told do
International AIDS Vaccine Group to Start Testing in Uganda: Agence France Presse (08.30.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is to begin testing two HIV vaccines in Uganda soon with the collaboration of the Ugandan government, following an agreement signed in Kampala on Thursday. Under the memorandum of understanding, the two signatories will begin trials for a vaccine to prevent the transmiss
Harlem Parley on AIDS Crisis: Daily News (New York) (08.23.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Jonathan Lemire; Black and Latino leaders declared an AIDS state of emergency in New York at an Aug. 22 assembly in Harlem. They called on N.Y. Gov. Pataki and the Legislature to create additional funds for AIDS services in predominantly minority neighborhoods. Conference participants stressed that the distribution of government funds
State Asks for Reconsideration of AIDS Funding: Associated Press (08.30.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Arkansas has asked to be reconsidered for a $725,760 federal grant that would have helped provide AIDS medication for low- income patients, a state health department official said Thursday. But whether the federal money comes through or not, Jim Harris, a spokesperson for Gov. Mike Huckabee, said he suspected a $181,44
China Asks US Agency to Help Combat HIV Epidemic: New York Times (08.31.01) - Friday, August 31, 2001; Elisabeth Rosenthal; The CDC on Thursday added its voice to the growing alarm over China s rapidly escalating HIV epidemic, and the US agency said that China had asked for its help in addressing the problem. There is a large and growing epidemic that has the potential to move from where it is now -in focused risk groups -to become a very w
AIDS Vaccine Ready by 2010/Kenyan Researchers: Xinhua (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; The Kenyan AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) said that the much- awaited AIDS vaccine would be ready for use in 2010, according to the East African Standard newspaper. KAVI principal investigator Job Bwayo said that processing and compiling data and laboratory results will take between two and five years after completion
Cold Lake Squadron Tested for TB: Calgary Herald (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Four military personnel at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake have tested positive for exposure to TB. The people who tested positive could have come into contact with the disease anywhere, according to Capt. Leah Gillespie. The members of 416 Squadron were tested after a former member was suspected of having active TB. Ch
Cuba Has Low HIV-Maternal Transmission Rate: Xinhua (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Cuba has registered only nine cases of children infected by their mothers with HIV since 1986, the lowest rate in Latin America, Cuban health authorities said Wednesday. The Cuban government offers free systematic treatments, medicine and special food to children with HIV-infected mothers. According to the authoritie
Leaders Discuss Minorities and AIDS: Kansas City Star (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; James Hart; As HIV infects a greater number of minorities, more organizations and programs should be created specifically to reach those communities, speakers said Wednesday at a public hearing on AIDS funding. Leaders of existing AIDS service groups, though, said that the problem is a lack of funding and that creating more groups
Effectiveness of An Intervention To Reduce HIV Transmission Risks In HIV-Positive People: American Journal of Preventive Medicine (08.02.01) Vol 21; No 2: P 81-92 - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Seth C Kalichman, PhD; David Rompa; Marjorie Cage; Kari DiFonzo, BSW; Dolores Simpson, LPN; James Austin; Webster Luke, BA; Jeff Buckles, BA; Florence Kyomugisha, MA; Eric Benotsch, PhD; Steven Pinkerton, PhD; Jeff Graham, MA; Studies show that a significant minority of people living with HIV/AIDS continue to practice sexual behaviors that place their partners at risk for HIV and other STDs and further complicate their own physical health. The overall rate of continued unprotected intercourse across a range of US geographic areas, population
Mamasans Enlisted in AIDS War: South China Morning Post (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Mamasans -older women who arrange for paid sex in bars - could be effective agents for promoting HIV/AIDS awareness among migrant sex workers at Hong Kong nightclubs, a conference was told yesterday. A representative of an AIDS group said mamasans cooperation in HIV prevention education had helped them reach out to yo
Addicts May Get Injection Center: Calgary Herald (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Tom Olsen; Drug addicts should have access to a secure injection site where they can get clean needles, medical care and access to rehabilitation services, said the head of Calgary s needle exchange program. For people who are absolutely unable to quit, there is a need to keep those people safe and healthy, said Virginia Wheeler,
Drug Caused Death of HIV Victim, Wife Claims: Vancouver Sun(08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Margarette Driscoll; James Hayman s widow is convinced that AZT , the antiretroviral drug given to people with AIDS, hastened her husband s death in 1998. The South African woman is suing Glaxo Wellcome SA and its importers. Hayman, who was white and middle- class, was an unlikely victim.
China Has Less Than a Decade to Prevent AIDS Epidemic: US Expert: Agence France Presse (08.30.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; China has less than a decade before it is too late to stop AIDS from becoming an epidemic, Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the CDC s National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, said today. Gayle warned that China must spend more money and educate more people to keep the virus from spreading beyond high-risk groups.
State Never Fixed Application, Officials Say: Associated Press (08.29.01) - Thursday, August 30, 2001; Arkansas was never considered for a $725,760 grant that would have helped provide AIDS medication for low-income patients because a federal agency s letter was ignored at the state Health Department, according to an official. The letter, dated July 20, was sent to Renee Patrick, co-leader of state services for the depa
Princess Diana's Memorial Fund to Help Terminally Ill in East, Southern Africa: Associated Press (08.27.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; Princess Diana s memorial fund has launched a $7.2 million initiative to help Africans in the final states of HIV/AIDS and cancer. The initiative marks the fourth anniversary of the fund, which was set up after Diana s death in a 1997 Paris auto crash. Grants will be distributed over five years for projects, as well as
St. Louis-based Group Plans Conference About Africa and AIDS: Associated Press (08.28.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; St. Louis-based Africans Unite Against AIDS Globally will hold an AIDS conference in the city Dec. 16-18. The group has invited 54 African ministers of health to the gathering. We here in America as a community have to gather together and let them know we care, said Tiahmo Ra-uf, CEO. He said that Africa needs better w
Caribbean Nations Get Deal on HIV-fighting Drugs from US Drug Company: Associated Press (08.28.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; Merck & Co. announced yesterday that it is making HIV drugs available to eight Caribbean countries at cut-rate prices. The company will provide Crixivan and Stocrin at an 85 percent discount (about $1,100 per year per patient) to Haiti ,
Congressman Touts AIDS Center: San Antonio Express-News (08.25.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; John Gutierrez-Mier; On Friday, U.S. Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-San Antonio) saluted some 40 people who gathered on San Antonio s West Side at the newest satellite office of Hope Action Care. The nonprofit agency provides services for poor and indigent persons, including free HIV testing, education and counseling. Rodriguez praised Hope Act
Alcohol Blurs Sex Safety Lines for Guys: United Press International (08.26.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; Ed Susman; Recently researchers have found that -even in the era of AIDS when having sex with the wrong woman can be fatal -alcohol blurs the ability of men to think about risks associated with sex. For the more intoxicated men, the possible risk of picking up a sexually transmitted disease was outweighed by the woman s attractiv
Most Ugandan HIV-positive Mothers Insist on Breast-feeding: Lancet (08.25.01) Vol 358; No 9282: P 649 - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; Charles Wendo; Most HIV-positive mothers in Uganda prefer to breast-feed rather than use infant formula. Francis Mmiro, chair of the committee for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Uganda, reported that 61 percent of HIV- positive mothers who attend antenatal clinics at the National Referral Hospital choose to bre
Adult Death Rates in Asia to Climb 40 Percent Due to AIDS: WHO: Agence France Presse (08.24.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; In a report released in Manila on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Asian countries to aggressively implement HIV prevention programs for drug users, including the controversial approach of providing clean needles to ensure safe injection practices. The WHO said the AIDS epidemic in virtually all of
Northfield Applies for FDA Approval of Human Blood-Substitute Product: Wall Street Journal (08.29.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; Thomas M Burton; Evanston, Ill.-based Northfield Laboratories has submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) for possible approval of its oxygen-carrying blood-substitute product, PolyHeme, for use in human patients. With the move, the company becomes the first to file with the US government in the race to mar
Fourteen Inmates, Four Staff Test Positive for TB at Farmington Prison: Associated Press (08.27.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; Jim Salter; Inmates and employees at Missouri s largest prison will be tested for TB after 14 prisoners and four staff members tested positive for exposure to the disease, Corrections Department officials said Monday. Farmington Correctional Center officials stressed that testing positive for exposure does not necessarily indicate
Survey of Prenatal Screening Reveals Practice Varies Widely: Associated Press (08.29.01) - Wednesday, August 29, 2001; According to the state Bureau of Health, Maine health care providers are doing a poor job of screening pregnant women for three STDs. A review of hundreds of medical records at the state s birthing hospitals found low prenatal screening rates for gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV. For gonorrhea, the average statewide screen
Parasite Scare in the Hat: Calgary Sun (08.28.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; A second swimming pool in Medicine Hat was closed yesterday as cases of cryptosporidium infection continued to climb in the southern Alberta city. The number of confirmed cases rose to 16, said Bruce van Mulligen, regional manager of environmental health services with the Palliser Health Authority. At least two of the
HIV Rise in Hetero Cases: Mirror (London) (08.27.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; Paul Clarkson; HIV cases rose by two-thirds last year in Ireland , and for the first time HIV is most often being spread by heterosexuals, according to a new report. At the current rate, almost one new HIV case a day will be diagnosed in Ireland. Almost 65 percent of new HIV infections in heterosexuals are among women.
Report: Inmates Contract HIV/AIDS at Higher Rate: Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) (08.25.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; Bill Tattersall; HIV/AIDS is six times more prevalent among inmates and recently released prisoners than among the general population, according to a draft report released last Friday by AIDSNET, the Lehigh Valley area s state-mandated AIDS planning coalition. Seventeen percent of people living with HIV/AIDS have spent time in correcti
ACCESS Network Moves AIDS/HIV Assistance Office: Beaufort Gazette (S.C.) (08.21.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; Jim Newman; In a shift aimed at helping it pursue its mission more efficiently, the South Carolina AIDS service organization ACCESS Network Inc. recently moved its offices from Hilton Head to a more centralized location in Cherry Point. We made the decision to move here because the bulk of our clients are from Beaufort County and
AIDS Turnaround: Researchers Suddenly Upbeat over Vaccine: Associated Press (08.27.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; Daniel Q Haney; For the first time, many AIDS researchers appear confident that a vaccine is possible. The change in attitude is in large part due to recent success with monkeys. Thanks to an experimental new AIDS vaccine, monkeys at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center at Emory University infected with a lab- based amalgam of
City Down with AIDS, TB: Times of India (08.28.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; If the increasing number of patients at the Murarilal chest hospital are any indication, the Indian city of Kanpur is fast flooding with cases of HIV and TB. According to an estimate, 70 percent of the 200 patients who visit the hospital each day have TB, and 10 percent of these persons are capable of transmitting the
Protesters Demand AIDS Drugs for Pregnant HIV-Positive Mothers: Associated Press (08.27.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; Dina Kraft; The Treatment Action Campaign, an AIDS advocacy organization, on Monday organized rallies in several South African cities intended to pressure the government to make the drug Nevirapine available through the public health system. The group sued the government last week demanding it distribute Nevirapine, which can redu
State to Have $907,200 Available for Anti-AIDS Drugs: Associated Press (08.27.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; HIV-positive Arkansans who have been relying on drug companies to provide free or low-cost AIDS medication will be able to get state help beginning this fall. The state health department has gained approval to use state dollars from the federal Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to pay for AIDS drugs. A gra
A Conversation with Helene Gayle; A Charge to Take AIDS Messages from a National to a Global Scale: New York Times (08.28.01) - Tuesday, August 28, 2001; Linda Villarosa; After 17 years at the CDC and six years as director of the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Dr. Helene Gayle, 46, is stepping down to join the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as its senior adviser for HIV and AIDS issues. Gayle talked with the reporter about the changing landscape of AIDS. Q. How has t
Taxpayers Can Checkoff AIDS Support: Associated Press (08.24.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; AIDS programs will be added to the growing list of organizations that New Jersey taxpayers can benefit by checking a box on their state income tax forms. Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco signed a measure into law Friday authorizing the checkoff for the New Jersey AIDS Services Fund.
Parasite Outbreak; Cryptosporidium Hits Medicine Hat: Calgary Sun (08.24.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; An outbreak of a parasite in the pool of a southern Alberta leisure center has made at least seven people sick and shut down the recreation facility for at least 10 days. The Palliser Health Authority confirmed Thursday that the seven were infected with cryptosporidium after swimming in the pool at the Medicine Hat Fam
Justice: 1 in 32 Adults Are in Corrections System: Associated Press (08.26.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; The number of adults behind bars, on parole or on probation reached a record 6.47 million in 2000 -or one in 32 American adults, the government reported Sunday. During the 1990s, the corrections population increased 49 percent. By the end of last year, there were 2.1 million more adults in the system than there were in
St. Therese Center Helping Those Who Are Infected with HIV: Las Vegas Review-Journal (08.19.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; Joan Whitely; The St. Therese Center in Henderson, Nev., is a nonprofit center sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas. It opened in 1998 across from St. Rose Dominican Hospital, which donates the center s space. A key goal is to provide services for people who cannot easily access HIV programs in downtown Las Vegas. Further
Health Summit Plans Near Completion: Front Page (Raleigh, N.C.) (08.17.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill will be the setting for the N.C. Gay Men s Health Summit on Oct. 27. Eric Rofes, an education professor at Humboldt State University in California, will deliver the summit s keynote address. Previously, Rofes convened two national gay men s health summits, held in Colorado.
Chronic Inflammation with Increased Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) RNA Expression in the Vaginal Epithelium of HIV- Infected Thai Women: Journal of Infectious Diseases (08.15.01) Vol 184; No 4: P 410- 417 - Monday, August 27, 2001; Michael A Cohn; Sarah Schlesinger Frankel; Sungwal Rugpao; Mary A Young; Gerald Willett; Sodsai Tovanabutra; Chirasak Khamboonruang; Thomas VanCott; Lertlakana Bhoopat; Sandra Barrick; Cecil Fox; Thomas C Quinn; Maryanne Vahey; Kenrad E Nelson; Drew Weissman; Heterosexual transmission accounts for most new HIV infections worldwide. Of the 39 million or more HIV-positive people, most are in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Asia where heterosexual transmission is the most common route of infection. In the United States , however, with less than 1 million cases of HIV infectio
Paarl AIDS Program A World-Beater: South African Press Association (08.27.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; A program in Paarl, South Africa , that aims to reduce the risk of babies contracting HIV from their mothers during birth is setting new standards for prevention. The program is offered at the provincial administration s T.C. Newman health care center - one of 18 sites countrywide designated by the national health mini
New Sex Law to Curb HIV/AIDS, Marital Rape in Zimbabwe: Agence France Presse (08.24.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; Susan Njanji; Zimbabwe has passed a new law that criminalizes the deliberate transmission of HIV, recognizes rape in marriages and imposes heavy penalties for a host of sexual offenses. The Sexual Offenses Act, which also seeks to protect youths and mentally handicapped persons from sexual predators, was recently signed into law b
Young South Africans Speak Out Loud About AIDS at First National Meeting on Disease for Children: Associated Press (08.24.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; Mike Cohen; Once too scared to speak out, 16-year-old Jabu told of how her father raped her repeatedly, infecting her with HIV. Hers was one of many stories heard on Friday in South Africa at the first national meeting of children who are HIV-infected or who have relatives with the virus. An estimated 4.7 million South Africans -a
HIV Vaccine Creators Share Patents: Associated Press(08.27.01) - Monday, August 27, 2001; Three partners developing and testing the first HIV/AIDS vaccine specifically designed for an African strain of the disease have agreed to share the drug s patents. A three-year agreement was signed Friday between the University of Nairobi, the New York-based International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Britain s Medical
CDC Donates HIV Testing Equipment: Africa News (08.22.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; The CDC recently donated $340,000 in HIV testing equipment to Tanzania . The equipment is capable of providing test results in less than 30 minutes. At a ceremony marking the donation, a ministry of health spokesperson said that more than 90 percent of Tanzanians with HIV do not know they are infected.
Employees Tested for TB: Hartford Courant (08.21.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Dan Uhlinger; Employees of Output Technologies in South Windsor, Conn., were being tested for TB this week after one worker was found to have contracted the disease, company officials said. Town health officials notified the company last week that one of its employees had the disease. The company then decided to offer testing for it
China to Seek Price Reductions from AIDS Drug Makers: Agence France Presse (08.23.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; A health ministry official announced Thursday that China will open negotiations with several drug makers in an effort to cut the price of AIDS drugs sold in the country. Within the next two months, the government will start talks with Merck & Co. , GlaxoSmithKline and
Educating a Community to Arm Itself Against AIDS: Buffalo News (08.18.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; HIV/AIDS has not spared the African-American community in Buffalo, N.Y. The two groups hit hardest by HIV and at highest risk of becoming infected are young gay men and poor African- American women. Of the 249 women with AIDS last year in Buffalo, 62 percent were African-American, according to figures from the Erie Cou
Screening Metro Inmates Helps Cut Syphilis Rate for First Time Since 1994: Tennessean (Nashville) (08.20.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Bill Snyder; Nashville s syphilis epidemic appears to be declining for the first time since 1994, thanks to an aggressive campaign that includes screening 70 percent of all jail inmates. In 1998 and 1999, Nashville had the second-highest rate of infectious syphilis among large US cities. In 2000, its rate dropped 21 percent, from 4
Real-World Concerns Compete with Clinical Evidence in HIV Therapy Decisions: Reuters Health (08.21.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Physicians who specialize in treating HIV-infected patients juggle patients day-to-day concerns with results from clinical trials when selecting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens, according to a report released on Tuesday. Dr. Harold Kessler of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke s Medical Center in Chicago
Various Mechanisms Responsible for Lipodystrophy in HIV- Infected Patients: Reuters Health (08.22.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Most studies of lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients have emphasized a connection between antiretroviral therapy, while some have suggested that lipodystrophy is associated with HIV- 1 disease stage, baseline viral load or pre-existing alterations in body fat distribution. Recently, however, French researchers report
AIDS Activist No Longer Harassed: Associated Press (08.24.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Martin Fackler; Gao Yaojie, a retired gynecologist who publicized the spread of AIDS in China through illegal blood buying in rural villages, no longer receives threatening phone calls or summons by angry officials. After years of official attempts to conceal the deadly outbreak in Henan province in Central China, the government is ac
China Admits AIDS 'Epidemic': Washington Post (08.24.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Philip P Pan; Breaking a long public silence, a senior Chinese health official said on Thursday that the nation is facing an AIDS epidemic that is growing twice as fast as has been reported, due in part to the refusal of local officials to take the epidemic seriously. Deputy Health Minister Yin Dakui also acknowledged for the first
A Deadly Mix -Viagra and 'Club Drug' Use Found Prevalent: ABCNEWS.com (08.22.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Andrew Giese; Large numbers of homosexual men, and a smaller number of heterosexual men, are combining Viagra with illicit drugs to achieve a potentially deadly sexual high, a new study finds. The report, which was presented at last week s HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, focused on high-risk sexual behavior among gay men who u
State Department Ends HIV Screening of Foreign Workers at US Diplomatic Posts: Associated Press (08.23.01) - Friday, August 24, 2001; Barry Schweid; The State Department is ending HIV screening of foreign personnel and locally hired Americans at US diplomatic posts. In an announcement Thursday the department said, With this new policy, the US sets an example consistent with its message of nondiscrimination to host countries. The new policy applies to the approximat
Number of Women with HIV Continues to Rise: New Zealand Press Association (08.22.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; The number of New Zealand women contracting HIV is continuing to rise, with a record 26 new cases diagnosed last year. In the latest figures from Otago University s AIDS Epidemiology Group, women made up one-third of the 48 HIV infections diagnosed in the first half of 2001. Since 1996, when the group began to collect
AIDS Reduces Zambians' Life Span: Xinhua (08.23.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Zambians average life expectancy has drastically fallen from 43 years in 1996 to 37 years today due to the high incidence of disease, particularly HIV/AIDS, according to a UN report. The incidence of TB has jumped from 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants 15 years ago to more than 500 per 100,000 now, said the 1999-2000 h
'Living with HIV' Conference Slated: Philadelphia Gay News (08.17.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; The Wellness Foundation of Delaware and Christiana Care Health Services on Sept. 17 will offer a free educational conference on health topics for living with HIV/AIDS. The second annual Living Well with HIV is open to all people with HIV/AIDS and, space permitting, their caregivers and family members. The conference wi
AIDS Never Retires: Los Angeles Times (08.18.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Gale Madyun; The HIV/AIDS epidemic is in its beginning stages for the senior citizen population in the United States . Government statistics indicate 10 percent of individuals with AIDS are age 50 and above, with a quarter of these older than 60. The rapid increase in transmission in this age group is primarily because of unprotec
Fund Testing and Treatment: Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) (08.20.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; The Florida Legislature needs to provide funds for the mandatory testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases of state prisoners who are nearing release. The measure is a good start in curbing the growing problem of debilitating diseases that currently fester in Florida s jails and prisons. The initiative wo
AIDS Services Growing In Area to Meet the Need: Chattanooga Times (08.20.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Laurie Chamberlain; Candice Combs; Services for HIV/AIDS in the Chattanooga area are expanding to include regional education and a comprehensive AIDS clinic to meet the area s growing need. The clinic, scheduled to open in October 2002, will provide HIV/AIDS patients with complete health care, from primary and dental care to medications and specialists.
Reducing HIV Risk Among Women Visiting Their Incarcerated Male Partners: Criminal Justice and Behavior (02.00) Vol 27; No 1: P 57-71 - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Meghan Comfort; Olga A Grinstead; Bonnie Faigeles; Barry Zack; Partners of incarcerated men are a hidden at-risk population in the community. Thirty women visiting their incarcerated partners at a large state prison in California participated in focus groups that led to the development of a peer-led HIV education intervention. The purpose of the focus groups was to determine the t
Health Officials: Two-thirds of Chinese Have Potentially Deadly Hepatitis B: Associated Press (08.22.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Martin Fackler; Chinese officials and experts said on Wednesday that the use of dirty needles as well as the practice of acupuncture has given the southern province of Guangdong one of the highest rates of hepatitis B infection in the world. Blood samples taken from patients during hospital visits indicate 10 million people -75 percen
Brazil to Ignore Patent on AIDS Drug: Washington Post (08.23.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Anthony Faiola; Declaring an AIDS national emergency, the Brazilian government announced Wednesday that it will activate a law allowing domestic production of a cheaper, generic version of nelfinavir, an AIDS drug. Health Minister Joe Serra, speaking by telephone from the capital Brasilia, said the government made the decision after p
'State of Emergency' on AIDS: Newsday (New York) (08.23.01) - Thursday, August 23, 2001; Sue-Lyn Erbeck; Citing New York s distinction as the state with the highest number of AIDS cases, a Long Island group yesterday declared a statewide state of emergency for the African-American and Latino communities. Officials with the Greater Hempstead Black Leadership Commission (GHBLC), a nonprofit organization aimed at informing a
Asmal Promises Quick Action on Sex Education: South African Press Association (08.22.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; The South African government will act swiftly to incorporate the outcome of a conference on sexuality education into its policies, Education Minister Kader Asmal said on Tuesday. Asmal said his department would consider the conference s recommendations and then draw up a national plan of action. The process will also i
Angola to Launch HIV Test Project: Xinhua (08.22.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; The Angolan government is launching an HIV testing and counseling project in order to assess the prevalence of HIV in the country. Angolan Health Minister Albertina Hamukwaya said the project will be carried out by his ministry and the World Health Organization with assistance from various local and foreign health inst
Despite the Drawbacks, It's Harm Reduction: Safe Injection Sites for Addicts Are the Way to Go: Vancouver Sun (08.22.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; Sometimes solutions are almost as harrowing as the problems they re designed to fix. Considering economic restructuring, or side effects from medicines that save life. To these, we add safe injection sites. Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal looked at such facilities in other countries with
LA County to Look into Combating Syphilis Surge: Associated Press (08.21.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday ordered health officials to study ways to combat a sudden surge of syphilis among gay and bisexual men. The unanimous vote ordered the health department to return with a report in two weeks. Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, asked
Natural Antibody Holds Promise as HIV Treatment: Reuters Health (08.16.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; Merrit McKinney; Scientists have identified a component of the innate immune system - defenses that are functional without being exposed to a virus or another outside invader -that the body uses to combat HIV. The discovery may open the door to a new type of treatment for HIV, since it is possible to grow the component in the laborator
Most Youth Dissatisfied with School Sex Education: Kyodo (08.20.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; Nearly 90 percent of Japanese youth surveyed said they were dissatisfied with the sex education they receive at school and elsewhere, and they feel adults should not hesitate to tell them how to avoid contracting STDs. More than 87 percent of respondents said they become impatient with adults who are embarrassed to tal
AIDS Spreading in Chile: United Press International (08.18.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; Jennifer Pribble; According to the Ministry of Health s National AIDS Commission, AIDS is now the second leading cause of death for Chilean men from Santiago between the ages of 20 and 44. Currently, there are 8,000 reported cases of AIDS in Chile, with estimates that 30,000 citizens are HIV-infected. The Ministry of Health estimates th
China Admits Potential AIDS Epidemic from Unsafe Blood Handling: Agence France Presse (08.22.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; China admitted this week that unsafe methods of blood collection and transfusion are spreading AIDS and could cause an epidemic in the world s most populous country, according to Xinhua. The official news agency quoted medical experts who warned that the methods of pooling donors blood, extracting plasma and replaci
Pontiff's Opposition to Condoms Slammed: Toronto Star (08.22.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; A member of the secretive Nobel Peace Prize committee has lashed out at Pope John Paul s opposition to condom use to fight AIDS -possibly showing that the pontiff has little chance of winning the award. The pope is often rumored to be among favorites for the Nobel Peace Prize, in part because of his contribution to the
Condom Labeling Bill Put on Hold: Los Angeles Times (08.18.01) - Wednesday, August 22, 2001; Charles Ornstein; A state bill that would have required tough new warning labels for condoms sold in California has been pulled from consideration in the Legislature by its Republican author. The legislation, passed unanimously by the state Senate, would have made California the first state to require more detailed condom warnings than
Ethiopian UN Truckers Taught About Condoms, AIDS: Agence France Presse (08.20.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; More than 2,000 truckers hired by the World Food Program in Ethiopia have been given lessons on the proper use of condoms as part of a two-month course on HIV/AIDS prevention, said the UN agency yesterday. The courses were conducted with the collaboration of a local agency, Integrated Services for AIDS Prevention and S
Inmate Sues Feds over AIDS, Hep C: Gazette (Montreal) (08.21.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; A lawsuit alleging that an inmate contracted hepatitis C and AIDS after being denied clean needles in jail could change the way federal prisoners in Canada are treated, said lawyer Darrell Kloeze. Kloeze hopes the case of Jason Pothier, who is suing for $25 million, will ultimately make it easier for prisoners to get m
Condoms Still Best Defense Against HIV/AIDS and STDs: Africa News (08.20.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; According to UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO), condoms are still the best defense against HIV/AIDS infection, in spite of recent media reports questioning their effectiveness in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and STDs. In a statement released in Geneva last week, UNAIDS and WHO said that a recent revie
Predictors of Mother-Adolescent Discussions About Condoms: Implications for Providers Who Serve Youth: Pediatrics (08.01) Vol 108; No 2: e28 - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Kim Miller, PhD; Daniel Whitaker, PhD; Promoting condom use among sexually active adolescents is an important public health goal because adolescents who have unprotected sex are at risk for STDs, including HIV. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a CDC survey of students in grades 9 through 12, 49 percent of all high school students engaged in sexu
AIDS Activists, Pediatricians Sue Government Seeking Program to Stop HIV Transmission to Babies: Associated Press (08.21.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Ravi Nessman; AIDS activists and pediatricians filed a lawsuit in Johannesburg Tuesday against the South African government, demanding it provide medicine to HIV-infected, pregnant women to help prevent transmission of the disease to their babies. Nearly 200 South African babies are born infected with HIV every day. Treatment Action
Doctors' Group Pushes for Public Injection Centers: Calgary Herald (08.21.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Tim Naumetz; Canada should establish government-run drug-injection sites to improve the health of street addicts and make neighborhoods safer, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) said yesterday. Supervised injection rooms are a logical next step... the CMA said in evaluating the results of a two-year study of intravenous drug
AIDS in Idaho Takes Center Stage at Doctors' Symposium: Associated Press (08.21.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Idaho s experience in dealing with AIDS was the focus Monday of a Sun Valley symposium that attracted about 100 doctors and medical professionals from throughout the Western United States . Idaho-born Dr. John Osborn, chair of the HIV/AIDS program at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., said Idaho s cultu
Changes Sought in HIV Testing; New Approach Would Have Pregnant Women in State Automatically Screened: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (08.20.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Jane Hadley; Under a controversial proposal being considered by the Washington State Board of Health, pregnant women would automatically be tested for HIV, though they would have a chance to refuse the test. Currently, pregnant women are not tested for HIV unless they choose -an approach known as opt in because the women must act i
Lawmakers Increasing Focus on Eliminating Syphilis Cases: Associated Press (08.20.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Mike Smith; According to the CDC, the reported rate of syphilis is at the lowest level since reporting began in 1941. The CDC says the unprecedented low rate of syphilis overall has created a unique but narrow window of opportunity for eliminating the disease in the United States . The disease is curable and its progression preven
With Fears Fading, More Gays Spurn Old Preventive Message: New York Times (08.19.01) - Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Erica Goode; Twenty years after AIDS first emerged in the United States , public health experts are facing new challenges. Too often, the prevention slogans that galvanized gay men in the epidemic s early years now fall on deaf ears. Many gay men continue to take safe sex precautions; many are in long-term, monogamous relationships
AIDS Activist Dies: Advocate.com (08.17.01); Longtime HIV/AIDS activist Frances Dace Stone, 48, died of undisclosed causes last Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Stone had been involved with the Whitman-Walker Clinic for nearly 20 years as a volunteer, board member and former president of the board of directors. In addition to her work with Whitman- Walker, Stone was
Sex Education Said to Start Too Late in South Africa: Deutsche Presse-Agentur (08.20.01); By the time they receive sex education in school, many South African children are already infected with HIV, a conference on sex education learned on Monday. Parliamentarian Dr. Albetina Luthuli said that sex education in South Africa is part of the curriculum for high or secondary schools only, beginning when students
US Surgeon General Says He Won't Seek Reappointment: Associated Press (08.17.01); US Surgeon General David Satcher said he will not seek reappointment to the nation s top medical post when his term expires in February. He said he would consider how I can best serve the nation after his four-year term ends and will use his status to promote more medical research. Satcher s most prominent work involve
Boston AIDS Activist Must Wait for Liver Transplant: Associated Press (08.17.01); Theo Emery; A Boston AIDS activist who had hoped to receive a lifesaving transplant with a piece of her brother s liver learned last Thursday that her sibling s organ is not a suitable match. Now Belynda Dunn must wait as long as a year for a donated liver. I am disappointed, but not daunted, Dunn said. I am very grateful to my br
Trends in HIV Testing Among Pregnant Women: United States, 1994-1999: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) Vol 91; No 8: P 1291- 1293; Amy Lansky, MPH, PhD; Jeffrey L Jones, MD, MPH; Robert L Frey, PhD; Mary Lou Lindegren, MD; In 1994, the US Public Health Service (PHS) recommended the use of zidovudine during pregnancy to prevent the perinatal transmission of HIV. In 1995, the agency recommended that all pregnant women be counseled and encouraged to undergo voluntary HIV testing. To evaluate the implementation of those guidelines, the resea
Monks, Students, Doctors Join in Unusual Broad-Based Campaign Against AIDS in Rural Thailand: Associated Press (08.19.01); Vijay Joshi; In Mae Chan in rural Thailand , many sectors of a community have come together to share their expertise and knowledge in a campaign to tame the spread of HIV/AIDS. Volunteers spread the word about AIDS, promote condom use, care for patients in their homes, and counsel the depressed. A youth group holds regular puppet s
Declare AIDS State of Emergency: Archbishop: South Africa Press Association (08.16.01); At the All Africa Anglican Conference in Boksburg, South Africa , last Thursday, Archbishop of Capetown Njongonkulu Ndungane said that an HIV/AIDS state of emergency should be declared in all African countries. As in a state of war, all government agencies should be in a state of alert. The issue should not just be dom
Zimbabwe Fund for AIDS Patients Is Frozen in Bureaucracy: New York Times (08.19.01) Henri E Cauvin; Zimbabwe s plan for a 3 percent tax on personal and corporate income to fund a trust to help care for the country s thousands of citizens with HIV/AIDS was considered a bold step. But more than a year after the government began collecting the tax, most of the money raised sits unspent, mired in bureaucracy. The board o
Metro Area Fears, Fights West Nile: Atlanta Journal and Constitution (08.19.01); John McCosh; A 71-year-old Atlanta woman has become the first US fatality from West Nile virus this year. Two experts from New York, where the Old World pathogen was first detected in 1999, were expected to arrive in Atlanta today to advise health authorities on how to proceed in fighting it. Georgia has been on alert for West Nile
Health Expert: World Gaining Edge in Fight Against AIDS: Atlanta Journal and Constitution (08.19.01); Don Melvin; The global commitment to fighting AIDS has increased so significantly that we might at last be turning the corner in the battle against the epidemic, according to one of the world s foremost public health experts. I genuinely think we may have reached the tipping point, said Dr. William Foege, a former CDC director who
AIDS Prevention Campaign at Ablekuma: Africa News (08.16.01); An HIV/AIDS prevention project was launched on Tuesday at Shukura in Accra, Ghana . The program, whose theme is Change for Good, is designed to encourage behavioral change among youth who are known to be most vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS pandemic due to social, cultural, economic and biological factors. British Airways a
Remicade Takers to Get TB Tests: Associated Press (08.15.01); Lauran Neergaard; Rheumatoid arthritis patients must be tested for TB before they begin taking the treatment Remicade. Patients using Remicade are at least four times more likely than average Americans to get active TB, the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) estimated in its announcement on Wednesday. Apparently, the drug suppresses u
Lesson for AIDS Fighters: Syringe Swaps Work: Newsday (New York) (08.16.01); A decade ago, New Yorkers agonized over whether to provide clean needles to the city s 200,000 people who inject drugs. ... Their qualms have proved to be not just a little misguided, but dramatically off base -a fact the policymakers from Queens to Washington ought to ponder. In a paper delivered this week to a natio
Helping Africa in the AIDS Struggle: Los Angeles Times (08.17.01); Bob Pool; Operators of a Hollywood-based network of AIDS treatment centers said on Thursday they plan to branch out to Africa, opening the first internationally sponsored clinic for patients in hard-hit South Africa . Administrators of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said they will spend $200,000 a year to operate the clinic in D
GMHC Begins Offering Syphilis Testing: New York Blade (08.10.01); Gay Men s Health Crisis (GMHC), a New York City AIDS service organization, is providing syphilis testing at its David Geffen Testing Center. According to GMHC spokesperson Marty Algaze, the new service, which began Aug. 1, is being offered in response to the increased number of syphilis cases in the city. Health offici
AIDS Vaccines Show Promise in Primates: Reuters Health (08.15.01); Emma Hitt, PhD; Two new vaccines designed to prevent an HIV-like virus that strikes monkeys have shown promising results in preliminary studies in primates. Both studies were presented on Wednesday at the 2001 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta. Dr. Raul Andino of the University of California-San Francisco presented a study
South Africa: 7.5 Million AIDS Victims in 10 Years: United Press International (08.17.01); More than 7 million people could be infected with HIV/AIDS in South Africa in the next 10 years, according to a government- sponsored report released Friday. South Africa already had 4 million HIV/AIDS patients by December 2000. Between 5.3 and 6.1 million would suffer from HIV/AIDS by 2005, and 6 million to 7.5 millio
Sexuality in Education Conference Starts Sunday: South African Press Association (08.14.01); A national conference on Sexuality in Education will be held in Midrand beginning Sunday. South African Education Minister Kader Asmal said it was brought to his attention that people are becoming sexually active at an earlier age, some as young as 10 or 11. Delegates at the conference will discuss how the department s
Officials' Dilemma in AIDS Fight: Newsday (New York) (08.16.01); Laurie Garrett; Health professionals hoping to slow the American AIDS epidemic find themselves at a crossroads, at which the treatments that allow individuals with HIV to live longer raise enormous challenges for preventing further spread of the virus. We are at a transition point in HIV prevention in so many ways, CDC AIDS chief Dr.
Adult and Adolescent Guidelines: August 13, 2001 Update Now Available: HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) (hivatis.org); The updated (August 13, 2001) Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents (The Living Document) is now available on the ATIS Web site.
Norway to Help AIDS Orphans: Africa News (08.15.01); Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Christine Sydnes said this week that Norway will establish a special program for AIDS orphans in Uganda . She also told Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni that her government is interested in monitoring regional conflicts, because most of the resources given to fight
Hong Kong Offers Free HIV Tests for All Pregnant Women: Xinhua (08.15.01); Hong Kong will begin offering voluntary universal HIV screening of pregnant women beginning Sept. 1, the South China Morning Post reported. Testing will be free at the health department s 50 maternal and child health centers and at 11 antenatal clinics.
Parasitic Disease May Be Spreading, Tazewell County Official Says: Associated Press (08.16.01); Health officials in Tazewell County, Ill., are warning that cryptosporidiosis, a parasitic disease that can be fatal to people with compromised immune systems, might have spread to swimming pools throughout the area. There have been eight confirmed cases of the disease, which is spread by a microscopic parasite in the
An Outbreak of Syphilis in Alabama Prisons: Correctional Health Policy and Communicable Disease Control: American Journal of Public Health (08.01) Vol 19; No 8: P 1220- 1225; Mitchell I Wolfe, MD, MPH; Fujie Xu, MD, PhD; Priti Patel, MD, MPH; Michael O'Cain; Julia A Schillinger, MD, MSc; Michael E St Louis, MD, MPH; Lyn Finelli, DrPH; Disease control in incarcerated persons is of great public health concern. The United States has the second highest reported incarceration rate in the world, behind the former Soviet Union. At the end of 1998, approximately one in every 149 US residents (1,852,400 persons) was incarcerated in state or federal prisons o
Straight Sex HIV Explosion: Sunday Mercury (United Kingdom) (08.14.01); Gerri Peev; Paul Malley; Shocking new statistics reveal that the number of heterosexuals who have contracted HIV in Britain has nearly doubled in the last four years. The new figures, announced by Health Minister Yvette Cooper, show a trend that will probably continue. The overall rate of HIV infection is expected to climb by 50 percent by the
Japanese Doctors Raise Hopes of Healthy Babies for HIV- Positive Men: Agence France Presse (08.15.01); Miwa Suzuki; Two Japanese women have become pregnant with sperm from their HIV-positive husbands after doctors used a new technique to remove the virus before vitro fertilization. It was the world s first successful in vitro fertilization using sperm taken from HIV-positive men in a newly developed method, said Koichi Takakuwa, an
AIDS Takes Toll on Big African Hospital: Wall Street Journal (08.16.01); Mark Schoofs; Africa s largest hospital, long the center of medical treatment for South African blacks, says it is being overwhelmed by AIDS patients as the disease ravages the country s population. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, a 3,300-bed hospital serving Soweto, lacks enough beds and, more urgently, staff to deal with the floo
State Shows Continued Decline in AIDS: Boston Herald (08.15.01); Michael Lasalandra; Data from Massachusetts show new AIDS cases declining by 25 percent and new HIV cases dropping by 18 percent in 2000. According to the state Department of Public Health, 615 new cases of AIDS were reported in the Bay State in 2000, down from 881 the previous year. And new cases of HIV infection dropped from 694 cases i
A 'Chilling Portrait' of Failure to Prevent AIDS: Los Angeles Times (08.15.01); Charles Ornstein; A day after health officials acknowledged that sharp declines in AIDS cases and death have ended, studies presented at the Second National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta highlighted failures to adapt to a changing epidemic. It is a chilling portrait. It s not a good picture, said Phill Wilson, executive director
Vocal Critics at AIDS Chief's Debut: Newsday (New York) (08.15.01); Laurie Garrett; In the first public speech of his four-month tenure, White House Office of National AIDS Policy Director Scott Evertz faced an openly skeptical audience Tuesday in Atlanta. I need your feedback, Evertz said in response to repeated interruptions and catcalls during his address to the Second National HIV Prevention Confe
Nava Sarver, NIH Researcher and AIDS Activist, Dies at 50: Washington Post (08.14.01); Graeme Zielinski; Nava Sarver, 50, who served as chief of a National Institutes of Health branch for AIDS research since 1996 and promoted such treatments as gene and cellular therapy, died Aug. 3. She had myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease. She was known in the AIDS research community for her driven work habits, her publications
Pill Touted as AIDS Cure is Useless, Declares Government: Associated Press (08.15.01); Uamdao Noikorn; In Thailand , a pill that a private foundation distributed free to thousands of people as an AIDS cure appears to be useless, the Thailand Public Health Ministry reported. The Salang Bunnag Foundation, a social work group that promoted the V-1 Immunitor pill, can still distribute it, but only as a food supplement, the
Study: Half of Adult AIDS Patients Suffer from Depression, Anxiety: Associated Press (08.14.01); Nearly half of the nation s adult AIDS patients suffer from symptoms of mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, according to the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study led by the Rand research organization. The study is based on interviews with nearly 2,900 adults being treated for HIV. The estimates of me
Press on with AIDS Battle: San Francisco Chronicle (08.15.01); The fight to control and stamp out AIDS is far from won in the United States , much less the rest of the world. Through much of the 1990s, sharp declines in the number of new cases and AIDS- related deaths raised hopes for beating the epidemic with preventive education and improved treatment. Fresh data from the feder
Resistance to Needle Exchange: Newsday (New York) (08.14.01); Margaret Ramirez; For more than three years, Philip Glotzer has tried to set up a needle exchange program for drug users in New York City s Queens borough. People will say they support needle exchange to stop the spread of AIDS in Queens, but nobody wants it in their neighborhood, said Glotzer, the executive director of the AIDS Center
Interview with CDC Director of STD Prevention, Judith Wasserheit: STD Advisor (06.01.01) Vol 4; No 6: P 68-70; After nearly ten years as director of the CDC s Division of STD Prevention, Judith Wasserheit, MD, MPH, left the agency at the end of July to head up the HIV Vaccine Trials Network in Seattle. As the first woman to hold the director s position, Wasserheit was responsible for broadening the scope of STD prevention effor
HIV Infection from Receptive Oral Sex is Rare Event, UC San Francisco Study Confirms: Associated Press (08.14.01); A study by researchers from University of California, San Francisco s (UCSF) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) found the probability of HIV infection through unprotected receptive oral sex with a man to be statistically estimated as zero. Our study looked at exclusive receptive oral intercourse with a male part
AIDS Campaigners to Take South Africa's Health Ministry to Court: British Medical Journal (08.11.01) 2001; 323: 301; Pat Sidley; About 100 pediatricians in the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an organization devoted to treatment access for HIV and AIDS, will take legal action against South Africa s health ministry over its refusal to supply antiretroviral drugs to HIV- positive pregnant women to prevent the transmission of the virus to their in
US Jobs at Center of Global Condom Debate: Boston Globe (08.15.01); John Donnelly; LMR International in Eufaula, Ala., currently the biggest producer of US-made condoms sent to the developing world, is at the epicenter of a thorny debate. Its 282 employees will probably find themselves out of work if US foreign aid funds are used to buy condoms from Asian manufacturers, who can provide many more cond
4 of 10 People with HIV Get Late Diagnosis: Washington Post (08.15.01); David Brown; Findings presented yesterday at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta indicate that four out of 10 people infected with the AIDS virus do not learn of their condition until about a decade after acquiring the virus, when it has already done extensive damage to their immune systems. Many Americans with HIV ar
Another Person Ill After Eating Raw Oysters: Associated Press (08.14.01); Vibrio vulnificus, a rare bacteria found in oysters, has felled a sixth person who was listed in stable condition at a hospital Monday, said Diana Bonta, health director for the California Department of Health Services. A Riverside man, whose name was not immediately released, is the first person outside of Los Angeles
U.S. Grants Ethiopia $155 Million for Development Projects: Associated Press (08.14.01); The United States gave Ethiopia $155 million Monday to finance education, health, food and democracy projects, an embassy statement said. The US embassy said the new grant includes $71.4 million for health care programs for women and children, as well as funds to fight AIDS. Other money would be used to improve primary
State Launches Campaign to Immunize Hawaii's Teens against Hepatitis B: Associated Press (08.14.01); Bruce Dunford; The State Department of Health has launched a campaign to get Hawaii s teenagers immunized against hepatitis B, an infection that can lead to life-threatening liver disease. Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu, U.S. deputy Surgeon General, said the infection is spread primarily through sexual activity, unclean drug needles or contac
Antiretroviral Therapy for Previously Treated Patients: New England Journal of Medicine (08.09.01) Vol. 345; No. 6; P 452-461; Julio S G Montaner, MD; John W Mellors, MD; Antiretroviral therapy is most effective the first time it is prescribed. Suppression of plasma HIV-1 RNA to undetectable levels occurs up to 90 percent of the time when patients begin their first triple-drug regimen. Achieving this level of suppression decreases with each subsequent treatment regimen, with only one-th
Bitterness, Resilience Coexist in Alabama's Segregated Prison Unit for HIV-infected Inmates: Associated Press (08.14.01); David Crary; The Special Unit, a converted warehouse at the Limestone Correctional Facility, holds more than 200 prisoners known to have AIDS. To a degree unmatched in any other state, these men are segregated round-the-clock and excluded from programs offered to other inmates. Inmates complain that living in such close quarters is
Hepatitis B Virus: Transmission, Prevention, Treatment and HIV- Co-Infection: HIV & Hepatitis Education Prison Project HEPP News (07.01) Vol 4; No 6 & 7; P 1-4; David Paar, MD; High rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) occur in people who have multiple sex partners, people who have percutaneous blood exposures (those who share injecting drug equipment, and patients on hemodialysis), and health care or public safety workers who have frequent exposure to contaminated blood or other infectious fluid
War Against AIDS: 'Too Little, Too Late': South China Morning Post (08.13.01); Although China s central government has launched a new AIDS prevention and control program and plans to send inspectors to one of the country s most ravaged areas, many are skeptical and believe that the effort will have little influence on the epidemic. China has pledged to give 950 million yuan ($114.9 million) to es
State Launches Program to Increase Awareness of HIV Among Blacks: Associated Press (08.14.01); Bob Johnson; State Rep. Laura Hall, D-Hunstville joined State Health Officer Don Williamson Monday in announcing a new campaign to increase public awareness about HIV and AIDS among blacks. The program, being developed by Alabama State University, includes brochures, billboards, discussions on radio and television talk shows and pu
Ill omen: Decline of AIDS Levels Off: Atlanta Constitution (08.14.01); M.A.J. McKenna; The dramatic decline in the number of American contracting and dying from AIDS has halted, and government officials fear the plateau may signal a new wave in the 20-year-old epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the shift Monday at a major HIV prevention conference in Atlanta. We have
Prisons are Breeding Ground for HIV, but Officials Ignore Problem: Orlando Sentinel (08.13.01); Stacey Singer; C Ron Allen; Although health care workers say jails and prisons are known transfer points for HIV, Florida officials are reluctant to screen inmates for HIV because of the high cost of medicine. Prisons and jails in Florida test for HIV only if an inmate falls ill or asks for a test. Despite this cost-benefit mentality, however, pr
Venereal Disease Epidemic Sweeps Kazakhstan, TV Reports: BBC (08.10.01); Kazakh Commercial Television reported on Aug. 9 that Kazakhstan is experiencing dramatic increases in STDs. Over the past six years, there has been a 320-fold increase in the number of syphilis patients among teenagers and a 250-fold increase among adults, it said. Quoting an official forecast, the report said the rate
Uganda to Host Regional AIDS Doctors Conference: Xinhua (08.09.01); The Uganda Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS will host sub- Saharan Africa s first regional doctors conference on the disease Sept. 6-9. Entebbe will be the site of the meeting, where Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is expected to be recognized for Distinguished Leadership Excellence in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in the
Minority Doctors Report Problems: Plain Dealer (Cleveland) (08.10.01); Linda Lou; Black and Hispanic doctors across the United States report having greater difficulties than white doctors in obtaining health care for their patients, according to a study published in the online journal Medscape General Medicine. The report, which included 12,300 responses from doctors in 60 communities, found that ab
HIV/AIDS Outreach Center Is Mission - Funds Being Raised for Pediatric Center: Sunday Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) (08.05.01); Amy Wold; As part of a national Jaycees campaign, the Baton Rouge Junior Chamber of Commerce is raising money to start a pediatric HIV/AIDS outreach center between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Since 1995, the US Jaycees have opened centers for children affected by AIDS (either as a patient or a patient s family member) in St. Lo
Combating AIDS on a Metal Band Tour: New York Times (08.11.01); David Jay Lasky; In the sea of black-clad audience members at the 2001 Ozzfest, Chris Abrego, a pierce-lipped 23-year-old resident of Bayside, Queens, N.Y., hands out condoms and pamphlets and talks to metal fans about AIDS. This is the second year Abrego has crossed the country with Ozzfest, living with the tour crew and setting up a
Practical Prevention of Vaginal and Rectal Transmission of HIV by Adapting the Oral Defense: Use of Commercial Lubricants: AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses (07.01) Vol 17; No 11: P 997-1002; Samuel Baron; Joyce Poast; Derrick Nguyen; Miles W Cloyd; HIV is transmitted to 6.4 million people each year, primarily via sex. Condoms, which are highly effective, are recommended as the primary preventive. However, the fact that millions of sexual transmissions occur each year indicates that many people do not use condoms, and additional preventives are thus needed. Hypoto
Asia's Sex Industry Is Growing Rapidly, Threatening AIDS Efforts, WHO Says: Associated Press (08.13.01); David Thurber; In a report prepared for a conference promoting government condom programs, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that Asia s sex trade is making efforts to control AIDS more difficult. While Asia has managed to greatly reduce AIDS with prevention programs encouraging condom use, the sex trade s move away from
AIDS Challenges Religious Leaders: Washington Post (08.13.01); Karen DeYoung; Faced with a proposal to allow the use of condoms for AIDS prevention, southern African Roman Catholic Bishops meeting in Pretoria last month sided instead with the Vatican. They pronounced the widespread and indiscriminate promotion of condoms ... an immoral and misguided weapon in our battle against HIV-AIDS. They sa
Unsafe Sex Among HIV-Positive Men: Associated Press (08.13.01); Since April, at least three Iowa men have told police they believed Aaron Dahlberg when he told them he was HIV-negative before having unprotected sex with them. Now the Inver Grove Heights man faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of an Iowa charge of criminal transmission of HIV. Dahlberg is free on $35,000 bon
HIV Prevention Confab Hits Atlanta: Southern Voice (Atlanta) (08.09.01); Eric Erickson; This week Atlanta is the scene for the only HIV/AIDS conference dedicated exclusively to prevention efforts. More than 2,000 AIDS educators, researchers and doctors are expected at the meeting, which continues through Wednesday. This meeting is so important because it really provides an opportunity for all the individu
Era of Decline of US AIDS Cases May Be Over: Washington Post (08.13.01); Susan Okie; The dramatic decline in the number of Americans developing AIDS and dying from the disease may be coming to an end, federal health officials from the CDC announced today. After dropping sharply in the mid-1990s, the number of US AIDS cases and deaths reported quarterly remained stable between mid-1998 and mid-2000, acc
Fury at Doctor's Call to Legalize Brothels: Daily Mail (08.08.01); Professor John Ashton, director of public health for Britain s National Health Service North West, called for regulation to legalize brothels after figures showed a sharp rise in gonorrhea. Ashton said, These are people who are particularly sexually active among both gay and heterosexual communities and men who have se
Kenyans Urged to Head for AIDS Testing Centers: Xinhua (08.10.01); Kenyans are being urged to utilize free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services offered at public health facilities countrywide. Launching a voluntary counseling and testing center for HIV/AIDS at the Kenyatta National Hospital Thursday in the capital Nairobi, Kenyan Public Health Minister Sam Ongeri said the center i
AIDS Compounding Women's Problems: South African Press Association (08.09.01); The majority of women are still bound by poverty and gender inequality with their problems compounded by the spread of HIV/AIDS, South Africa s KwaZulu-Natal Premier Lionel Mtshali said this week. All too often the fear of social stigma, alienation and a violent backlash prevent women from asserting their rights, even
AfroSolo Festival Puts AIDS Issues in your Face: San Francisco Chronicle (08.10.01); Venise Wagner; This Saturday in San Francisco, Tanee McIntosh and other young performers will bring to the stage an in-your-face examination of AIDS in the black community as part of the eighth annual AfroSolo Arts Festival. Slammin AIDS is an afternoon of poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, dance and storytelling. Mcintosh, a San Jose Cit
A New Kind of C.A.R.E: Santa Fe New Mexican (07.30.01); Deborah Davis; When Trevor Hawkins saw his first AIDS patients in 1986, he tried to give them a few more months of life by treating their multiple infections. Now it s about providing wrap-around services and encouraging people to stay with their drug therapy, said Hawkins, who is founder and director of the Southwest C.A.R.E. Center
Sex-Ed Dispute in Murray: Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) (08.09.01); Jennifer Toomer- Cook; The Murray, Utah, school district human sexuality/maturation curriculum review committee has recommended Sex Can Wait for its secondary schools, and the state school board has approved the use of the edited lessons. But committee Co-Chair Shauna Johnson believes the curriculum does not teach the value of marriage, whic
New HIV 'Superbug' Emerges in Vancouver: Vancouver Sun (08.09.01); Dr. Julio Montaner, a prominent Vancouver physician and chair of AIDS research at St. Paul s Hospital and the University of British Columbia, announced this week that doctors at St. Paul s have documented about six cases of newly infected HIV patients whose strain of the virus is resistant to all three classes of HIV d
Puerto Rico Fights AIDS with Needle Program: Des Moines Register (08.05.01); Tim Collie; In Puerto Rico , it is needle exchange day at the Luis Llorens Torres housing project. Members of the Community Initiative, the island s only needle exchange group, have set out buckets for addicts to drop their used needles into as workers count out clean ones. Participants receive exactly the number of needles they h
Deaths from HIV, AIDS Up in Polk; the County Had 40 Fatalities from the Disease in 2000, Up from the 32 in 1999: Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) (08.05.01); Robin Williams Adams; Ending a decline that began in the mid-1990s, AIDS and HIV deaths went up in Florida in 2000. Florida had 1,809 deaths in 2000, up 158 from 1,651 in 1999. The number of deaths in 1998 was 1,547, which would statistically show two years of an increase in deaths. We re seeing a plateau in the decrease, said Spencer Lieb,
A New Century of American Leadership: Federal News Service (08.09.01); In a major foreign policy speech at the Woodrow Wilson Conference Center in Washington D.C., Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle s pointed to the unique place of the United States in the history of the world. As a nation unrivaled in its economic strength but whose strength is increasingly tied to the economic and polit
Schering Wins Approval for Hepatitis Treatment: New York Times (08.09.01); The Schering-Plough Corp., maker of the top hepatitis C treatment, Peg-Intron, has won approval for a more effective treatment that combines an extended-release form of the drug with an older medication (Rebetol) from ICN Pharmaceuticals. The approved treatment involves an injection of Peg-Intron and a Rebetol capsule
Drug Combo Effective Against AIDS Relapse: USA Today (08.09.01); Michelle Healy; Combining the two drugs nelfinavir and efavirenz can help drive back HIV once it has become resistant to other types of treatment, according to a study in today s New England Journal of Medicine (Vol 345: P 398-407). The study finds that the two medicines worked far better together over a 48-week period than the produc
Sweden Sees 48 Percent Increase in New HIV Cases: Associated Press (08.09.01); According to the Swedish Institute for Infection Disease Control, the number of new HIV cases in Sweden increased by 48 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. Reporting this week, epidemiologist Malin Arneborn said, We have not had so many reports of new HIV cases since the begi
Time to Help Blacks with AIDS: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (08.02.01); David Wallace; The history of the HIV epidemic in San Francisco has been well documented ... What is not so well documented is the history of the HIV epidemic for blacks in San Francisco ... more children with AIDS in the US are black than all other ethnic groups combined ... HIV prevalence rates among black transgenders in San Fran
Origins of the Desire for Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in People with HIV-1 or AIDS: A Qualitative Study: Lancet (08.04.01) Vol 358; No 9279P P 362-367; James V Lavery; Joseph Boyle; Bernard M Dickens; Heather Maclean; Peter A Singer; Euthanasia and assisted suicide and policies that support or prohibit them are subjects of great controversy in many countries. However, the reasons that people desire euthanasia or assisted suicide have not been fully understood. This study seeks to understand the desire for death or assisted death in a specific group
Raw Oysters Linked to Deaths from Rare Bacteria: Los Angeles Times (08.09.01); Charles Ornstein; Los Angeles County public health officials are warning people with certain chronic diseases to avoid raw shellfish after two deaths this month linked to a rare bacterium. Three other people in the county have been hospitalized with the Vibrio vulnificus infection since late June. All of the five patients were Latino me
Fighting Apartheid and AIDS: One Down, One to Go: New York Times (08.09.01); During South Africa s pre-1994 apartheid era, Pieter-Dirk Uys gained fame as his nation s most prominent satirist: a gay Afrikaner who poked fun at his own white society. Now, however, the comedy of Uys (pronounced ace) is aimed not at racism but rather at AIDS. In the past, the issue was a white minority government s
For HIV-Positive South Africans, A Chance to Work and to Live: Philadelphia Inquirer (08.09.01); Andrew Maykuth; In South Africa , nearly 30 percent of AngloGold s 50,000 employees are believed to have the AIDS virus. The rate is even higher among those with TB. Doctors at company-owned Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital in the heart of the Free State mine region say it is difficult to persuade workers to submit to an HIV test. The dise
Is Teaching Abstinence the Best Form of Sex Education?: Jet (08.06.01); As the nation debates whether teaching abstinence or safe sex is the way to stop the rapid spread of AIDS, STDs and unintended pregnancies, the Bush administration is trying to resolve the situation by funding programs that teach teenagers to wait until marriage to have sex. Recently, US Surgeon General Dr. David Satch
Clinton Pushes the AIDS Fight; PUSH Convention Hears Ex- President: Chicago Tribune (08.09.01); Lynette Kalsnes; Celeste Garrett; Former President Bill Clinton called for increased AIDS testing of jail inmates in a keynote speech Wednesday night at the annual convention of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition in Chicago. Clinton, who has said AIDS is one of the themes shaping his post- presidency, also called for increased prevention, education and treatme
917 Needle Accident Cases Reported at Chiba Hospitals: Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo) (08.07.01); A Chiba University survey released Tuesday reported more than 900 incidents in which doctors and nurses were pricked with hypodermic needles or scalpels bearing patients blood in 87 hospitals in Chiba prefecture. According to the survey, 658 nurses and 162 doctors accidentally pricked themselves. Five of the patients b
Zambia: Government Blames Food Deficit on HIV: Africa News (08.07.01); The government of Zambia has blamed this year s food shortage on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Cleopatra Mukupa, human resources clerk in the Ministry of Agriculture, said on Monday that agriculture, like other industries, has not been spared the pandemic s effects. She said this was a result of society s negative attitude to
Cipla Launches Three-in-One AIDS Tablet: Wall Street Journal (08.07.01); Indian drug maker Cipla has developed the world s first three- in-one combination tablet of stavudine , lamivudine and nevirapine . The company said the new pill, called Triomune, would cost patients 1,800 rupees ($38.
Moscow Launches Campaign Against AIDS Spread: Xinhua (08.07.01); Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov on Tuesday signed a resolution launching a full-scale campaign to curb the rapid spread of AIDS in the Russian capital. The composite program, to be carried out in 2002 and 2003, provides for the development of a system to inform the population about available AIDS prevention measures, for the
AIDS, Condoms and Africa: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (08.07.01); If Africans actually listened to the Catholic Church and stopped having sex outside of marriage, then condemning the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS would make some sense. But Africans are as likely as anyone else to have illicit sex, no matter what the church says. And if they don t use condoms, there s a go
Boston AIDS Activist Cleared for Liver Transplant: Associated Press (08.08.01); A Boston AIDS activist received the green light for a life- saving liver transplant when a Pittsburgh hospital agreed to begin preparations for the procedure once a down payment is made. Belynda Dunn, 49, who has both hepatitis C and HIV, has said the entire procedure will cost about $500,000. Dunn s HMO, Neighborhood
A Second Chance to Prevent AIDS: An Anti-HIV Drug Regimen, Taken after Exposure, Shows Promise. But Who Will Receive It?: Los Angeles Times (08.06.01); Jane E Allen; Facing the possibility that they have been exposed to AIDS, many people contact an AIDS hotline or other outreach services in the hopes of receiving medications to thwart the spread of HIV in their bodies. Hundreds of individuals have been treated in clinical studies after potentially risky sexual or intravenous drug u
AIDS Death Toll in Ethiopia to Reach 1.7 Million by End of Year: Associated Press (08.07.01); The Ethiopian government has reached a deal with international pharmaceutical companies to import discounted AIDS drugs, a health ministry official said Tuesday. The only condition attached by the drug manufacturers is that Ethiopia should establish a strict control mechanism to ensure that the drugs are not passed to
China to Set Up AIDS Clinic: New York Times (08.08.01); Associated Press; After denying for years that AIDS was a problem, Chinese leaders have begun to acknowledge the scale of the country s epidemic. Experts say some 600,000 Chinese are infected, and that number is believed to be growing by more than 30 percent a year. The health ministry is setting up a clinic, open 24 hours a day, in Wen
The Next HIV?: Forbes (08.20.01); Rob Wherry; David Bernstein, chief of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. on Long Island, is all too familiar with hep-C. As he knows, hepatitis C, a master of stealth, can burrow in the liver for up to 20 years before provoking such symptoms as fatigue, jaundice and abdominal pain. One mystery is why
HHS Announces $53.7 Million to Improve HIV/AIDS Care for Women, Children, Youth and Families: Associated Press (08.07.01); Federal grants totaling $53.7 million to support HIV/AIDS care and services for women and their families have been awarded to 71 organizations in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico , Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced yesterday. Funded under the Title IV Comprehe
More than 37,000 People Found HIV Positive in Vietnam: Associated Press (08.07.01); Vietnam has 37,111 people who have tested positive for HIV. However, the actual number of people infected with HIV could be as many as 137,000, officials of the Ministry of Health s AIDS Committee said Tuesday. The number of confirmed cases of HIV stood at 28,611 at the end of last year. The government has allocated
N.C. Public Health Emergency: AIDS Policy & Law (08.03.01); A bill before the Appropriations Committee of the N.C. House of Representatives would declare an HIV/AIDS public health emergency in the state. According to the bill, HIV/AIDS has killed more than 6,600 North Carolina residents and more than 13,000 residents are living with the disease. The legislation would make all H
National Conference in Atlanta to Look at Strategies, Funding: AIDS Policy & Law (08.03.01); Gaps in HIV testing, the increased incidence of HIV infection, particularly among communities of color, and health issues of men who have sex with men will be among the topics under discussion Aug. 12-15 at the 2001 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta. HIV-testing gaps will also receive attention because of t
AIDS in Black America: Denial Equals Death: Rolling Out (Atlanta) (07.19.01); Nina Moore Walker; African-Americans are now contracting HIV/AIDS at an astoundingly high rate. AIDS is ravaging the community and motivating African-American leaders to do something about it. They are working with and starting various outreach programs, acquiring grant money, and working within the church. However, a number of barriers
Interferon/Ribavirin Combination Therapy More Effective at Reducing HCV Load in HIV+: Hepatitis Weekly (08.06.01); A clinical study has found that interferon/ribavirin combination therapy is more effective than interferon monotherapy at reducing hepatitis C (HCV) viral load in HIV- infected persons in the first 12 weeks of treatment. It further showed that combination therapy appears to be as safe as monotherapy and does not exacer
Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality: Journal of the American Medical Association (08.01.01) Vol 286; No 5: P 572-579; Jay G Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A Mucci, MPH; and Jeanne E Hathaway, MD, MPH; Studies indicate that more than 1.5 million US women are physically and/or sexually abused each year by an intimate partner, and 25 percent of women will experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at some point in their lifetimes. Individual studies have shown that approximately 25 percent of adolescents have experienc
Scots Face Danger of Second HIV Epidemic: Scotland on Sunday (08.05.01); Camillo Fracassini; New figures from the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health show that the country is heading for its highest annual total of HIV cases since the 1980s. Figures for the first six months of the year show there have been 91 new cases of HIV in Scotland. The total for the remainder of the year is expected t
AIDS in School: Teacher-Student Sex Spreads HIV in Central African Republic: San Francisco Chronicle (08.06.01); Lucy Jones; Five girls at Miskine High School in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), died last year from complications from AIDS. The high school has 4,000 students and a teacher shortage. AIDS is the leading cause of death among teachers in CAR, according to UNICEF. Although teachers say it is impossible to know from whom the
Union Says State Ignored Health Risk of TB in Prisons: Associated Press (08.06.01) Matthew Daly; Masha Herbst; According to Connecticut Department of Corrections officials, 59 inmates and seven staff members at the J.B. Gates Correctional Institution in East Lyme and the New Haven Correctional Center have tested positive for exposure to TB since January. In addition, about 4,000 inmates and former inmates at the two prisons are
Women Now Look Beyond HIV, to Children and Grandchildren: New York Times (08.07.01); Linda Villarosa; A few years ago it was almost unheard of for a woman who knew she was infected with HIV to attempt to become pregnant. Most women who knew they were HIV-positive were not willing to risk the 25 percent chance that they would have a child infected with the virus. But now, with a regimen of medication, an HIV- positive w
Nigerian President Urges Condom Use: Associated Press (08.05.01); Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the country s military to distribute free condoms to help fight the spread of HIV, according to local media. He further urged authorities to draw up a code of conduct for the military and step up AIDS education and awareness programs to educated soldiers about illicit and
China Orders Blood-Screening in Anti-AIDS Efforts: Associated Press (08.03.01); Joe McDonald; China will require screening of donated blood in an effort to stem an HIV infection rate believed to be above 30 percent per year, official media announced Friday. China officially has about 23,000 people with HIV or AIDS, but health experts say the true number is more than 600,000. Beijing has struggled to clean up
Project Focuses on Virus' Effects on Women: Los Angeles Times (08.06.01); Jane E Allen; Because AIDS began as a disease of gay men, doctors were slow to recognize its connection to vaginal infections and uterine cancers. Recognizing the need to answer such questions, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development will provide $3.5 million annually for five years to fund research on how AIDS
Funding Shortfall for AIDS Activist -Total Costs Seen at About $500,000: Boston Globe (08.06.01); Anand Vaishnav; Two weeks ago, AIDS activist Belynda Dunn of Dorchester, Mass., proclaimed victory in front of family, friends and colleagues, rejoicing that well-wishers had raised $325,000 to pay for a life-saving liver transplant that her HMO would not cover. Now, however, comes the latest twist in the fight of, and for, her life -
Fertility Desires and Intentions of HIV-Positive Men and Women: Family Planning Perspectives (07.-08.01) Vol 33; No 4: P 144- 152; James L Chen; Kathryn A Phillips; David E Kanouse; Rebecca L Collins; Angela Miu; Fertility issues for HIV-positive men and women are becoming increasingly important. Advances in treatment have decreased transmission from infected mothers to their children to about 2 percent. Furthermore, as effective therapies have improved the prognosis for women and men who become infected with HIV, these individ
Tanzanian Prime Minister Warns Against AIDS: Xinhua (08.04.01); Tanzanian Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye warned Saturday that HIV/AIDS might continue to undermine the country s economy and reverse gains made in reducing poverty if the population does not change its attitude about casual sex. The statistics show that the most productive age group is the hardest-hit with the pandemi
Drug Use Begetting AIDS in Central Asia: New York Times (08.05.01); Douglas Frantz; The five nations of Central Asia may be at the brink of an explosive growth in AIDS, medical experts and government officials say. The risk of contracting AIDS is high throughout Central Asia partly because deeply rooted attitudes prevent appropriate education and preventive techniques, according to Dr. Valeriya Gourev
A Stand for Scientific Independence: Washington Post (08.05.01); Susan Okie; The New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, the Annals of Internal Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) are among the journals that have agreed to adopt a uniform policy that reserves the right to refuse to publish drug company-sponsored studies unless the researchers are guaranteed
Legislation Would Expand Rules on Viatical Settlements: Associated Press (08.03.01); Gary D Robertson; Buying the life insurance policy of a terminally ill patient is a lucrative business -and one ripe for fraud, on both sides. Many patients want to participate in viatical settlements, in which they receive a cash payment in exchange for transferring ownership of their insurance policy and its death benefits to an inves
Healthy Skepticism and the Marketing of AIDS: New York Times (08.05.01); Jayson Blair; Recently the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) ordered several pharmaceutical companies to pull advertising for AIDS drugs that depicted robust young men heaving javelins, riding bikes and crewing on sailboats. The FDA said such portrayals were not generally representative of HIV patients and do not adequately conve
County Officials Mulling Legalizing Needle Program: Associated Press (08.03.01); The County Health Department of Allegheny County, Pa. is considering making Prevention Point, Pittsburgh s syringe exchange program, a part of its official programs. After a series of public hearings this summer, the county health board could begin discussing an official needle exchange program as early as next month.
More Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, Census Figures Show: Associated Press (08.02.01); James Prichard; A growing number of Michigan residents are raising their grandchildren. According to US Census Bureau figures for 2000, released Wednesday, there are 175,372 Michigan children growing up in their grandparents homes, up 24.3 percent from 1990. Modern problems such as HIV and AIDS, parental drug use and teen pregnancy ap
On Humanitarian Aid to Africa: Il Foglio (Rome) (08.03.01); The Group of Eight allocated funds for developing countries to help them combat AIDS and other infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, not only for humanitarian reasons, but also to boost their economies. A case in point would be South Africa , whose government until recently tried to minimize the problem i
Friends and Family Agency to Assist People Affected by HIV/AIDS: Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News (Florida) (07.31.01); Maureen Kenyon; For 23 years, Keith Begley has devoted a good part of his life to working with community organizations. Now the Stuart, Fla., resident is active at the Friends and Family AIDS Panel Workshop. The organization is only two weeks old, but Begley, its executive director, has high hopes for it. He is modeling Friends and Fa
Gender Bias Seen in AIDS Studies; Researchers Say More Women Subjects Needed: Chicago Tribune (08.01.01); Mary Jo Feldstein; Women have been excluded from clinical trials on AIDS because in the past the majority of AIDS patients were men. That is no longer true. Women now make up more than half of the 36.1 million adults with HIV worldwide. In fact, the percentage of US women newly diagnosed with HIV has doubled in the last ten years, making
Kenya; Women AIDS Sufferers Lose Reproductive Rights: Africa News (07.03.01); Throughout the world, women suffer from stigma, deprivation and second class citizenship because of their gender. In the case of HIV-positive women, this discrimination is compounded by responses to their HIV status. Particularly in developing countries, HIV-positive women may especially be subject to violations of the
Progress in AIDS Fight Leading to a Growing Number of Transplants for HIV Patients: Associated Press (08.03.01); Denise Lavoie; Five years ago, doctors and insurers routinely rejected AIDS patients for transplants because of their lower life expectancies and the unproven benefits of surgery in such patients. In the last few years, as new drugs have significantly increased the life expectancies of HIV patients, doctors are beginning to perform m
An Orgy of Abstinence: Village Voice (08.02.01); Sharon Lerner; These are boom times for the abstinence movement. The just say no approach is gaining ground through a number of measures that began five years ago. A little known provision of the Welfare Reform Bill set aside a half-billion dollars in state and federal funding for programs that steer kids away from sex. Now, with an
Parents, Boys Say Help Needed with Discussing Sexual Issues: Washington Post (08.02.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Karlyn Barker; Eighty-seven percent of those polled in a new survey of young males and parents in the District of Columbia favored making condoms easily available as a way to prevent teenage pregnancy. However, only six in 10 sexually active male youths said they use birth control every time they have sex. The report, In Our Own Word
Study Looks at City Clinics: Baltimore Sun (07.30.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Diana K Sugg; The findings from a recent survey of clients at eight Baltimore health clinics and soup kitchens reveal disturbing trends about the residents who go there for help. Eighty percent of those surveyed have at least one chronic medical condition, such as AIDS, hypertension or hepatitis. Almost half have a mental health pro
Upgraded AIDS Helpline Opens in S. Africa: Xinhua (07.30.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; A newly upgraded AIDS helpline was launched in South Africa on Monday as part of nationwide efforts to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang described the helpline as one of the success stories in South Africa s fight against HIV/AIDS. The helpline is open 24 hours a day with 68 couns
Topeka AIDS Project Continues to Educate, Help the Topeka Community -But Are People Listening?: Topeka Capital-Journal (07.30.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Lisa M Sodders; The Topeka AIDS Project (TAP) has a long history in the city. Its origins date to a resident named Toby Scanlon who became ill with AIDS, prompting his friends to come together to provide the services he needed to continue living in his own home. TAP was incorporated in 1986 and had attained 501(c status by 1987. TAP r
Gonorrhea in the HIV Era: A Reversal in Trends Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: American Journal of Public Health (06.01) Vol 91; No 6: P 959- 964 - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Kimberley K Fox, MD, MPH; Carlos del Rio, MD; King K Holmes, MD, PhD; Edward W Hook, III, MD; Franklyn N Judson, MD; Joan S Knapp, PhD; Gary W Procop, MD MS; Susan A Wang, MD; William LH Whittington, AB; William C Levine, MD, MSc; Reductions in the rate of STDs among men who have sex with men (MSM) followed the advent of the HIV epidemic in the United States , coincident with reports of reductions in unsafe sexual behaviors. However, several recent reports suggest a reversal in these trends. Through the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (G
Cribs and Hugs for Africa's AIDS Orphans: Christian Science Monitor (08.01.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Mike Crawley; About two percent of children in developing countries were orphans before the AIDS epidemic began. Now, in the African countries hit worst by the disease, one child in 10 is an orphan, the UN estimates. The social earthquake caused by AIDS has shaken Africa so much that traditional family customs are breaking down. Unt
Sexual Behavior of Soldiers Must Change: SANDF: South African Press Association (08.01.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Changing the sexual behavior of South African soldiers is vital to the fight against AIDS in the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), Surgeon General Lieutenant-General Rinus Janse van Rensburg said yesterday. Speaking in Pretoria at the launch of a new campaign against HIV in the military called Masibambisane
A Crucible for Generic AIDS Medicines: Wall Street Journal (08.02.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Jesse Pesta; Mark Schoofs; Generic AIDS drugs will soon face several key field tests in Africa and India . Nigeria this week announced plans to use cheap generic drugs starting in September to treat as many as 15,000 people. A smaller project in India is also about to launch, targeting a crucial population of migrant laborers.
Faith-Based Role is Seen for Gay Churches: Washington Times (08.02.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Larry Witham; The Rev. Troy Perry, leader of a majority-gay Christian denomination, said yesterday that the Bush administration s faith-based initiative was so likely to pass that its congregations should prepare to request funds for work in AIDS ministries. Perry is moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Ch
Researchers, Policymakers Debate Tactics in Battle Against Hepatitis C: San Francisco Chronicle (08.02.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; Tom Abate; In 1997, the National Institutes of Health recommended that public health officials not treat drug users infected with hepatitis C (HCV) unless the patient had been off drugs for six months. For these and other reasons, public health officials have been slow to offer drug users access to HCV drug treatments, which can
Women's Magazine Aims for Drug Addicts: Gazette (Montreal) (07.31.01) - Thursday, August 02, 2001; David Lister; Mainline Lady has all the ingredients of a successful women s magazine -tips on health and beauty, long articles on fashion and sex, and a horoscope section. But this magazine sets itself apart from other glossies because it is aimed exclusively towards female drug addicts. The magazine, which is financed by the Dutch
UN Envoy Details AIDS Fight in Africa: United Press International (07.30.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; William M Reilly; Stephen Lewis, special UN envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, said Monday the fight by Kenya , Rwanda and Nigeria raised hope the AIDS pandemic could be defeated. We ve all heard of the alleged crippling constraints -from the tatters of the health infrastructure, to the absence of human resources, to bureaucracy
Better Safe than Sorry: Bristol Evening Post (United Kingdom) (07.30.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; Jon Lockett; A new study says that reported cases of STDs are rising in the UK, and a reluctance to practice safe sex is being blamed. Cases of gonorrhea among men have soared from 261 in 1995 to more than 700 last year, and cases of genital warts and herpes are also on the rise. Of the 6,223 new cases of gonorrhea among women, 40
CDC Division Head Chosen: Atlanta Constitution (08.01.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; MAJ McKenna; Dr. Harold Jaffe, head of the CDC s lab for HIV, STDs and TB, will become acting director of the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention. Jaffe, who joined CDC in 1974, was an officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) when reports of HIV/AIDS first began to surface in 1981. He subsequently headed severa
Group Helps Families Fight HIV, Drug Use: Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (07.26.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; Ana Ester Gershanik; FACES [Family Advocacy, Care and Education Services] has developed a program that provides Hispanic families in New Orleans with HIV and substance abuse prevention resources in their own language. Its outreach coordinator is Colombian-born Dr. Claudia Medina. Through the use of comprehensive and culturally sensitive se
Study Says Participation in Baltimore Needle Exchange Program Waning: Associated Press (08.01.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; Paul Payne; About 85 percent of Baltimore intravenous drug users participating in a recent study said they buy their own needles from questionable sources, increasing their risks for HIV and hepatitis C. Of the 1,600 people surveyed, 740 said they injected drugs -but only four percent said they obtained needles exclusively from th
NIH Condom Report Draws Fire: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (07.26.01) Vol 31; No 30: P 1 - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; David Fraser; A National Institutes of Health (NIH) report released amid controversy recently has a number of health care professionals and HIV/AIDS organizations worried. The uncertainty the report reflects about research on the use of condoms, many fear, will end up making individuals uncertain about condom use -a devastating thou
State Could Face Legal Action over Nevirapine: Africa News Service (07.31.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and close to 100 pediatricians have asked the South African health department to make Nevirapine available in all public health hospitals for HIV- positive pregnant women. The health department has until the end of this week to reply, or it faces legal action likely to take the form
Forty-nine People at Prison Test Positive for Tuberculosis: Associated Press (08.01.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; At least 49 people at the J.B. Gates Correctional Institution in East Lyme, Conn., have tested positive for exposure to TB after two inmates contracted the disease. According to the union representing correction officers, 44 prisoners and five staff have tested positive for exposure to the disease. Joe Stone, president
Medicaid Pays More for Drugs: Associated Press (08.01.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; A new report by the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General says that Medicaid pays up to one-third more than other federal programs for expensive AIDS drugs. Medicaid, a federal-state health insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, pays prescription drug costs for about 45 percent of the 33
Study Says 20 Percent of Girls Reported Abuse by a Date: New York Times (08.01.01) - Wednesday, August 1, 2001; Erica Goode; According to a new report, one in five adolescent girls surveyed are victims of physical or sexual violence, or both, in a relationship. This violence, researchers found, is frequently associated with serious health problems, including drug abuse, unhealthy weight control practices, risky sexual behavior, teenage pregn
Tanzania Bans Eight Small Newspapers over Pornography: Associated Press (07.27.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; Charging that they were thwarting efforts to combat AIDS, the Tanzanian government last week announced a ban on eight small publications. The papers, which were published and circulated in the capital Dar es Salaam, were alleged to have published pictures that encouraged promiscuity. Director of Information Kassim Mpen
Group Plans to Purchase Woodbury Building for AIDS Housing: Associated Press (07.30.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; In Woodbury, N.J., the Southern New Jersey Housing Corp. wants to buy an empty downtown building to house people with HIV/AIDS, but city officials have been reluctant to back the plan. The nonprofit group plans to use a $240,000 grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to buy the Broad St. building
Badillo Outlines Plans to Resolve Shortcomings with Police and Schools: New York Times (07.28.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; Following is an excerpt from an interview with Herman Badillo, a Republican making his fourth attempt to become mayor of New York City. My father and mother died of tuberculosis when I was a child in Puerto Rico . My father, when I was one; my mother when I was five. But in those days tuberculosis was incurable -it was
Ignorance of AIDS Hurts China: Wall Street Journal (07.30.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; Cesar Chelala; In recent years, China has witnessed an explosion of sexually transmitted diseases as well as HIV infection in certain areas of the country.... According to Chinese journalists working in Henan, there are between 500,000 and 700,000 HIV-infected people out of a population of 90 million. Because of the characteristics
Condom Gap in Africa: Evidence from Donor Agencies and Key Informants: British Medical Journal (07.21.01) Vol 323; P 139-141 - Monday, July 30, 2001; James D. Shelton; Beverly Johnson; Recent public discussion on combating HIV in Africa has largely focused upon antiretroviral drugs rather than upon condoms, which are a crucial feature of prevention. In sub- Saharan Africa most condoms are bought with funds from private agencies, although some countries ( South Africa and
Eritrean Troops, UN Peacekeepers End AIDS Prevention Training: Agence France Presse (07.29.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; UN peacekeepers from the UN mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia and 50 Eritrean Defense Force (EDF) soldiers have completed a joint AIDS prevention training course. Organized by UNAIDS and Family Health International, the course was the first AIDS education training program to be offered to a UN peacekeepin
HIV Cases in Russia Rise Sharply; Public Shows Little Concern Despite International Alarm: Washington Post (07.29.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; Peter Baker; The AIDS epidemic has now begun to ravage Russia and some of its neighbors, and only slowly is the world s largest country awakening to the threat. HIV infection is growing at a faster rate in Russia and the rest of Eastern Europe than anywhere else in the world, according to UNAIDS . Near
Depression May Prompt Risky Sex, Research Says: Indianapolis Star (07.28.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; George Stuteville; A recent study of 1,000 New Zealand adolescents found that the majority of those surveyed were likely to engage in sex without condoms when they felt depressed. Preliminary findings from a Kinsey Institute study indicate that about 25 percent to 30 percent of men report some increase in sexual contact when experiencing
Teen Births Down in Wyoming: Associated Press (07.28.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; The teen birth rate has dropped by 25.3 percent in Wyoming from 1991 to 1999, following a national trend, according to the state department of health. For every 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 there were 40.4 births in 1999 in Wyoming, compared to 49.6 nationally. The national rate has declined 22 percent. Last year teen b
Administration Promoting Abstinence; Family Planning Efforts Are Being Scaled Back: Washington Post (07.30.01) - Monday, July 30, 2001; Ceci Connolly; The Bush administration is making a fundamental change in how the federal government approaches issues involving reproductive health, scaling back efforts to promote family planning and contraception while aggressively promoting abstinence-only programs. Since taking office, Bush and his top aides have refused to allow
AIDS Costs Kenya Heavily: Xinhua (07.27.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; According to Kenya s National AIDS Control Council, the nation is losing about $2.6 million daily to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Speaking at the Nairobi Provincial AIDS Control Committee workshop this week, Chair Mohammed Abdullah said that certain practices are spreading the disease and his council is now advocating an att
Canadian Government Funding Study of Medical Marijuana: Associated Press (07.26.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock announced this week that the government is contributing $157,000 (US) for a yearlong study on the therapeutic uses of marijuana. Results of the study, the first peer-reviewed clinical trial examining the effects of smoked marijuana on non-HIV or non-multiple sclerosis, patients will
Health Officials Report an Increase in Chlamydia Cases Around the State: Associated Press (07.27.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; The North Dakota Health Department recorded 498 cases of chlamydia during the first six months of this year, up 10 percent from last year. Health officials say the disease may be striking more at a younger age. Epidemiologist Kirby Kruger said that 78 percent of all cases last year occurred in teens ages 15 to 24. The
DuPont, SF Grants Divided Among HIV Prevention Programs: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (07.19.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; Katie Szymanski; San Francisco officials and representatives from DuPont Pharmaceuticals said on July 12 that some of the $5 million the two entities pledged more than two years ago for HIV prevention programs is finally being allocated. Although none of the funding had materialized as of late last year, DuPont contributed $400,000 of
HIV from Heterosexual Sex Soars Among Teen Girls: Reuters Health (07.20.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; Suzanne Rostler; According to a report in the summer issue of the Journal of the American Medical Women s Association (2001; 56: 94-99), teenage girls rate of HIV infection from heterosexual sex rose by almost 117 percent between 1994 and 1998. Based on data from 25 US states, the report also said that females ages 15 to 19 experienced
World Education Leaders Sound Alarm over AIDS Pandemic: Agence France Presse (07.26.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; The AIDS pandemic has had a bigger effect on teaching than any other profession and threatens to wipe out the trade in Africa within 10 years, a global conference heard Thursday. The percentage of teachers who have died or carry the HIV virus is higher than for most professional groups, said Fred van Leeuwen, secretary
Catholic Bishops to Fight AIDS: South African Press Association (07.27.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; Catholic bishops from across southern Africa gathered on Wednesday at St. Peter s Seminary in Garsfontein, Pretoria, to attend the Southern African Catholic Bishop s Conference (SACBC). Bishop Reginald Cawcutt, spokesperson, said the six-day conference was aimed at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. A substantial part
Search for the Sex Bug: Daily Mail (London) (07.27.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; Beezy Marsh; In a government strategy being announced Friday, doctors and nurses in Britain are to begin routine testing for chlamydia. Public Health Laboratory Service figures, also due out Friday, are expected to show that teenagers and people in their early 20s account for the biggest upsurge in the disease. STDs are at a 10- ye
Syphilis and Gonorrhea on the Rise in State: Associated Press (07.27.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; Oregon has seen a sharp increase in the reported cases of gonorrhea and syphilis, according to the Oregon Health Division. The agency said 1,039 gonorrhea cases were reported in Oregon in 2000, a 15 percent increase from 1999. Statewide, 31 syphilis cases were reported in 2000, compared with 14 cases in 1999. The incre
Davis Signs Pared $100 Billion Budget: San Francisco Chronicle (07.27.01) - Friday, July 27, 2001; California Gov. Gray Davis signed the state s $100 billion budget yesterday -but only after slicing $554 million from the Legislature s version to prepare for a softening economy that he said will continue well into next year. Davis said the extra cuts were made to increase the state s reserve to $2.6 billion. The slow
AIDS Claims 4,000 in Malaysia Since 1986: Xinhua (07.25.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Between 1986 and April of this year, about 4,000 Malaysians with AIDS have died, according to Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) chair Paduka Marina Mahathir. Malaysia has 40,049 people with the virus, Mahathir said while attending a ceremony this week at which Roche Diagnostics donated HIV testing equipment to MAF. The n
Cote d'Ivoire Health Minister Says HIV Decreasing Among Blood Donors: BBC (07.25.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; The rate of HIV infection among blood donors in Cote d Ivoire has declined from 8 percent to 0.3 percent, according to the National Blood Transfusion Centre (CNTS) in Abidjan. Health Minister Raymond N dori Abouo announced the findings this week at a training workshop for blood transfusion managers in Africa. Cote d I
A Quarter of Gold Fields' South African Workforce Infected by HIV/AIDS: African Mining Monitor (07.23.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Gold Fields Ltd. has released a report showing that HIV/AIDS affects 26.7 percent of its 48,000 workers. The company believes the figure is higher than the general infection rate for South Africa (11.8 percent) because its workers are typically ages 20 to 45. The company has calculated that without intervention, 40 per
Task Force to Examine Spending for AIDS Patients: Kansas City Star (07.26.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Donna McGuire; Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes yesterday appointed a 15-member task force to address the way millions of dollars in federal funding is allocated for AIDS patients. Kansas City receives about $3.3 million annually in federal funding for patients in its 11-county area. The money is used for medication, health care and othe
YouthPride Sets Events on Leadership, HIV: Southern Voice (Atlanta) (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Erin O'Briant; An Atlanta-based organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth will sponsor two programs to help empower young members of the community. YouthPride will host the Youth Leadership Institute, co-sponsored by Enlight Atlanta, which organizers said will equip youth with the tools needed to form
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with HIV Infection: Southern Medical Journal (06.01) Vol 94; No 6: 635-639 - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Leonardo Seoane, MD; Judd Shellito, MD; David Welsch, MD; Bennet P deBoisblanc, MD; It has been established that the incidence of pulmonary hypertension in HIV-positive persons is several thousand times greater than in the general population. Although the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension remains unknown, it appears to occur independently of other risk factors associated with pulmo
Child Laborers at Risk for AIDS: Africa News (07.25.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; UNICEF warned on Monday that child laborers in Mozambique are at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and the organization said it would encourage the government to find ways to stop child labor. UNICEF Child Protection Officer Victoria Perschler-Desai told the UN Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) that child
Official Says Condoms Vital for Military Operations: Jakarta Post (07.25.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; A senior official at the Ministry of Health has warned the Indonesian government that it is not enough to arm soldiers only with ammunition when they are deployed in military operations away from their families. Although there are still no reports of soldiers infected with HIV, Dr. Broto Wasisto said the government sho
Namibia to Set Up Local Chapter of Alliances of Mayors Against HIV/AIDS: BBC (07.24.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Mayors and local leaders from across Namibia met in Windhoek on July 20 to brainstorm about how to campaign effectively against HIV/AIDS, according to the Web site of the newspaper the Namibian. The local leaders, hosted by Windhoek Mayor Matthew Shikongo, set up a Namibian chapter of the Alliance of Mayors and Municip
Surgeon General Wants Community More Involved in HIV Treatment, Prevention: Associated Press (07.25.01) - Thursday, July 26, 2001; Mason Stockstill; In Los Angeles yesterday, US Surgeon General David Satcher told a forum of scientists and community activists that there should be greater community and family involvement in the treatment and prevention of HIV. Satcher suggested that the country adopt a more open understanding of human sexuality. It s so difficult to
Pot Study in Spotlight: San Francisco Chronicle (07.25.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Bill Workman; The nation s first clinical trial of medical marijuana by a local government will soon be underway in San Mateo County, Calif. The $500,000 study, paid for by the county, is expected to take a year and a half to complete and includes the exclusive use of government-grown pot. Each of the participants who have volunteer
AIDS Activist Drops Lawsuit on Liver Transplant: Associated Press (07.24.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; An AIDS activist who had sued her HMO to pay for a life- saving liver transplant withdrew her lawsuit on Tuesday after receiving a $100,000 donation from the HMO and enough private donations to pay for the procedure. Belynda Dunn, who has HIV and hepatitis C, went to federal court to force her HMO to pay for the transp
Government: US Teen Births Fall to New Record Low, Continuing Nine-Year Trend: Associated Press (07.25.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Erin McClam; The teen birth rate fell to a record low in the United States last year, according to a large study released Tuesday by the National Center for Health Statistics. The record low continued a steady decline in teen birth rates that began in the 1990s. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson called the decline
Risk of AIDS Increases for Young Gay Men: Cincinnati Post (07.23.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; The things young gay men say about AIDS cause Victoria Brooks to fear for their lives. There is kind of a prevailing thought among young gay men, If I don t have sex with anyone over 30 or if I m not on the receiving end of the sex, I don t have anything to worry about, said Brooks, executive director of AIDS Volunteer
The Effect of BCG Vaccination on Tuberculin Reactivity and the Booster Effect Among Hospital Employees: Archives of Internal Medicine (07.23.01) 2001; 161: 1760- 1765 - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Santiago Moreno, MD; Rosa Blázquez, MD; Abel Novoa, MD; Isabel Carpena, MD; Ana Menasalvas, MD; Cristóbal Ramírez, PharmD; Carmen Guerrero, MD; Concern about the risk of TB acquisition by health care workers led the CDC to revise previous recommendations and publish more stringent and comprehensive guidelines for reducing the risk of transmitting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the hospital setting. Central to those recommendations is the monitoring for TB infec
Government Finally to Publish Sexual Health Strategy: Guardian (London) (07.25.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Patrick Wintour; The London government is expected to publish its much- delayed sexual health strategy this week, including fresh measures to reduce HIV and teenage pregnancy and to reverse the recent surge in STDs. The strategy is expected to focus on extra capital spending to increase prevention and to fight what is regarded as renew
Crowded Nightclubs Put Youngsters at Risk from the TB Superbug: Daily Mail (London) (07.25.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Beezy Marsh; Britain faces a serious outbreak of TB being spread among young people in crowded nightclubs, public health experts warned on Monday. This looks set to be the worst outbreak of drug- resistant TB in Britain, said Professor Francis Drobniewski, director of the Public Health Laboratory Service s National TB Centre. Only
Sex Programs Curb Teen Activity: Chicago Tribune (07.25.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Todd Zwillich, Reuters; According to a recent report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, pregnancy prevention programs that include talking to teens about their sexual behavior and instructing them on contraception use do not increase sexual activity among participants. The report, which reviewed 73 controlled studies of more
House Passes Foreign Aid Bill: Associated Press (07.25.01) - Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Jim Abrams; The US House of Representatives passed a $15.2 billion foreign aid bill on Tuesday. It rejected several amendments questioning the effectiveness of the Andean anti-drug initiative and contending that the $676 million allotted for the South American initiative should be used fighting the worldwide AIDS epidemic and othe
Russia's Contribution to Anti-AIDS Global Fund: ITAR-TASS (07.24.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Anna Bazhenova; The Russian Health Ministry has estimated Russia s contribution to the global fund for the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria to be $20 million. This year Russia s contribution is expected to reach $15 million to $16 million.
US Firm to Make Quickie AIDS Test Kits in China: Agence France Presse (07.24.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; US company Calcol Inc. said today it will begin making quick result AIDS test kits in China this year to be sold to developing countries most affected by the virus. Currently, the kits are made by Zer Hitech in Jerusalem, which produces approximately five million kits a year. Calcol signed an agreement with Zer on July
Angolan AIDS Campaign Draws Protests from Women, Church, Politicians: Associated Press (07.23.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; A government AIDS awareness campaign in Angola is drawing criticism from women s rights activists, church leaders and politicians who say its message is too blunt. The campaign includes TV spots featuring naked sex scenes and interviews of young women who are asked if they have ever used a condom. This propaganda
Legal Needle Exchange Drawing Support: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (07.24.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Deborah Weisberg; More people support than oppose the concept of clean needle exchange as a way to stem the spread of HIV and hepatitis C among drug addicts in Allegheny County, Penn., according to the county health department. The majority [of people] is clearly in favor of establishing a program that would distribute free needles to i
CHAT Study Seeks HIV+ Drug and Alcohol Users: Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (07.19.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; David Fraser; People on HIV medications who use alcohol and/or recreational drugs are being recruited for a study designed to help them stick to their treatment regimens. Challenges in HIV/AIDS Treatment, or CHAT, a study by the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF), is testin
AIDS Ride Raises $3 Million for Charities: Associated Press (07.22.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Bicyclists raising funds for AIDS charities pedaled into Boston on Sunday to complete the four-day Northeast AIDS Ride. The 2,002 riders in the noncompetitive fundraiser biked the 330- mile journey between Bear Mountain, N.Y., and Boston. The ride took in about $6 million, of which about $3 million is earmarked for org
Risk Factors for HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Adolescents in St. Petersburg, Russia: Family Planning Perspectives (05.-06.01) 2001, 33(3):106- 112 - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Yuri A Amirkhanian; Dennis V Tiunov; Jeffrey A Kelly; Rising rates of HIV, other STDs and drug use in Russia suggest that a major HIV epidemic is about to unfold there and that, as in many other countries, it will disproportionately affect young people. Whereas HIV epidemics in Western nations and developing countries have long been recognized and are well studied, HIV in
Keep Red-Light Districts Open, AIDS Activist Says: Jakarta Post (07.21.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; An AIDS activist in Indonesia has criticized the Jakarta administration for closing down the city s red-light districts, saying that it has made the task of counseling sex workers about HIV and AIDS prevention more difficult. Kindi Marina of the Kusuma Buana Foundation, an organization focused on preventing HIV transmi
Ashcroft Gives AIDS-Stricken Thai Boy Humanitarian Parole: Associated Press (07.24.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Erica Werner; US Attorney General John Ashcroft on Monday said a four- year-old Thai boy with AIDS will stay in the United States and become the first applicant for a new kind of visa for victims of trafficking and violence. Activists feared that the child s disease would go untreated and he would be pulled back into immigrant traff
AIDS Picture Grows Gloomier in Iowa: Associated Press (07.23.01) - Tuesday, July 24, 2001; More than 1,000 Iowans are now living with HIV/AIDS. It is the first time the state has reached that mark, and the news comes at a time when AIDS workers say more people in central Iowa are dying of the disease. Workers at the AIDS Project of Central Iowa have counted six deaths this year, compared to one or two in pre
HUD Secretary Focuses on Chronic Homelessness: Washington Post (07.21.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Ellen Nakashima; Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Mel R. Martinez announced last week that HUD will reactivate the Interagency Council on the Homeless, created in 1987, to coordinate the efforts of numerous federal agencies that provide services to homeless people. Speaking before 600 members of the National Alliance to En
Mandela Urges Action Against AIDS: Associated Press (07.21.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; At a belated birthday party in his honor, former South African President Nelson Mandela said Saturday that his nation needs to unite to face the AIDS epidemic. We need to follow the example of Uganda and Senegal where the incidence of HIV is decreasing. There, the leaders are seen to be taking a stand and then the peop
$6.5 Billion Spending Bill Approved by Congress: Washington Post (07.21.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Congress on Friday approved a compromise $6.5 billion measure for defense, battling AIDS in Africa, and a host of other programs in a bill that tested President Bush s ability to hold down federal spending. The measure covers the rest of fiscal 2001, which runs through Sept. 30. It includes $100 million to combat AIDS
Instead of Sex, Johns Get a Lesson; D.C. Court's Class Shows How Society, Health Are Imperiled: Washington Post (07.22.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Avram Goldstein; On Friday, 10 men who had been arrested while cruising for prostitutes attended the District of Columbia s first John School, an experimental, court-approved diversion class that allows them to avoid a criminal record. During the class, the men heard evidence that their pursuit of prostitutes fuels a violent business t
Project Enlists Black Churches in AIDS Fight: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (07.21.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Rebecca Rakoczy; At the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, more than 60 ministers, Sunday school teachers and parish nurses from throughout Georgia and the nation took part in a recent pilot program designed to bring the message of AIDS prevention to their congregations. Funded with a $1.2 million grant from the C
Prevalence and Predictive Value of Intermittent Viremia with Combination HIV Therapy: Journal of the American Medical Association (07.11.01) Vol 286; No 2: P 171-179 - Monday, July 23, 2001; Diane V Havlir, MD; Roland Bassett, MS; Diane Levitan, MD; Peter Gilbert, PhD; Pablo Tebas, MD; Ann C Collier, MD; Martin S Hirsch, MD; Caroline Ignacio, BA; Jon Condra, PhD; Huldrych F Güthard, MD; Douglas D Richman, MD; Joseph K Wong, MD; In HIV-infected patients, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is directed at achieving and maintaining HIV RNA levels below the limit of detection of currently approved assays. A lower nadir of HIV RNA in response to therapy is an independent predictor of long-term virologic suppression. When patients interrupt therapy or whe
Rich Nations Support AIDS Fund: USA Today (07.23.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Steve Sternberg; The three-day Group of Eight summit in Genoa, Italy , which ended Sunday, marked the first time that the world s wealthiest nations recognized AIDS by making it a major item on their agenda. While they supported the establishment of a global war chest to fund the fight against AIDS, the $1.2 billion pledged so far fall
UN Chief Considers Candidates to Organize Global AIDS Fund: Wall Street Journal (07.23.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Michael M Phillips; Rachel Zimmerman; UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is considering a short-list of candidates from the developing world to take charge of setting up the global AIDS fund. Plans are for the fund to become operational by Jan. 1, 2002. On the short-list are three African health ministers: Uganda s Crispus Kiyonga, South Africa s Manto Tshbal
Bush to Keep National AIDS Council: Associated Press (07.22.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Anjetta McQueen; A Bush administration task force and a Clinton administration panel will work together on the new administration s AIDS agenda. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said he recommended that the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS continue. Federal rules governing its existence were set to expire
Experts Fear Condom Report's Effects; Panel's Criticism May Deter Some Prophylactic Use, Officials Say: Washington Post (07.21.01) - Monday, July 23, 2001; Susan Okie; Public health experts are concerned that a report released Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services could deter some people from using condoms. The report concluded that condoms have been proven effective at preventing HIV transmission and male gonorrhea, but that research so far has been inconclusive abou
University of California Scientists Develop First Vaccine to Protect Against Vaginal Transmission of HIV-Like Virus: Associated Press (07.19.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; The PNU summary of this article, published on July 19, 2001, incorrectly stated that the study ( Protection Against Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Vaginal Challenge by Using Sabin Poliovirus Vectors ) was published in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of Virology. In fact, the study appears in the Aug. 15 issue of the Jou
Group of Eight Leaders Converge in Italy for Talks on Aid to Developing Countries: Wall Street Journal (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Christopher Rhoads; Jim Vandehei; Geoff Winestock; John J Fialka; At their three-day summit that begins in Genoa today, G8 government leaders are expected to agree on a $1.7 billion global health fund to fight AIDS and other communicable diseases, announce progress on eliminating developing nations debt, and discuss ways of making development banks more effective. President Bush is e
Congress Nears Final Approval of a $6.5 Billion Spending Bill: Wall Street Journal (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; David Rogers; The full US House will this summer take up a $6.5 billion spending bill that promises increased funding for the military and a $100 million down payment on an international fund to help poor countries buy AIDS drugs. Africa s AIDS crisis has led to demands for more spending elsewhere in the budget. President Bush asked
Russia Pledges $20 Million to G8-Backed Fund to Combat Diseases: Wall Street Journal (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Leos Rousek; Russia announced today a pledge of $20 million to the UN global fund to fight diseases such as AIDS, TB and malaria. Joining other countries from G8 nations, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said, At the G8 summit, Russia is ready to endorse several initiatives. On Thursday, President Vladmir Putin approved the plan to
Lilly and Others to Slash Prices of Drugs for TB that Defies Cure: Wall Street Journal (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Gautam Naik; Rachel Zimmerman; A group of public health experts and scientists said they secured price cuts of up to 96 percent to treat TB, which may become a model for forcing down the price of medicine in developing countries. Multidrug-resistant TB therapy previously cost as much as $19,000 for the full, two-year course of treatment. Now, the fu
Correction: Experts Caution Against an AIDS Therapy: New York Times (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Correction: This article, which was summarized as a News Brief in Prevention News Update for Friday, July 20, included information from Dr. Bruce Walker of Massachusetts General Hospital. Walker has issued the following correction: I am quite upset to have been grossly misquoted in a recent report from Reuters regardin
A Critical Look at Pharmaceutical Ads: Survival News (Atlanta) (07.01.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; David Salyer; Last April, the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) notified eight drug makers that they must revise misleading ads for HIV medications. More often than not, these ads show sexy, young, gym-toned, rock-climbing, sail boating, bicycling people generally blissed out of their minds, enjoying a kind of fantasy existen
Study: Brooklyn at Center of Epidemic: New York Blade (07.13.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Inga Sorensen; A recent study shows that Brooklyn residents are at the center of the AIDS epidemic and are dying of AIDS complications at a much higher rate than the national average. AIDS is, and will remain for the foreseeable future, a distressing part of our borough s life, wrote Dr. John C. LaRosa, president of the Brooklyn-base
AIDS Agency Struggles to Survive: Atlanta Journal (07.19.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; HM Cauley; Michael Brunson, director of the Common Ground ministry for those suffering with HIV/AIDS, is having a tough time trying to keep his operation afloat. Common Ground focuses on creating a safe environment and providing spiritual support through daily group meditation sessions, lunch and social activities. The organizati
HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean: Big Problems Among Small Islands: Journal of the American Medical Association (06.20.01) Vol 285; No 23; P 3961-3963 - Friday, July 20, 2001; Rebecca Voelker; Six million people populate the Caribbean s English-speaking countries. Combined with those who reside in Spanish-, French- and Dutch-speaking countries, the region s population increases to 36 million. Some health officials fear that the emphasis on Africa s AIDS epidemic may obscure some alarming trends in the Caribb
US at Odds with Europe over Rules on World Drug Pricing: New York Times (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Donald G McNeil Jr; The Bush administration and the European Union (EU) are engaged in a debate over how the UN s global AIDS fund will be spent, particularly on pharmaceutical drugs, according to communications obtained by the New York Times. The Bush administration opposes any system that regulates drug prices, the creation of a databas
HIV Testing, Treatment in Thailand Cuts Mother-to-Child Transmission Risk: Associated Press (07.19.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; A program in Thailand to test and treat women for HIV reduced the risk of mother-to-child transmission by two-thirds, according to a report released by the CDC. The test program which ran from 1998 to 2000 and was administered by Thailand s Ministry of Public Health, reduced the risk of transmission to 10 percent from
Review Panel Rejects Woman's Request for Liver Transplant: Associated Press (07.19.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Greg Sukiennik; A new Massachusetts state office set up to review decisions by health maintenance organizations (HMO) ruled Thursday that an HMO does not have to pay the bill for a liver transplant for a Boston woman who has hepatitis C, HIV and end-stage liver disease. The state Office of Patient Protection concluded the request (did
Report Questions Condoms' Disease Prevention Ability: Washington Post (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Ceci Connolly; A federal report released today concludes that, although condoms are effective for preventing pregnancy and HIV infection, as well as gonorrhea in men, there is insufficient evidence that condoms prevent the spread of most STDs. The 30-page National Institutes of Health report said that more research is needed both on
Study Finds Condoms Usually Block HIV: New York Times (07.20.01) - Friday, July 20, 2001; Associated Press; Condoms are usually effective in fighting the spread of HIV and gonorrhea, but there is not enough evidence to say for certain that they protect against other STDs, federal health officials concluded in a draft report released today. To definitely answer the remaining questions about condom effectiveness for preventing
Taiwan's HIV Cases Expected to Rise 18 Percent This Year: Agence France Presse (07.17.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Taiwan s department of health reported Tuesday that 3,552 people are HIV-positive in Taiwan, including local and foreign nationals -a nine percent rise from the end of last year. We expect this year s population with HIV to rise by 600 people, or 18 percent from 2000, a health department official said. The increase is
Public Health Experts Ask G-8 to Spend More to Fight AIDS, Say Funds Need More Cash: Associated Press (07.18.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Matt Crenson; Public health experts have said that the almost $1 billion raised so far for the global AIDS fund is not nearly enough to fight the epidemic. Donor countries are fooling themselves if they feel that this would make a significant impact; it will not, wrote nine AIDS experts form North America, Europe and Africa in a com
EU Gives 120 Million Euros to Back Global Health Fund: Associated Press (07.18.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; The European Commission said yesterday that it would donate 120 million euros ($104 million) to the global health fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria. EU Commission President Roman Prodi said the commitment to the fund should provide ... a further instrument to fight the three major communicable diseases which are the p
The Tuberculosis Threat: New York Times (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; The editors called the task of stemming global TB urgent in part because of the rise of tuberculosis resistant to the usual antibiotics. They referred to Dr. Lee Reichman, director of the New Jersey Medical School s National Tuberculosis Center, and his book Timebomb, in which he calls Russia the epicenter of t
City Says Inmate Care Fails in Most Contract Categories: New York Times (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Katherine E Finkelstein; New York City s Health and Hospitals Corporation said this week that the health care company awarded $314 million to care for inmates had failed to adequately provide services in its first three months on the job. In a comprehensive review of Prison Health Services, city officials found inadequate services in 30 of 33
National Trends in Condom Use Among At-Risk Heterosexuals in the United States: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (06.01.01) Vol. 27: P 176-182 - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Joseph A Catania; Jesse Canchola; Diane Binson; M Margaret Dolcini; Jay P Paul; Lawrence Fisher; Kyung- Hee Choi; Lance Pollack; Jason Chang; William L Yarber; Julia R Heiman; Thomas Coates; National surveillance studies indicate that HIV prevalence since 1990 has declined among heterosexuals. The studies coincide with recent national declines in incident AIDS among heterosexual men and women. Factors contributing to the decline of AIDS among heterosexuals may include: decreases in HIV cases among intraven
Bristol-Myers Offers Not to Sue Firm Seeking to Make AIDS Drugs for Africa: Wall Street Journal (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Rachel Zimmerman; Responding to criticism over the high price of AIDS drugs in poor countries, Bristol-Myers Squibb could become the first company to formally allow a generic drug maker to manufacture and sell patented AIDS drugs in sub-Saharan Africa. In a letter faxed yesterday to South Africa s largest generic drug company, Aspen Pha
Europe Moves to Speed Up Approval of New Drugs: New York Times (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Alan Cowell; The European Commission today proposed accelerating the approval of new drugs, which could reduce by up-to-half the time it takes for new medication to reach markets and patients. The commission, an executive arm of the European Union (EU), also said it would slightly ease the ban on advertising prescription drugs, whi
Overseas Tests of AIDS Drug Skirt Regulators: Wall Street Journal (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Mark Schoofs; A South African couple whose attempts to test an experimental AIDS drug caused an uproar in 1997 have quietly tested the compound on humans in Tanzania with the help of the police and military. The experimental drug, Virodene P058, is purified from an industrial solvent known as dimethylformamide (DMF). The compound ha
HIV-Positive Woman Sues HMO to Cover Liver Transplant: Associated Press (07.18.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; Denise Lavoie; Belynda Dunn is HIV-positive, has hepatitis C and end-stage liver disease, and her HMO is unwilling to pay for a liver transplant. Dunn has gone to federal court to ask a judge to issue an emergency order to force the HMO to pay for the transplant. Dunn said her doctors have told her that she will die within months wit
University of California Scientists Develop First Vaccine to Protect Against Vaginal Transmission of HIV-Like Virus: Associated Press (07.19.01) - Thursday, July 19, 2001; University of California scientists have developed the first vaccine that protects against vaginal transmission of a virus closely related to HIV. In studies with monkeys, all vaccinated animals remained healthy a year after exposure to the virulent Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) that normally causes AIDS- like di
Kenyan Family Shatters AIDS Taboo with Death Notice: Reuters Health (07.17.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Matthew Green; A family broke a major taboo in Kenya on Tuesday by decorating a death announcement for a deceased relative with two red ribbons to show he died of AIDS. Fighting back tears, Paul Omukuba s sister said it was time Kenyans washed away the stigma preventing people confronting the reality of a disease cutting a swathe thr
Jamaican Health Minister Supports HIV Testing for Pregnant Women: BBC (07.16.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Jamaica s health minister, John Junor, supports the idea of compulsory HIV testing of pregnant women in an effort to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. After returning from a UN conference on AIDS held in New York, Junor said that he was intrigued to discover that in New York, pregnant women are required
New San Francisco Initiative to Stop HIV Spread; Chlamydia, Gonorrhea Rates Also Up Sharply: San Francisco Chronicle (07.13.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Ilene Lelchuk; Facing alarming rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea in its African-American neighborhoods and a growing HIV infection rate citywide, San Francisco health officials on July 12 announced four new initiatives to combat the spread of STDs. The city plans to use a $1 million grant from DuPont Pharmaceuticals and matching city
Circumstances at HIV Diagnosis and Progression of Disease in Older HIV-Infected Americans: American Journal of Public Health (07.01.01) Vol 91; No 07: P 1117-1120 - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; David S Zingmond, MD; Neil S Wenger; MD, MPH, Steve Crystal; PhD, Geoggrey F Joyce; PhD; Honghu Liu, PhD; Usha Sambamoorthi, PhD; Lee A Lillard, PhD; Arleen A Leibowitz, PhD; Martin F Shapiro, MD,PhD; and Samuel A Bozzette, MD, PhD, for the HIV Cost and Service Utilization Study (HCSUS) Consortium; Patients older than 50 years represent 11 percent of all AIDS cases in the United States . Previous studies of older HIV- positive individuals have been conducted on small or non- representative samples. The investigators studied the circumstances at diagnosis and disease progression by examining survey data from a pro
American Imprisoned for 10 Years for Rape, Infecting Women with HIV: Associated Press (07.18.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Early today, a German court in Stuttgart sentenced a 36-year old American disc jockey to 10 years in prison after finding that he infected at least four women with HIV. Stoney Berly Gibbs, who made a name for himself in the club scene in southern Germany , knew he carried the virus when he arrived in Germany in 1999. G
AIDS Fighters Redouble Vaccine Effort: Chicago Tribune (07.18.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Stevenson Swanson; Despite successes in deciphering HIV and probing for its weaknesses, the scientific stumbling blocks to AIDS vaccine development remain daunting. But with HIV running rampant in the developing world, public health experts see a vaccine as the best hope for slowing its spread. That is giving renewed urgency to the hunt
Bush Urges Grants, Not Loans, To Poor Nations: USA Today (07.18.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Laurence McQuillan; President Bush said Tuesday that the World Bank should give money rather than make loans to countries struggling to improve schooling, health, nutrition and sanitation programs. He said that offering grants would ease the debt that can sometimes cripple a nation s ability to provide for the basic needs of its citizens.
US Faith-Based Organizations Join AIDS, Health Groups to Call for Debt Cancellation for Poor Nations to Stop AIDS: Boston Globe (07.17.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Ascribe News; Thirty major agencies involved in the global fight against AIDS yesterday appealed to US President George W. Bush to use the upcoming G7 summit to mandate deeper and broader debt relief for impoverished nations. The agencies sent a letter to Bush outlining their concerns. This letter is yet more proof that even though
Need for Women's Health Care Prompts Second Idaho Operation: Associated Press (07.18.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; A lack of women s medical care locally has prompted Planned Parenthood of Idaho to open its second office in the conservative state. Planned Parenthood already has a clinic in Boise. The Twin Falls operation will open in six to nine months said Rebecca Poedy of Planned Parenthood. A survey of the health district shows
The Deadly Secret: The Atlanta Journal Constitution (07.08.01) - Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Gracie Bonds Staples; At the end of the second decade of the AIDS epidemic, African-Americans are experiencing a steady rise in infections, especially among men ages 23 to 29 who have sex with men. This tragic increase is puzzling in light of the slow down in rates among white gay men, yet not so puzzling when seen in the light of a traditi
Australia Ready to Help Central Java Fight AIDS: Antara Indonesian National News (07.14.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Australia s AusAID, program manager of the Jakarta-branch Australian Agency for International Development, has entered into a cooperative effort with the Central Java-chapter of the Indonesian Family Planning Association to help fight AIDS, officials said after a meeting of the two organizations. AusAID has helped Indo
16,000 in Largest HIV-Vaccine Trial: Nation (Thailand)(07.14.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Thailand s largest phase III trial of a possible HIV vaccine, involving 16,000 non-infected volunteers, will begin next year. Volunteers will get seven shots of the vaccine, called ALVAC-HIV. Researchers will boost two of the seven ALVAC shots with AIDSVAX. The vaccine will be administered over six months but the volun
North Carolina Communities Receive $16.7 Million for Housing: Associated Press (07.16.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; The US Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded North Carolina a total of $16.7 million to develop and improve public housing. Seven communities will receive the federal money, with Greensboro getting the largest individual grant of $4.3 million. The money will pay for affordable housing, emergency shelters
Hollywood Turns Spotlight on AIDS, HIV Education: Daily Variety (07.12.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Tim Swanson; Although critics have long cited the entertainment industry s reluctance to deal accurately with AIDS, Hollywood has made a distinct contribution to the understanding of AIDS, from bigscreen themes, to TV movies of the week, to the stage, said Daily Variety columnist Army Archerd, who first broke the story about Rock H
HIV-1 Drug Resistance Profiles in Children and Adults with Viral Load of <50 Copies/mL Receiving Combination Therapy: Journal of the American Medical Association (07.11.01) Vol 286; No 2: P 196-207 - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Monika Hermankova, BA; Stuart C Ray, MD; Christian Ruff, BA; Monique Powell-Davis, BS; Roxann Ingersoll, BS; Richard T D'Aquila, MD; Thomas C Quinn, MD; Janet D Siliciano, PhD; Robert F Siliciano, MD, PhD; Deborah Persaud, MD; Treatment of HIV patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can reduce plasma viremia to below the limits of detection of current ultrasensitive assays in many patients. However, recent studies using specialized techniques have shown that virus production continues at a very low level even in patients w
South African Catholic Paper Supports Condom Proposal: Agence France Presse (07.16.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; A Roman Catholic newspaper in South Africa has printed its support for the proposal of a local bishop to lift the church s ban on condoms in a bid to halt the stem of HIV/AIDS. The Southern Cross newspaper says condoms provide one way, albeit an imperfect one, of stemming the AIDS epidemic. In that light, the church i
Zimbabwe to Disburse Fund to People Living with HIV/AIDS: Xinhua (07.16.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Zimbabwe will disburse $23 million to people living with HIV/AIDS, the official Sunday Mail newspaper reported on Sunday. The funds are raised from a three percent AIDS levy on taxable income and corporate tax that was introduced last year. The funds are currently held in the National AIDS Trust Fund. On Saturday, Mi
Open Debate at AIDS Seminar: Nation (Thailand) (07.15.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Unlike the recent debate at last month s UN special session on AIDS over whether homosexual groups would be allowed to participate, Thai homosexuals had no problem last week at Thailand s national AIDS seminar. Assistant Professor Krittiya Archavanitkul of Mahidol University s Population and Social Research Institute s
African Leaders Awake From AIDS Lethargy: UN: Reuters (07.17.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Matthew Green; African leaders have finally become aware of their continent s catastrophic AIDS epidemic, but unless they act soon the disease will take an apocalyptic toll, a top UNAIDS envoy said yesterday. The extraordinary passivity which characterized the last number of years is genuinely a thing of the past, said Stephen Lewis
Working Toward AIDS 'Drugstore' for Africa: Boston Globe (07.17.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; John Donnelly; Jim Yong Kim may be pleased that the prices of AIDS drugs for poor countries fell dramatically earlier this year, but he believes a major piece is missing before AIDS treatment can expand significantly in Africa and Asia. The Harvard physician has proposed the formation of a committee that buys AIDS drugs in bulk, furt
Never Too Old: Washington Post (07.17.01) - Tuesday, July 17, 2001; Michelle Nicolosi; For most of the 20 years since the start of the AIDS epidemic people 50 and older have accounted for a steady 10 percent of all new AIDS cases diagnosed annually. But a few years ago, that rate began an ominous climb -to 11.6 percent in 1997, 12.7 percent in 1998 and 13.4 percent in 1999, according to the CDC. The fast
Ukrainian Health Ministry Releases New HIV and AIDS Figures: BBC (07.13.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; According to Ukrainian Health Ministry figures as of July 1, 2001, a total of 39,127 citizens of Ukraine and 291 foreign citizens have been officially registered as HIV-positive since 1987. Intravenous drug users form the majority of HIV patients in Ukraine -28,537 cases. At a Health Ministry news conference, officials
Uganda Takes Measures to Check Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission: Xinhua (07.16.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Pregnant women who test HIV-positive in Uganda will reportedly receive free treatment with nevirapine to reduce the chances of passing on the virus to their babies during delivery. Director General of Health Services Francis Omaswa was quoted as saying that the drug s manufacturer,
World Bank Urges Russia on AIDS: Associated Press (07.15.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Anna Dolgov; James Wolfensohn, chief of the World Bank, urged the Russian government Friday to use its rebounding economy to combat the spread of AIDS and TB. The World Bank has offered Russia a $150 million loan to fund treatment and prevention programs, but details are still being worked out with the Russian Health Ministry. Wolf
Germany Contributes $131 Million to Global Fund Against AIDS: Associated Press (07.16.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Germany will contribute $131 million to the UN-backed global fund to fight AIDS, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder announced Friday after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I hope it will inspire others to follow, Annan said after Schroeder s announcement. This is not a fund only for governments ... this is a
TB Cases in Tanzania Increasing: Xinhua (07.16.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Cases of TB in Tanzania have gone up from 52,437 in 1999 to 54,000 last year, at a rate of 2.9 percent, Tanzania s Minister for Health Anna Abdallah said Friday. The minister noted that seven regions of the country were the hardest hit by TB, and that the increase in TB infections was correlated with the prevalence of
The Coming AIDS Crisis in Chin: New York Times (07.16.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Bates Gill; Sarah Palmer; China s Minister of Health Zhang Wenkang announced last month at the UN special session on AIDS that his country has 600,000 people who have HIV or AIDS. And what this estimate shows -given the conditions fostering the spread of HIV in China -is that a major explosion of HIV and AIDS will happen there, the authors wrot
Television Station Drops Lawsuit Against AIDS Agency: Associated Press (07.14.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Little Rock, Ark.-based television station KARK dropped its lawsuit Friday against the Arkansas AIDS Foundation. The suit, filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court, claimed the agency refused to hand over complaints from clients of the Arkansas Supportive Housing Network, an agency that provides housing assistance to the
The Serostatus Approach to Fighting the HIV Epidemic: Prevention Strategies for Infected Individuals: American Journal of Public Health (07.01.01) Vol 92; No 7: P 1019-1024 - Monday, July 16, 2001; Robert S Janssen, MD; David R Holtgrave, PhD; Ronald O Valdiserri, MD, MPH; Melissa Shepherd, ABJ; Helene D Gayle, MD, MPH; Kevin M DeCock, MD, FRCP, DTM&H; By mid-2000, more than 750,000 Americans with AIDS had been reported and more than 430,000 Americans had died. HIV prevalence in the United States stabilized in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to the CDC, the estimated number of new infections has remained stable at approximately 40,000 per year since 1992. A
Cape Verde Islands' New Plan to Fight AIDS Spread: Agence France Presse (07.16.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; The 10 volcanic islands of Cape Verde , located about 300 miles off the West African coast of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal , has registered 612 HIV and 300 AIDS cases since 1986. With a small population of 420,000, concern about the spread of AIDS on the islands has led to the launch of a new plan of actio
Needle Handouts Advocated: Nation (Thailand) (07.13.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; The director of the Northern Drug Dependence Treatment Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand , Dr. Charoon Jittiwuttikarn, last week told the National AIDS Seminar that the government should support a pilot project dispensing needles to drug addicts to combat the spread of AIDS. According to Charoon, The HIV infection rate a
Kenyan President Shy to Talk About Condoms as Hundreds Die Daily from AIDS-Related Illnesses Daily: Associated Press (07.13.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Tom Maliti; Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi says he is embarrassed to talk about condoms and advises people to just avoid having sex. Speaking last Wednesday to the country s Pharmaceutical Society, the 76-year-old leader said he felt shy to have to speak publicly about condoms and AIDS. He also urged Kenyans to go without sex fo
Satcher Hailed by Black Clergy; Forum Endorses Report on Sex-Ed: Washington Post (07.14.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; Caryle Murphy; US Surgeon General David Satcher was honored Friday by a national conference of African-American church leaders for promoting increased sex education among youths to combat teen pregnancy and STDs. The National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality (NBRSOS), held last week at the Howard University School of Divinity unde
South Carolina First in Babies Exposed to Syphilis: Associated Press (07.14.01) - Monday, July 16, 2001; More babies are exposed to syphilis in South Carolina than in any other state, a new federal report shows. The number of newborns born to syphilis-infected mothers nationwide was cut in half between 1997 and 2000, from 1,077 to 529, according to the CDC. The rate dropped from 27.8 newborns per 100,000 births to 13.4 pe
Germany Pledges Aid to Global AIDS Fund During Annan Visit: Agence France Presse (07.13.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; During brief talks between German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Berlin, Germany pledged help for the global AIDS fund initiated by Annan. Fischer called the fund an excellent initiative ... to give poorer countries the opportunity to fight the disease effectively and said Germ
Average Lifespan in Swaziland Plummets to 27 Years: African Eye News Service (07.10.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; According to a survey released by US Ambassador to Swaziland Gregory Lee-Johnson, the AIDS epidemic will cut life expectancy in the kingdom to 27 years by 2010 unless its government launches a radical campaign against the epidemic. Life expectancy has already been slashed from 58 to 33 years because of the epidemic, an
Mother-to-Child Highly Contributing to HIV/AIDS in Rwanda: Xinhua (07.10.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Mother-to-child transmission has been found to be the most frequent mode of HIV transmission among the Rwandan population, according to the Rwanda News Agency. Data released on Tuesday in the country s capital, Kigali, indicated that in urban areas the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women is 20 percent to 3
AIDS Agency Sues Landlord, Cites Trans Discrimination: Philadelphia Gay News (07.12.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Associated Press; The Hispanic AIDS Forum in New York filed a discrimination lawsuit against its ex-landlord on June 26, charging that it was forced from its Queens office because its transgender clients used the wrong bathrooms. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan s state and Supreme Court, the agency accused the ex-landlord of choosing to
Protein Helps Tuberculosis Navigate the Body: Reuters (07.11.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Scientists from the United States and France have discovered that the TB bacterium depends on a protein called HBHA to move outside of the lungs to infect other parts of the body. The research suggests that blocking the protein may be an effective way to reduce the severity of TB, a study author said. The results of th
Many College Students Frown on Condom Use: Survey: Reuters Health (07.10.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; A sizable minority of college students attempt to talk their sex partners out of using a condom, according to a report published in the August issue of Archives of Sexual Behavior (2001; 30: 379-391). The most popular arguments against condoms are that sex feels better without one and that going without one will not ra
UN Members Try to Shut Out Gay Group: New York Blade (06.29.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Will O'Bryan; One of the most contentious items of debate during the UN General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS was the inclusion of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) at a roundtable discussion dealing with HIV/AIDS and human rights non- governmental organizations (NGOs). The only gay NGO at the
Drug Companies Criticized for Ad Spending: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Anjetta McQueen; Major drug makers spend nearly twice as much to advertise their medicines as to research and develop them, and this aggressive marketing is to blame for soaring drug prices, according to Families USA. The consumer group, which analyzed data from the Securities and Exchange Commission, said on Tuesday that drug makers s
Higher HIV Rates Among Gay Latino Men Who Face Racism: Associated Press(07.13.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Gay Latino men who have been the target of racism and homophobia are more likely to engage in high risk sexual behavior and more likely to have HIV, according to a national survey by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Researcher Rafael Diaz of the Institute on Sexuality, Inequality and Health at San Francisco Sta
Arkansas Officials Dispute Figures Showing State Didn't Meet Target: Associated Press (07.13.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Tom Parsons; The CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday showed that Arkansas last year did not meet a target for reducing the number of cases of congenital syphilis, but state officials have disputed the number used to make that judgment. The nationwide target for the year 2000 was a reduction to fewer than 40
Mother-to-Child Syphilis Rate Down: Associated Press (07.12.01) - Friday, July 13, 2001; Erin McClam; According to Thursday s CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, American women passed syphilis to their newborns last year at less than half the rate they did just four years ago, bringing health officials closer to stamping out the disease. The CDC recorded 529 cases of congenital syphilis last year, down from 1,07
Zimbabwean Men Urged to Play Role in Fight Against AIDS: Xinhua (07.10.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; The National Association for Men of Zimbabwe on Tuesday called on men in the country to play a role in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The role of men is to provide communities with the necessary information and techniques to respond effectively to the AIDS epidemic, Osman Mabaya, chairman of the association,
Ukraine Sets Funds Aside to Fight AIDS: Agence France Presse (07.11.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; The government of Ukraine announced yesterday that it will set aside $65 million to fight the country s AIDS epidemic. Health Minister Vitaly Moskalenko told reporters that the government would spend $19 million to fight AIDS this year, $23 million in 2002, and another $23 million in 2003. Ukraine has one of the highe
Ministry to Review Measures to Fight Rising TB Rates: Kyodo (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; Japan s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will today start a thorough review of its measures to help stem an alarming rise in the number of TB cases, ministry officials said yesterday. The ministry plans to reexamine various measures including BCG vaccinations and use of preventive medicines, as well as considering
HIV-Infected Moms Likely to Pass Along Syphilis: Reuters (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; According to the CDC, infants born to HIV-infected mothers during a period of high syphilis rates (1988 and 1994) in Texas had a 50 times greater likelihood of being born with syphilis than the average child. In a report published in the June issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (2001; 28:315-320) investigators studi
South African Bishops to Debate Loosening Church's Condom Restrictions to Prevent AIDS: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; Ravi Nessman; With millions of Africans dying of AIDS and millions more becoming infected with HIV each year, a group of Roman Catholic clergy in southern Africa is debating whether the church should relax its ban on condoms. A proposal by the AIDS office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference seeks to allow condom use
HIV/AIDS: Clients, Not Sex Workers, Are the Problem: Bangkok Post (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; The issue of commercial sex and HIV/AIDS is being highlighted at the national AIDS conference this week in Thailand . Chantawipha Aphisuk of Empower Foundation said sex workers were the first group to be targeted under the state s AIDS prevention policy because the spread of the virus in the country began with them. Mo
No Sex for Two Years, Moi Urges Kenyan People: Reuters (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; President Daniel arap Moi has urged Kenyans to abstain from sex for at least two years to try to curb the spread of AIDS. Moi spoke Wednesday after the government announced plans to import 300 million condoms. As a president, I am shy that I am spending millions of shillings importing those things, Moi told meeting par
AIDS Crusader Banned from Checking on Villages: South China Morning Post (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; Vivien Pik-Kwan Chan; A controversial Chinese AIDS crusader in Henan province who was blocked from attending an international health conference in Washington, D.C., last month has now been banned from entering villages where AIDS is rampant. Village cadres have ordered that I am not allowed to enter their villages to meet AIDS victims, said
HIV Conference Calls for Better Access to Treatment Throughout World: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; Laurence Norman; An international conference on AIDS has ended in Buenos Aires with delegates urging better access to medication for all those infected with HIV. The conference closed yesterday with an appeal from International AIDS Society President Stefano Vella to improve care for AIDS patients in the developing world. It is our com
Measure Easing Drug Imports Passes in House: New York Times (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; Robert Pear; The US House of Representatives yesterday voted 324 to 101 to make it easier for people to import low-cost prescription drugs for their own use. It had earlier rejected, by a vote of 267 to 159, a more sweeping proposal to allow such imports by drug wholesalers and pharmacies. Last year similar legislation easily passe
Administration Backs Off on Religious Groups' Hiring of Gays: Associated Press (07.12.01) - Thursday, July 12, 2001; Laura Meckler; In a continuing controversy over using federal money to support religious groups that provide human services, the White House backed off from a plan to allow groups participating in the faith-based initiative to ignore local laws banning discrimination against gays and lesbians. Early this week, Bush administration off
NAACP Chief Pushes Agenda: Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (07.10.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Stephanie Grace; In an address to the organization s annual convention in New Orleans on Monday, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume laid out an agenda that goes far beyond traditional civil rights issues. True progress would mean an all-out assault on the spread of AIDS domestically and abroad, full access to health care, a patients bill of
Senate Passes Spending Measure After Parties Duel over Surplus: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Alan Fram; The US Senate yesterday approved a $6.5 billion spending bill for defense and other programs. Though dominated by $5.9 billion for the Pentagon and the Energy Department s nuclear weapons work, the bill includes $100 million to help the UN fight AIDS in Africa.
House Committee Approves $15.2 Billion Foreign Aid Bill: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Carolyn Skorneck; On tuesday the US House Appropriations Committee passed a $15.2 billion foreign aid bill that matches President George W. Bush s overall request for foreign aid. That amount is up 2 percent over the current fiscal year and includes $474 million to fight HIV/AIDS in foreign countries.
Stridor and Difficult Airway in an AIDS Patient: AIDS Patient Care and STDs (06.01.01) Vol 15; No 6: P 293- 295 - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Samer Alkhuja, MD; Robert Mnekel, MD; Bhawesh Patel, MD; Ahmed Ibrahimbacha, MD; Kaposi s sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy observed in AIDS patients. Approximately two-thirds of patients with AIDS- associated KS develop KS lesions involving the head and neck. Since 1996, however, the incidence of AIDS-associated KS in Western countries has been declining due to the advent of highly active
Sect Embraces HIV-Positive: Chicago Tribune (07.11.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Vanessa Bauza; Santeria refers to the synthesis of West African rituals and Roman Catholic saints, and its practice was shunned in Cuba for many years. But today, a small group of AIDS activists hopes to use the ancient Yoruba traditions and legends of Santeria to stop the spread of AIDS. Carlos Alejandro Diaz Martine, 33, an HIV-po
Thailand Mulls Turning Stockpiled Rubber into Condoms: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Uamdao Noikorn; Thailand s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today proposed that his country tackle its AIDS epidemic by turning the national rubber surplus into condoms. The government could use the rubber bought from planters under the [state] subsidy program and make condoms from it to distribute to the general public and even expo
World Bank and Uganda Agree to $50 Million AIDS Project: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Carl Bialik; The World Bank has agreed to spend $47.5 million over the next five years on Uganda s already successful AIDS prevention and treatment programs. At the conclusion of a two-day workshop in the capital Kampala, Ugandan and World Bank officials said Tuesday that the program will spend half of the project s total cost of $
Progress in Development of AIDS Vaccine, Argentine Conference Finds: Agence France Presse (07.10.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Some 3,000 scientists at the International AIDS Society s Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Buenos Aires yesterday heard news of progress in the fight to develop an AIDS vaccine. There has never been more optimism than there is today, said Margaret Johnston, director of the AIDS vaccine program at the US
Interrupting AIDS Treatment Shows Promise: United Press International (07.10.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Ed Susman; A controversial treatment in which HIV patients take medications only on alternate weeks appears to hold HIV at bay without creating a drug-resistant virus, researchers heard yesterday at the International AIDS Society s Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Buenos Aires. Our results seem to be an indication
HIV/AIDS Toll Could Hit 200 Million: United Press International (07.10.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Michael Smith; At the International AIDS Society s Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Buenos Aires, the organization s president said that more than 200 million people could be infected with HIV in 20 years. It s not unreasonable at all to project 200 million cases unless effective action is taken, said Stefano Vella. T
Studies Show Virus 'Blips' Don't Necessarily Mean AIDS Drugs Aren't Working: Associated Press (07.11.01) - Wednesday, July 11, 2001; Lindsey Tanner; Two studies published in today s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggest that the slight blips in HIV virus levels that many AIDS patients experience while taking drug cocktails do not necessarily mean the treatment is failing. Doctors generally try to suppress the AIDS virus to levels undetectable b
Uganda to Use 300 Million Condoms in 5 Years to Check AIDS: Xinhua (07.10.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Ugandans will use 300 million condoms in the next five years in order to prevent HIV infection, the Monitor newspaper reported in Kampala today. On average, 60 million condoms are being used annually by Ugandans, so in the next five years it is estimated that 300 million condoms will be used, said John Rwomushana, the
AIDS Spreading Faster in Russia: Xinhua (07.10.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; As of July 2, 2001, 129,261 cases of HIV were registered in Russia . The number of people infected with HIV increased more than 50 percent in the first half of this year over the end of last year, according to Nikolai Mashkilleyson, HIV/AIDS coordinator with the World Health Organization . At the end of 2000
AIDS Drug Could Be Easier on the Heart: USA Today (07.10.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; A preliminary study by Bristol-Myers Squibb suggests that a new AIDS drug may avoid the heart problems linked to many medications that are currently available. The study, presented yesterday at the International AIDS Society meeting in Buenos Aires, compared atazanavir , an experimental
Distrust, Stigma Hinder Fight: St. Petersburg Times (07.08.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Brian Moore; In Pinellas County, Fla., the rate of HIV/AIDS infection among African-Americans continues to rise, defying the efforts of local health workers. The fight against AIDS in Pinellas County dramatically shifted in 1998 when figures revealed that African- Americans were contracting the disease at an alarming rate. For more
Characteristics of Adolescents' Sexual Partners and Their Association with Use of Condoms and Other Contraceptive Methods: Family Planning Perspectives (06.01.01) Vol 33; No 3: P 100-105 & 132 - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Kathleen Ford; Woosung Sohn; James Lepkowski; Several studies have found recent increases in condom use and concurrent decreases in use of female methods of contraception. Latino adolescents were found to be less likely to use condoms than were white and black adolescents. Younger adolescents were also less likely to use condoms or other contraceptive methods. Few
HIV Up: 'Condom Fatigue' Blamed: Vancouver Sun (07.10.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Jeff Lee; A rise in the number of HIV cases over the last year in British Columbia (BC) among gays, people of color and heterosexuals is being attributed in large part to what researchers are calling condom fatigue. Condom fatigue is an indifference displayed by men at risk of infection because they don t want to use latex prote
The Return of the White Plague: Daily Mail (London) (07.07.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Geoffrey Wansell; A report last week by Britain s Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) revealed that Newham, in the heart of the old East End of London, has a TB rate that is more than double that in India , making it the TB capital of the Western world. No fewer than seven people a day in London exhibit the first symptoms of TB, kno
Annan: AIDS Threatens Africa's Goals: Newsday (New York) (07.10.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed the opening of the summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) as the 38-year- old body began a year-long transition into the African Union (AU). But even as Annan urged unity, he cautioned that the AIDS epidemic could undermine the continent s growth. This disease is all
Brazil to Produce Generic Anti-AIDS Drugs: Agence France Presse (07.10.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; The Brazilian Ministry of Health on Monday registered the nation s first domestically produced generic AIDS drug. The drug, Lamivudina, will form part of a cocktail of medications that the government distributes free to 95,000 of the 580,000 Brazilians infected with HIV. Lamivudina will cost about half as much ($52 for
AIDS Deaths Down in Texas Prisons, Mirroring National Figures: Associated Press (07.09.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Michael Graczyk; Texas prisons are mirroring national statistics that show a significant decline in the number of AIDS deaths among inmates. With the nation s second largest prison system, Texas has nearly 150,000 inmates and recorded 58 deaths attributed to HIV- or AIDS- related causes in 2000. That compares with 70 in 1997, 103 in 19
Episcopal Bishops Add Their Voice to AIDS Fight in Africa: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (07.07.01) - Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Patricia Rice; In a rare political move, more than 100 US Episcopal bishops have asked the federal government to give $2 billion for the African health and economic stabilization effort. Colin Powell said it: The AIDS pandemic is worse than war, said Bishop Hays Rockwell, who is beginning his last year before retirement as bishop of
Elton John's Bash Raises AIDS Funds: Associated Press (07.06.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Elton John s annual house party at his mansion in Windsor, England, raised $1.4 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. One anonymous donor gave $420,000; actor Kevin Spacey paid $120,000 for a classic Mini Cooper at auction. I am completely bowled over at the amount raised and would like to thank everyone for maki
Home for Terminal AIDS Victims Opens: Saigon Times Daily (07.04.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Thanh Tung; The Mai Hoa Center for AIDS patients opened July 3 in An Nhon Tay Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City. The facility, Vietnam s first home and clinic for terminal AIDS patients, was set up by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The home includes two six-bed patient dormitories, a dining room, a kitch
Fayette County Senator Pushes Prison Vaccinations: Associated Press (07.09.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Sen. Shirley Love (D-Fayette) renewed his pitch Sunday to have West Virginia s prison population vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Isn t it better to spend $80 for the vaccine than $800 treating an inmate? Love asked after learning that 44 of the 890 inmates at Mount Olive Correctional Complex have hepatitis C. It
HIV Testing Among Young Adults and Older Adolescents in the Setting of Acute Substance Abuse Treatment: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes(06.01.01) Vol 27; P 135-142 - Monday, July 9, 2001; David L Pugatch; Barrett G Levesque; Michelle A Lally; Steven E Reinert; William J Filippone; Christine M Combs; Timothy P Flanigan; Larry K Brown; Young adults, particularly girls, represent a large proportion of the newly reported cases of HIV. In 2000, according to this report, persons aged between 13 and 24 years accounted for 17% of newly reported HIV cases. HIV infection continues to increase among adolescents and young adults, and between June 1998 and June
Trading Their Freedom -HIV-Positive Cubans Get Care but Live in Quarantine: Newsday (New York) (07.07.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Cuba has one of the world s lowest HIV infection rates (well below 1 percent) in a region with one of the world s highest, even though it has the region s largest population and, according to surveys, some of its most liberal attitudes about sex. In the years since Cuba first tried to curtail the epidemic by quaranti
Church May Back Use of Condoms to Curb AIDS in Africa: Gazette (Montreal) (07.09.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Tim Butcher; The Roman Catholic Church in southern Africa is set to consider supporting the use of condoms to combat AIDS. The idea, contained in a policy paper to be discussed this month by the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Conference, runs counter to the church s fundamental principle of the sanctity of life, which outlaws con
Fighting AIDS: A New War Is Killing Cambodians: New York Times (07.07.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Seth Mydans; Cambodia is fighting a new war, and it is against AIDS. It is certainly the hot spot of the epidemic in Asia, in terms of the highest prevalence of infection, said Peter Ghys, an epidemiologist with UNAIDS in Geneva. The country is the epicenter of what Ghys said was the next potential explosion of AIDS -the Indochin
Career Challenge -Companies' Work Not Over in HIV and AIDS Education: Los Angeles Times (07.08.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Susan Vaughn; Despite years of workplace education campaigns and the enactment of protective federal and state legislation, US companies still face challenges dealing with HIV/AIDS-related issues. There s still quite a stigma, said Yong Lee, contract compliance officer of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. US employers may b
Lack of Financing May End Trial of an AIDS Vaccine: New York Times (07.09.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Andrew Pollack; Pfizer Inc. on Friday announced that it was pulling out of its partnership with Immune Response to develop an AIDS vaccine, called Remune, after company officials reviewed results from a clinical trial. Immune Response will take over the trial but it is unclear how the company will pay for it. The company has only ab
Waste of AIDS Funds Under Federal Scrutiny: Indianapolis Star (07.05.01) - Monday, July 9, 2001; Celeste Williams; Gina Barton; AIDServe Indiana is among trou