Agence France-Presse - Table of Contents 'English'

1999

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December

Mil-Tanzania-AIDS: Tanzanian president stresses fight against AIDS in New Year: Agence France-Presse - December 31, 1999; DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 31 (AFP) - Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa on Friday welcomed the new millennium by urging Tanzanians to intensify the fight against AIDS, saying the disease had now taken on alarming proportions.
US-Clinton: Clinton predicts future threats, economic greatness in populated areas: Agence France-Presse - December 28, 1999; NEW YORK, Dec 28 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton sees the future with both trepidation and excitement, expecting cures for AIDS and cancer, but also biological warfare, he said in an interview with CBS news to be aired Tuesday.
AIDS-detect: New AIDS bloodtest could save millions of lives: Agence France-Presse - December 27, 1999; PARIS, Dec 27 (AFP) - Researchers working in Britain have developed a blood test that can tell doctors when the AIDS virus is hiding invisibly in the body and which could help save millions of lives.
US-AIDS: Scientists identify signs that can predict development of AIDS -- study: Agence France-Presse - December 18, 1999; WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (AFP) - US scientists have managed to identify signs that can help predict when HIV-infected people will develop full-blown AIDS, according to a study released in the December issue of The Journal of Virology.
Italy-Africa: Italians launch massive AIDS program in Mozambique: Agence France-Presse - December 17, 1999; ROME, Dec 17 (AFP) - Italy's Roman Catholic Sant'Egidio community on Thursday announced a wide-ranging four-year program to prevent and fight AIDS in Mozambique.
SAfrica-US: US lawmakers pledge more AIDS assistance to S. Africa: Agence France-Presse - December 13, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Dec 13 (AFP) - The United States will commit nine million dollars to South Africa's fight against HIV/AIDS next year, a fourfold increase on its 1999 assistance, US Representative Richard Gephardt said here Monday.
Millions-children: Millions of children shut out of world economic boom - UNICEF: Michael Adler; Agence France-Presse - December 13, 1999; BERLIN, Dec 13 (AFP) - Forget the Internet, forget booming stock markets and remember that hundreds of millions of children have been shut out of world prosperity, UNICEF said in an end-of-the-century report released Monday.
India-UNICEF: India has an "alarming number" of HIV-positive newborns: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - December 13, 1999; NEW DELHI, Dec 13 (AFP) - Some 30,000 newborns in India are infected every year with the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) that leads to AIDS, UNICEF said in an end-of-the-century report released here Monday.
Cambodia-budget: Cambodian opposition blasts defence-dominated national budget: Agence France-Presse - December 13, 1999; PHNOM PENH, Dec 13 (AFP) - Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Monday accused the government of "stealing the people's money and lives" as parliamentary debate opened on a national budget again dominated by massive defence spending.
Singapore-AIDS: Singapore's 24-hour rule on AIDS patients to remain: Agence France-Presse - December 9, 1999; SINGAPORE, Dec 9 (AFP) - The Singapore government has rejected a request to abolish the requirement that AIDS patients in the city-state be buried or cremated within 24 hours of death.
UN-AIDS: Fight against AIDS ranks with peace and security for UN: Annan: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 1999; UNITED NATIONS, Dec 6 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asked United Nations agencies in Africa on Monday to give top priority to the fight against AIDS, saying it was as important as peace and security.
Rwanda-prisons: More than 300 Rwandans have died in prison this year: official: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 1999; KIGALI, Dec 6 (AFP) - More than 300 prisoners have died of various illnesses between January and October this year, prison director Jeanne-Francoise Nyirampabwa said Monday.
Nigeria-US: US lawmakers, on evaluation mission, arrive in Nigeria: Agence France-Presse - December 6, 1999; LAGOS, Dec 6 (AFP) - A US congressional delegation has arrived in Nigeria at the start of a mission to evaluate political and economic reforms in three sub-Saharan countries, the US embassy here said Monday.
South Africa-religion: Religion vital for challenges of new century: Mandela: Agence France-Presse - December 5, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Dec 5 (AFP) - Religion will be vital to helping humanity meet the "tremendous challenges" of the coming century, former South African president Nelson Mandela told spiritual and religious leaders Sunday.
Africa-Canada: Canada gives Africa 32 million dollars for AIDS projects: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 1999; PRETORIA, Dec 2 (AFP) - The Canadian government will donate more than 200 million rand (32.7 million dollars) to Africa over the next five years to fight the spread of AIDS on the continent, the Canadian High Commission in Pretoria said Thursday.
US-Christmas: New York lights up Rockefeller Center Christmas tree: Agence France-Presse - December 2, 1999; NEW YORK, Dec 2 (AFP) - The traditional Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center here was lit up late Wednesday, only hours after three AIDS activists were arrested for chaining themselves to the base of the 30-meter (100-foot) pine.
AIDS: Candles, condoms, concerts -- and 11 million AIDS orphans: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; PARIS, Dec 1 (AFP) - Anti-AIDS activists held pop concerts, candlelit vigils and handed out condoms and T-shirts to mark World AIDS day Wednesday as they learned that the number of AIDS orphans had "skyrocketed" to more than 11 million.
AIDS-Nigeria: Obasanjo to lead war on AIDS, 2.6 million Nigerians hit by HIV: Ade Obisesan; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; ABUJA, Dec 1 (AFP) - President Olusegun Obasanjo said Wednesday that he is determined to personally lead the war against HIV/AIDS since 2.6 million Nigerians aged between 15 and 49 live with the HIV virus, on official figures.
AIDS-UNICEF-vaccine: AIDS vaccine 'at least five years' away - UNAIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; UNITED NATIONS, Dec 1 (AFP) - Important political progress has been made against AIDS although there is no realistic hope of a vaccine for at least five years, the executive director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, said Wednesday.
AIDS-Ethiopia: Ethiopian president urges 'breaking the silence' around AIDS: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; ADDIS ABABA, Dec 1 (AFP) - President Negasso Gidada, in a speech on the eve of World AIDS Day, urged Ethiopians to combat the stigma surrounding the disease in their country, among the hardest hit by HIV and AIDS in the world.
AIDS-Iran: Iran records more than 200 AIDS-related deaths: minister: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; TEHRAN, Dec 1 (AFP) - Iran has recorded a total of 203 AIDS-related deaths since the disease first appeared in the country 12 years ago, Health Minister Mohammad Farhadi said Wednesday.
AIDS-Zimbabwe-tax: Mugabe defends controversial AIDS levy on AIDS day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; HARARE, Dec 1 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Thursday marked World AIDS Day by defending the country's proposed AIDS levy, which has provoked a public outcry since it was announced in October.
AIDS-Russia: Russian medical experts urge government to fight AIDS epidemic: Igor Gedilaghine; Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; MOSCOW, Dec 1 (AFP) - Russian experts marked Wednesday's World AIDS Day with warnings that galloping rates of infection by the life-threatening disease could only be tackled by urgent government action.
AIDS-Rwanda: AIDS day marked with demos across Rwanda: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; KIGALI, Dec 1 (AFP) - Authorities in Rwanda marked World AIDS Day on Wednesday by organising demonstrations across the country.
Thailand-AIDS: Thailand to see more AIDS patients, doctors warn: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; BANGKOK, Dec 1 (AFP) - Doctors on World AIDS Day Wednesday warned hundreds of thousands of Thais with the HIV virus would soon develop AIDS but expressed confidence the rate of new infections was under control.
Cambodia-AIDS: Cambodia continues to suffer worst AIDS epidemic in Asia: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; PHNOM PENH, Dec 1 (AFP) - Cambodian health officials on Wednesday launched an AIDS awareness campaign aimed at an increasingly sexually active youth, but admitted the country remained far in the lead of being the AIDS capital of Asia.
India-AIDS: Activists distribute condoms to mark World AIDS day in India: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; NEW DELHI, Dec 1 (AFP) - AIDS awareness activists and government agencies distributed condoms among prostitutes in New Delhi's main red light district on World AIDS Day Wednesday.
SAfrica-AIDS: Anti-AIDS activists launch stinging attack on Mbeki: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Dec 1 (AFP) - World AIDS Day was marked in South Africa by scathing attacks on government's HIV/AIDS policies, cautious hope for a cure and colourful rallies where condoms were handed out like candy.
AIDS-Germany: Number of AIDS cases stable in Germany: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; BERLIN, Dec 1 (AFP) - A total of 600 new AIDS cases were registered in Germany in 1999, the same number as in 1998, the Robert Koch institute said Wednesday in a communique issued on World AIDS Day.
Italy-AIDS: Number of people with AIDS falls 12 percent in Italy: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; ROME, Dec 1 (AFP) - Two thousand people have developed full-blown AIDS in Italy since the start of the year, a 12-percent drop compared to 1998, health officials said Wednesday.
China-AIDS: China bans advertisements for condoms on International AIDS Day: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; BEIJING, Dec 1 (AFP) - China Wednesday banned all advertisements and public awareness notices advocating the use of condoms, after the first advertisments were carried on nationwide television earlier this week.
China-AIDS: China has more than 400,000 HIV carriers: Health Ministry: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; BEIJING, Dec 1 (AFP) - China has more than 400,000 HIV carriers making it one of the Asian countries most seriously plagued by AIDS, the ministry of health said Wednesday.
AIDS-Asia: China marks world AIDS day with condom publicity ban: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; HONG KONG, Dec 1 (AFP) - China marked world AIDS day Wednesday by taking a television advertising campaign promoting the use of condoms off air, dealing a fresh blow to efforts to contain the explosive growth of the disease in Asia.
Vietnam-AIDS: AIDS cases rise fast in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - December 1, 1999; HANOI, Dec 1 (AFP) - AIDS cases are rising fast in Vietnam where the number of people diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has crossed 17,000, the official press said on World AIDS Day Wednesday.

November

India-AIDS: AIDS time bomb ticks away in India as activists slam government apathy: Abhik Kumar Chanda; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 1999; NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (AFP) - India, which accounts for 60 percent of HIV cases in Asia, is set to mark World AIDS day Wednesday, amid criticism from activists about government apathy towards the spread of the disease.
Vietnam-AIDS: Trans-national trains launched to increase AIDS awareness in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - November 30, 1999; HANOI, Nov 30 (AFP) - Two special trans-national trains have been launched in Vietnam to mark this year's World AIDS Day, aimed at increasing local people's awareness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to aquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Health-AIDS: World AIDS Day: frustrating fight against a killer disease: Richard Ingham; Agence France-Presse - November 30, 1999; PARIS, Nov 30 (AFP) - Medical researchers, grass-roots activists and patients will mark World AIDS Day on Wednesday amid frustration and not a little disappointment in the battle against the last scourge of the 20th century.
Russia-AIDS: AIDS epidemic spreading quickly in Russia: Agence France-Presse - November 29, 1999; MOSCOW, Nov 29 (AFP) - The AIDS epidemic is spreading at an alarming rate in Russia, while the number of people infected with the HIV virus remains low for 1999, the Russian health ministry said Monday.
Russia-health: Old diseases make comeback in Russia: Alexandra Trubnykoff; Agence France-Presse - November 26, 1999; MOSCOW, Nov 25 (AFP) - Russia is facing a resurgence of diseases that were long-since contained in developed countries because of a deterioration in health care and general poverty.
Kenya-AIDS: AIDS a national disaster but condoms not answer: Kenya's Moi: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 1999; MOMBASA, Kenya, Nov 26 (AFP) - President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, where AIDS kills 500 people every day, on Thursday declared the disease a national disaster but declined to advocate condom use to fight the epidemic.
Bhutan-prostitution: Himalayan Bhutan bemoans spurt in prostitution: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 1999; NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (AFP) - The world's oldest profession is making increasing inroads in one of the world's most isolated countries, according to a report seen here Friday.
UN-AIDS: Listen to youth, Annan tells adults on World AIDS Day: Agence France-Presse - November 26, 1999; UNITED NATIONS, Nov 26 (AFP) - Adults should spend more time listening to young people in order to break the "conspiracy of silence" over AIDS, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Friday in a message to mark World AIDS Day.
AIDS-Piot: UN AIDS programme chief says situation "extremely disturbing": Agence France-Presse - November 24, 1999; PARIS, Nov 24 (AFP) - The current spread of AIDS is "extremely disturbing," according to the executive director of United Nations agency UNAIDS which has published an alarming report on the problem.
US-India-health-crime: Domestic violence against women spreads disease: report: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 1999; CHICAGO, Nov 23 (AFP) - A new study released Tuesday offers evidence that domestic violence against women can increase the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and cause unwanted pregnancies.
Liberia-AIDS: At least 50,000 Liberians believed to have AIDS: US agency: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 1999; MONROVIA, Nov 23 (AFP) - At least 50,000 Liberians are infected with AIDS, according to figures that are only the "tip of the iceberg," the US aid agency said here Tuesday.
Ethiopia-AIDS: Ethiopia has four million HIV-positive people: official: Agence France-Presse - November 23, 1999; ADDIS ABABA, Nov 23 (AFP) - Some four million Ethiopians are infected with the HIV virus that causes AIDS, government figures released in Tuesday's press stated.
Britain-blood: British ministers hid dangers of tainted blood: report: Agence France-Presse - November 21, 1999; LONDON, Nov 21 (AFP) - Thousands of people have been infected with a lethal virus after a series of blunders by Britain's health department in the 1970s and 1980s, the Observer newspaper reported Sunday.
Cambodia-sex: Cambodian government rules out legalisation of prostitution: Agence France-Presse - November 19, 1999; PHNOM PENH, Nov 19 (AFP) - A senior Cambodian government official has ruled out legalising prostitution, but admitted the government has failed to tackle the industry's enormous health risk and abuse of sex workers.
Yugo-AIDS: Up to 20,000 infected with HIV virus in Yugoslavia: Agence France-Presse - November 18, 1999; BELGRADE, Nov 18 (AFP) - Up to 20,000 people in Yugoslavia are infected with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, while 583 have died from the disease since 1985, Serbian health officials said Thursday.
Israel-AIDS: Condoms can be heard but not see in Israeli anti-AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - November 17, 1999; JERUSALEM, Nov 17 (AFP) - Israeli Health Minister Shlomo Benizri has said condoms can be mentioned but not illustrated in the upcoming annual anti-AIDS campaign in the country, his spokesman said Wednesday.
Botswana-Mogae: Mogae to fight unemployment, poverty and HIV/AIDS: Agence France-Presse - November 16, 1999; GABORONE, Nov 16 (AFP) - Newly-elected President Festus Mogae said Tuesday his five-year term would be devoted to fighting Botswana's priority problems of high unemployment, poverty and the devastating spread of the AIDS virus.
SAfrica-AIDS-drug: South Africa cannot afford anti-AIDS drug AZT: minister: Agence France-Presse - November 16, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Nov 16 (AFP) - South Africa could not afford to dispense the anti-AIDS drug AZT, the health minister said Tuesday, defending government's much-criticised refusal to sanction the drug's use to combat the spiralling epidemic.
Vietnam-AIDS: More than 1,500 AIDS deaths recorded in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - November 15, 1999; HANOI, Nov 15 (AFP) - A total of 1,512 people have died of AIDS and another 16,493 people have been registered as infected by the deadly HIV virus since records of the epidemic began, Vietnam health officials said Monday.
US-health-AIDS: AIDS virus may be harder to fight than expected: study: Agence France-Presse - November 12, 1999; WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (AFP) - The virus that causes AIDS may be harder to eliminate than previously thought, according to a study published in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
CommonWealth-scene: Lobbyists fight for space with politicians at Commonwealth summit: Lawrence Bartlett; Agence France-Presse - November 12, 1999; DURBAN, Nov 11 (AFP) - Sex and drugs feature prominently among issues pushed by lobbyists at the Commonwealth summit in Durban, where pressure groups are as thick on the ground as politicians.
AIDS-Thailand-Asia: AIDS to cost Thailand nine billion dollars by 2000: experts: Agence France-Presse - November 12, 1999; BANGKOK, Nov 12 (AFP) - The AIDS virus will cost Thailand up to nine billion dollars in health expenses by the year 2000, a United Nations expert told a seminar here Friday.
SAfrica-truth-AIDS: Apartheid forces spread AIDS: S. Africa's truth body: Agence France-Presse - November 12, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 12 (AFP) - Two apartheid-era security officers have asked South Africa's truth commission for amnesty for their part in the use of turned freedom fighters to spread the deadly disease AIDS in 1990, it said Thursday.
WHO-Asia-HIV: WHO puts HIV carriers in Western Pacific at one million next year: Agence France-Presse - November 11, 1999; MANILA, Nov 11 (AFP) - One million people will be infected with HIV in the Western Pacific by the end of next year from 700,000 in 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday.
Britain-CommonWealth-AIDS: Blair to present "shocking" AIDS study to Commonwealth: Agence France-Presse - November 11, 1999; LONDON, Nov 11 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair is to present a "deeply shocking" report on the AIDS epidemic in African nations to Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Durban, South Africa, from Friday.
Cambodia-cosmetics: Cambodia's bargain basement plastic surgeons risk making a killing: Stefan Smith; Agence France-Presse - November 10, 1999; PHNOM PENH, Nov 10 (AFP) - Unhampered by government regulations or even basic standards of hygiene, Cambodia's booming cut-price comestic surgery industry has become the latest fad for a swelling elite class.
CommonWealth-Africa: Host nation to press Commonwealth on debt relief: Denis Barnett; Agence France-Presse - November 10, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 10 (AFP) - Host South Africa will press regional issues such as poverty and debt relief at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which opens in Durban on Friday.
India-AIDS: India an AIDS reservoir: World Bank: Agence France-Presse - November 9, 1999; NEW DELHI, Nov 9 (AFP) - The spread of AIDS throughout South Asia hinges on how well India manages its anti-AIDS programmes, the World Bank warned Wednesday.
US-AIDS-Africa: US Conference on AIDS focuses on Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 7, 1999; DENVER, Colorado, Nov 7 (AFP) - A weekend conference here designed to promote activism in preventing the spread of AIDS in US communities of color focused Sunday on the deadly disease's spread through Africa.
US-AIDS: Conference to focus on stemming spread of AIDS among minorities: Agence France-Presse - November 6, 1999; DENVER, Colorado, Nov 6 (AFP) - Health officials from around the world gathered here for a weekend conference on the deadly AIDS disease, whose victims increasingly are minority group members, experts said.
Cambodia-rights: UN rights envoy delivers bleak assessment of Cambodia: Stefan Smith; Agence France-Presse - November 5, 1999; PHNOM PENH, Nov 5 (AFP) - The UN human rights envoy to Cambodia has given yet another bleak assessment of Cambodia's human rights situation in his annual report released here Friday.
US-Catholics: War of words rages over AIDS survey of Catholic priests: Agence France-Presse - November 4, 1999; CHICAGO, Nov 4 (AFP) - The Roman Catholic Church may preach the virtues of turning the other cheek, but the Catholic League pressure group feels no such compulsion.
Israel-health-marijuana: Marijuana painkilling pills to be available soon in Israel: Agence France-Presse - November 4, 1999; JERUSALEM, Nov 4 (AFP) - Israeli hospitals will soon be able to dispense pain pills made locally from marijuana to their cancer and AIDS patietns, hospital officials said Thursday.
SAfrica-SADC-AIDS: Southern Africa must accept AIDS is "witch in the home": Zuma: Agence France-Presse - November 4, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 4 (AFP) - South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Thursday called on southern African countries to stop considering HIV/AIDS as a "foreign" disease, and to accept that "the witch is in the home."
SAfrica-rape-insurance: Second S. African company announces rape insurance policy: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 3 (AFP) - A South African medical aid company Wednesday said it would launch a special rape insurance policy, the second company in the country to do so in two months.
SAfrica-SADC-AIDS: SADC health ministers to hold AIDS talks in S. Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 3 (AFP) - Health ministers from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet in Johannesburg this week to discuss the region's AIDS crisis, a government spokesman said Wednesday.
SAfrica-UN-Turner: Turner pledges 50 million dollars to poorest countries: Agence France-Presse - November 3, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Nov 3 (AFP) - A pledge of 50 million dollars from US tycoon Ted Turner's United Nations Foundation will go towards some 45 UN projects, most of them in the world's poorest countries, it was announced here Wednesday.
Mil-SAfrica-religion: World religions to meet in S. Africa: Agence France-Presse - November 2, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Nov 2 (AFP) - About 300 world religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama, are expected in Cape Town next month to debate problems facing the planet in the new millennium, an organiser said Tuesday.
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi "breaks silence" over AIDS: Felix Mponda; Agence France-Presse - November 2, 1999; BLANTYRE, Nov 2 (AFP) - When Malawi's President Bakili Muluzi finally decided to break the silence over the AIDS epidemic sweeping through his country, he did it in style.
SAfrica-AIDS: S.African doctor takes on Mbeki over anti-AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - November 1, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Nov 1 (AFP) - A South African doctor has filed a complaint with the country's Human Rights Commission over statements by President Thabo Mbeki and his health minister that the anti-AIDS drug AZT could be dangerous.

October

China-AIDS: AIDS carriers criminalized as virus nears epidemic levels in China: Agence France-Presse - October 31, 1999; BEIJING, Oct 31 (AFP) - China's attempts to stave off a looming AIDS epidemic are being hampered by the criminalization of high-risk drug users and prostitutes, experts fear.
SAfrica-AIDS: Mbeki stokes row over anti-AIDS drug: Agence France-Presse - October 29, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 29 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has stoked a row with a pharmaceutical giant by asserting that the internationally-used anti-AIDS drug AZT is dangerous to health.
SAfrica-economy: S. African economy strong with more money for development: Agence France-Presse - October 29, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Oct 29 (AFP) - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said Friday good financial discipline made almost two billion rand (333 million dollars) extra available to the South African economy this year, much of it for development.
Health-AIDS: AIDS can "hide" from new drugs cocktails, says expert: Agence France-Presse - October 27, 1999; PARIS, Oct 27 (AFP) - The latest drugs cocktails can suppress but not eliminate the AIDS virus, which "hides" in the body only to return to the attack as soon as treatment stops, a top researcher warned.
Malaysia-AIDS: Researchers close to AIDS vaccine but warnings of "staggering" Asian toll: Agence France-Presse - October 26, 1999; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (AFP) - Researchers are "on the verge" of making an HIV vaccine, a scientist told an international AIDS conference Tuesday, as another speaker gave "staggering figures" for the epidemic's impact on Asia.
Philippines-Libya: 40 Filipino nurses cleared in Libya in AIDS case: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 1999; MANILA, Oct 25 (AFP) - Forty Filipino nurses and medical workers have been cleared by a Libyan court of allegations they were responsible for a spread of the AIDS virus at a children's hospital there, the Philippine foreign office said Monday.
US-health-AIDS: Promising new AIDS medication gives good results: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 1999; WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (AFP) - A new medicine to control the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), ABT-378/ritonavir, has shown to be very effective with few side affects in recent testing, the manufacturer announced Monday.
Malaysia-AIDS: AIDS could erase Asian miracle, expert warns: Agence France-Presse - October 25, 1999; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (AFP) - AIDS could wipe out Asia's spectacular gains over the past two decades unless governments keep funding social welfare programs despite the economic downturn, a World Bank expert warned Monday.
Malaysia-AIDS-problems: Corruption, discrimination hamper Asian fight against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 24, 1999; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (AFP) - Corruption, professional jealousies and discrimination are hampering the fight against AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region, speakers told an international conference Sunday.
Malaysia-AIDS: Asian crisis fostering spread of AIDS, UN expert says: Agence France-Presse - October 24, 1999; KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (AFP) - Asia's economic crisis could worsen the regional AIDS epidemic by forcing more people into prostitution and cutting money available for health care, the UN AIDS chief warned Sunday.
US-Kenya-AIDS: AIDS stealing Kenya's future, Albright says; US ready to help: Matthew Lee; Agence France-Presse - October 22, 1999; NAIROBI, Oct 22 (AFP) - Amid dancing and the rhythmic pounding of drums, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Friday urged Kenya to redouble efforts to fight HIV infection and AIDS, which claims the lives of 16 Kenyans every hour.
Russia-health-AIDS: AIDS cases in Russia on the rise: Agence France-Presse - October 22, 1999; MOSCOW, Oct 22 (AFP) - AIDS cases are on the rise in Russia while figures fall in Western nations, the Federal AIDS Center said Friday.
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi appeals for 30 million dollars to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - October 21, 1999; BLANTYRE, Oct 21 (AFP) - Malawi's health authorities appealed on Thursday or 30 million dollars to help fight the AIDS epidemic, described by President Bakili Muluzi as a national disaster.
China-AIDS: One million Chinese could be infected with HIV/AIDS by the millennium: Agence France-Presse - October 21, 1999; BEIJING, Oct 21 (AFP) - More than one million Chinese people could be infected with the HIV/AIDS virus by the new millennium, according to government predictions in the official media Thursday.
Botswana-AIDS: AIDS cuts a swathe through Botswana people, economy: Denis Barnett; Agence France-Presse - October 15, 1999; GABORONE, Oct 15 (AFP) - More than one in four adults in Botswana is infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, official figures show, statistically making it one of the world's worst affected countries.
Italy-AIDS: Man jailed after infecting wife with AIDS virus: Agence France-Presse - October 14, 1999; ROME, Oct 14 (AFP) - An Italian court on Thursday sentenced a man to 14 years in prison for knowingly infecting his wife with the AIDS virus, two years after she died from the condition, judicial officials said.
Botswana-economy: Diversification the watchword for Botswana, Africa's model economy: Denis Barnett; Agence France-Presse - October 14, 1999; GABORONE, Oct 14 (AFP) - Botswana is one of Africa's economic success stories, but economists warn of the consequences of over-dependence on its vast diamond wealth and urge a diversification of its industrial base.
SAfrica-rape: South African insurance company launches policy for rape victims: Agence France-Presse - October 14, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 13 (AFP) - A South African insurance company launched Wednesday a policy offering rape victims limited medical and psychological treatment but was immediately accused of trying to make profits out of one of the country's biggest problems.
Botswana-vote: Ruling party set for victory in Botswana polls: Denis Barnett; Agence France-Presse - October 14, 1999; GABORONE, Oct 14 (AFP) - Botswana's voters go to the polls on Saturday in a general election set to deliver a comfortable victory for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) of President Festus Mogae.
AIDS-Africa-workplace: UN agency calls for African action over AIDS disaster: Agence France-Presse - October 13, 1999; WINDHOEK, Oct 13 (AFP) - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Wednesday called on African nations to declare the AIDS crisis a continental disaster requiring immediate attention.
Europe-AIDS: Eastern Europe faces AIDS explosion: study: Agence France-Presse - October 13, 1999; VIENNA, Oct 13 (AFP) - An AIDS epidemic threatens to explode in some of eastern Europe's ex-Soviet bloc states if nothing is done to counter economic and social factors helping the disease to spread, a study said Wednesday.
AIDS-Africa-workplace: ILO adopts AIDS plan for Africa at conference in Namibia: Agence France-Presse - October 13, 1999; WINDHOEK, Oct 13 (AFP) - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted an AIDS action programme for Africa, it announced in a statement at the end of three-day conference in Namibia on Wednesday.
AIDS-Africa-workplace: First AIDS-in-the-workplace international workshop winds up: Catherine Rama; Agence France-Presse - October 13, 1999; WINDHOEK, Oct 13 (AFP) - As the first international workshop to study AIDS in the workplace wound up Wednesday in Namibia, enormous disparities in the ways African countries deal with the disease were apparent.
US-AIDS: AIDS vaccine tests on 5,000 people: Agence France-Presse - October 12, 1999; WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (AFP) - A new AIDS vaccine has already been tested on 5,000 volunteers in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands, nearly completing the North American trial of the vaccine, the manufacturer announced Tuesday.
AIDS-medicine: Drug patents may curb access to HIV treatment: conference: Agence France-Presse - October 12, 1999; VIENNA, Oct 12 (AFP) - Medical patents are keeping HIV-positive patients in developing countries from getting treated with the so-called miracle drugs that have curbed AIDS-related deaths, public health experts said Tuesday.
Population-WHO: Six billion humans: WHO stresses need to reach "next generation": Agence France-Presse - October 12, 1999; GENEVA, Oct 12 (AFP) - As the world population hit the symbolic six billion mark Tuesday, the World Health Organization reaffirmed the need to improve sex education and reproductive health care for youths just entering their child-bearing years.
Myanmar-health: Myanmar general claims AIDS is being used in propoganda war: Agence France-Presse - October 12, 1999; YANGON, Oct 12 (AFP) - A leading member of Myanmar's military junta Tuesday accused opponents of the regime of using AIDS as a scare tactic in a propoganda war against Yangon.
AIDS-Asia: WHO to step up condom distribution in Asia-Pacific: Agence France-Presse - October 12, 1999; MANILA, Oct 12 (AFP) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed to step up condom distribution in East Asia and the Pacific to combat the spread of the deadly AIDS virus, the UN agency's regional office said Tuesday.
AIDS-poverty: Science cannot bridge rich-poor gap in AIDS battle: conference: Emmanuel Serot; Agence France-Presse - October 11, 1999; VIENNA, Oct 11 (AFP) - Poor countries have a higher incidence of AIDS but less access to the so-called miracle drugs that have curbed HIV-related deaths in recent years, medical experts from around the world lamented Monday.
AIDS-Africa-workplace: African bosses, employees, officials meet on AIDS in workplace: Catherine Rama; Agence France-Presse - October 11, 1999; WINDHOEK, Oct 11 (AFP) - Government delegates, employers and trades union representatives began talks in the Namibian capital on Monday on the impact of the AIDS pandemic on labour and development in sub-Saharan Africa.
AIDS-Africa-workplace: Namibia hosts first international meeting on AIDS in the workplace: Catherine Rama; Agence France-Presse - October 9, 1999; GENEVA, Oct 10 (AFP) - On top of the enormous human cost of AIDS, Africa must also bear the cost to development -- a cost that is being studied for the first time at an international gathering beginning Monday in Namibia.
SAfrica-AIDS: South African government in AIDS appeal: Agence France-Presse - October 9, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Oct 9 (AFP) - Deputy President Jacob Zuma in a televised appeal Friday urged South Africans to increase their commitment to fighting the AIDS pandemic, which he said had reached critical proportions.
Zimbabwe-SAID: African heads in grand economic plans, amid doubts over action: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - October 6, 1999; VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, Oct 6 (AFP) - African political, business and labour leaders wrapped up a three-day development symposium here with plans for joint economic and trade schemes, but amid doubts over follow-up.
US-AIDS-protest: US policy on AIDS drug sales protested at Trade Rep's office: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 1999; WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (AFP) - Some 100 people staged a demonstration in front the US trade representative's office here Wednesday to protest US sanctions on countries that buy AIDS drugs on the black market.
Canada-health-blood: Hemophiliacs criticize Canadian blood collection and distribution: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 1999; TORONTO, Oct 6 (AFP) - The Canadian Hemophilia Society said Wednesday that Canada still needs to greatly improve its blood collection and distribution system, two years after an investigation uncovered a major contaminated blood scandal here.
US-health-AIDS: AIDS drops off list of 15 deadliest US diseases: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 1999; WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (AFP) - A 21 percent drop in the number of AIDS-related deaths in the United States in 1998 knocked AIDS off its list of 15 deadliest diseases, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) said Wednesday.
Zimbabwe-SAID: Southern African leaders call for peace, stability: Agence France-Presse - October 6, 1999; VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, Oct 6 (AFP) - Southern African leaders ended a meeting here Tuesday with a call for peace and stability, without which ambitious trade plans would be impossible.
Americas-spouses: First wives endorse inter-American action plans for health and children: Howard Williams; Agence France-Presse - October 1, 1999; OTTAWA, Oct 1 (AFP) - Spouses of government leaders in the Americas announced Friday their joint endorsement of six projects designed to improve the health of women and children across the continents.
Zimbabwe-SAID: Africans seek to boost economic growth, trade amid poverty, AIDS: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - October 1, 1999; VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, Oct 1 (AFP) - Southern African leaders will meet with business and labour leaders from the region and abroad Sunday in a bid to boost regional economic growth and cooperation in a region bedevilled by economic crises, poverty and AIDS.

September

US-AIDS: Worst of global AIDS pandemic to come in the 21st century -- health official: Agence France-Presse - September 30, 1999; BOSTON, Sept 30 (AFP) - The worst of the global AIDS pandemic will occur in the 21st century if prevention measures are not successful, according to Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Nigeria-AIDS: Around 5.6 million Nigerians have AIDS virus: Agence France-Presse - September 29, 1999; LAGOS, Sept 29 (AFP) - Around 5.6 million Nigerians are infected with the AIDS virus HIV, an official of a body charged with fighting the incurable disease in Nigeria said in a report Wednesday.
SADC-US: US pledges two million dollars to southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - September 29, 1999; GABORONE, Sept 29 (AFP) - The United States has pledged two million dollars to southern Africa to develop trade and monitor the AIDS epidemic and environment, a Southern African Development Community (SADC) official said Wednesday.
Vietnam-AIDS: Nearly 1,500 AIDS deaths recorded in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - September 28, 1999; HANOI, Sept 28 (AFP) - A total of 1,464 people have died of AIDS and another 15,753 people have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Vietnam to date, health officials said on Tuesday.
Ireland-health-blood: Judicial inquiry starts into Irish blood scandal: Agence France-Presse - September 27, 1999; DUBLIN, Sept 27 (AFP) - An official Irish tribunal was due Monday to begin hearings into the deaths of 66 haemophiliacs and the infection of hundreds of others from blood products contaminated with HIV and Hepatitis C.
Indonesia-drug: Drug abuse, a catastrophe in the making for Indonesia: Agence France-Presse - September 26, 1999; JAKARTA, Sept 26 (AFP) - Drug abuse has become a major social ill in Indonesia, especially among the young, a report said Sunday adding without urgent preventive action, "a new catastrophe" was in the making.
Britain-baby: Parents defy court order to test baby for HIV virus: Agence France-Presse - September 25, 1999; LONDON, Sept 25 (AFP) - The parents of a five-month-old baby girl who were ordered by a court to test her for the HIV virus were warned of further legal action Saturday after failing to attend hospital for the check.
Zimbabwe-health-strike: Zimbabwe's health services collapsing as doctors strike: Lawrence Bartlett; Agence France-Presse - September 23, 1999; HARARE, Sept 23 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's ailing health service, where staff say broken equipment means blood-stained linen from AIDS patients is handwashed, was collapsing Thursday as a strike by junior doctors entered its third day.
DRCongo-war: Spanish missionaries toil on amid DR Congo conflict: Emmanuel Goujon; Agence France-Presse - September 23, 1999; KOLE, DR Congo, Sept 23 (AFP) - Under the dim light of a feeble bulb, a Spanish doctor tended to her patients, as her colleague, a nun from Barcelona, prepared instruments for the next day's surgery.
UN-population-Zimbabwe: AIDS cuts Zimbabwe's population growth rate: Agence France-Presse - September 22, 1999; HARARE, Sept 22 (AFP) - World population growth problems highlighted in a UN report are a double-edged sword in Zimbabwe because of AIDS, a government minister indicated Wednesday.
SAfrica-labour: S. African communists and unionists launch Red October campaign: Agence France-Presse - September 21, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 21 (AFP) - Red October, a campaign aimed at building South Africa's working class and creating jobs for rural people, was jointly launched Tuesday night by the communist party and the country's largest labour federation, COSATU, reports said.
Mozambique-AIDS: Mozambique seeks funds to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 21, 1999; MAPUTO, Sept 21 (AFP) - Mozambique needs at least 40 million dollars to implement its three-year programme to fight AIDS, which is infecting about 700 people each day, a government official said Tuesday.
AIDS-Africa: Financial resources still hurdle in fight against AIDS: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 17, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 17 (AFP) - An international conference on AIDS, the most devastating threat to Africa, has ended after highlighting the ravages of the pandemic, but with a failure fully to muster the means to fight it.
WHO-Asia: Tubercolosis, AIDS, tobacco, WHO priorities in Western Pacific in 21st century: Agence France-Presse - September 17, 1999; MANILA, Sept 17 (AFP) - Tubercolosis, stronger prevention of AIDS and sexually-transmitted diseases and increased efforts to reduce smoking are the priorites of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific in the coming century, the body said here Friday.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS conference ends with pledges to fight "terrible undeclared war": Agence France-Presse - September 16, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 16 (AFP) - Participants at an international conference on AIDS in Africa pledged action to fight "the most terrible undeclared war in the world" as it wound up Thursday after five days.
AIDS-Africa-medicine: African traditional healers part of army to fight AIDS: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 16, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 16 (AFP) - Traditional healers, as the most trusted source of treatment in Africa, and their methods merit full recognition in the war against AIDS, they and western-trained doctors argued here.
AIDS-Africa-vaccine: First African AIDS vaccine going on human trial: Agence France-Presse - September 15, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 15 (AFP) - Production of the first anti-HIV/AIDS vaccine developed in Africa has begun and human trials are expected to start early next year in Britain and Kenya, a symposium on AIDS in Africa heard on Wednesday.
Africa-AIDS-UNICEF: UNICEF challenges governments to fight 'undeclared war' by AIDS: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 15, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 15 (AFP) - The chief of the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday challenged western and African governments to find means to fight the "undeclared war" AIDS has declared in Africa, ravaging the continent.
US-sex-trafficking: Lawmakers, White House, agree US must fight booming global sex trafficking: Olivier Knox; Agence France-Presse - September 14, 1999; WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (AFP) - More than one million women and children yearly are forced into the global sex trade, generating billions of dollars in organized crime revenue, third only to drugs and guns, US State Department officials said Tuesday.
AIDS-Africa-aid: World Bank reaffirms commitment to fighting AIDS in Africa: Katongo Chisupa; Agence France-Presse - September 14, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 14 (AFP) - The World Bank on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the battle against AIDS in Africa, after recognising that the international community had not made a sufficient commitment in the past.
AIDS-Africa: Uncircumcised males, early sex cause higher HIV rates: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 14, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 14 (AFP) - Early sexual activity by young girls and lack of male circumcision causes the spread of HIV faster in southern and eastern Africa than the west of the continent, a symposium here heard on Tuesday.
India-AIDS: India to get 191-million-dollar World Bank loan to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 14, 1999; NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (AFP) - India will receive a 191-million-dollar World Bank loan to fight the increasing spread of AIDS in the country, a government statement said Tuesday.
AIDS-Africa-corruption: AIDS drugs money diverted, wasted in Africa : World bank: Agence France-Presse - September 13, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 13 (AFP) - A World bank representative has admitted to corruption by some African countries in the use of funds meant for AIDS drugs.
AIDS-Africa-impact: Africa's AIDS disaster only beginning: UNAIDS: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 13, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 13 (AFP) - The devastating impact of AIDS on Africa is only in its opening stages and efforts to fight the spread of the disease are scandalously insufficient, the head of the specialised UN agency tackling the problem said Monday.
UNAIDS boss says lack of funds is "a scandal": Agence France-Presse - September 13, 1999; PARIS, Sept 13 (AFP) - The lack of funds to combat AIDS in Africa was "a scandal", UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot said in an interview released Monday as experts met in Zambia for the second day of an international conference on the pandemic.
AIDS-Africa-disappoint: AIDS chiefs 'disappointed' at African leaders conference snub: Agence France-Presse - September 13, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 13 (AFP) - Experts discussing the ravages of HIV/AIDS in Africa on Monday expressed disappointment at the failure by African leaders to show up at the inauguration session of the symposium in the Zambian capital.
AIDS-Africa-impact: Africa counts devastating cost of AIDS ahead of new millenium: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 13, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 13 (AFP) - Experts gathered in the Zambian capital on Monday counted the economic, social and human cost of AIDS in Africa, hearing that the pandemic could wipe out all the gains of the past century.
AIDS-Africa-drugs: UN, African states press for affordable anti-AIDS treatment: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - The United Nations and African states will press western pharmaceutical companies to make effective drugs available to the millions of Africans infected by AIDS, a UN official said here Sunday.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS conference is big business for Zambia: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - The 11th International Conference on AIDS in Africa (ICASA) taking place here has turned out to be big business for Zambians with prices of food and accomodation going up and the currency gaining some 500 units to the US dollar.
AIDS-Africa-UN: AIDS in Africa is a 'development catastrophe': UNAIDS chief: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - AIDS in Africa is a "massive development catastrophe" requiring an emergency response, UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot said Sunday at the opening here of the International Conference on AIDS and STDs in Africa.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS should be declared a global disaster: conference: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - An international conference on AIDS in Africa, where more than 80 percent of the total AIDS deaths in the world have occurred, opened in Zambia on Sunday amid calls for the pandemic to be declared a global disaster.
AIDS-Africa-leaders: African heads of state snub AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - African heads of state snubbed the international conference on AIDS in Africa that opened here Sunday, with not one of the invited leaders showing up at the opening ceremony.
AIDS-Africa: Africans in war against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - Experts begin meeting in Zambia on Sunday in search of new weapons for the war against AIDS in Africa, a disease that is now killing more people than civil conflicts on the war-riddled continent.
SAfrica-AIDS-sangoma: S. African traditional healers join fight against AIDS: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12 (AFP) - Bottles of dark, bubbling liquid, herbs, the smoke of animal hides and steam from specially-prepared traditional medicines; these are among the "cures" for HIV/AIDS being touted by some of South Africa's sangomas, or traditional healers.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS conference opens in Lusaka: Agence France-Presse - September 12, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 12 (AFP) - An international conference on the AIDS pandemic in Africa, where 83 percent of the cumulative global AIDS deaths have occurred, opened in the Zambian capital Sunday.
Bangladesh-AIDS: Bangladesh to enact law on safe blood transfusions: minister: Agence France-Presse - September 11, 1999; DHAKA, Sept 11 (AFP) - Bangladesh is to enact a law to ensure safe blood transfusions and screening, a minister said Saturday as the government tries to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
AIDS-Africa: AIDS scourge more deadly than war or malaria in Africa: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 11, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 11 (AFP) - A major conference on AIDS in Africa opens in Zambia on Sunday facing an unprecedented challenge when the disease is now killing more people than the wars raging in parts of the continent.
AIDS-Mozambique-Malawi: Quarter of million Mozambicans to die of AIDS by year 2000: Agence France-Presse - September 10, 1999; MAPUTO, Sep 10 (AFP) - More than 250,000 Mozambicans will have died of AIDS by the end of next year, but most deaths have not been registered as HIV/AIDS related, Health Minister Aurelio Zilhao has said.
AIDS-drugs: French scientists worry about side-effects in AIDS drugs: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; PARIS, Sept 9 (AFP) - French researchers say progress is being made towards a cure for AIDS but the goal is not yet in sight, and current treatments of the disease by a "cocktail" of drugs are causing worrying side-effects.
Tanzania-US: US to grant Tanzania 31.6 million dollars in aid: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 9 (AFP) - The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is to give Tanzania 31.6 million dollars in development aid for the current fiscal year, a USAID statement said here Thursday.
AIDS-CoteIvoire: Ivorians derive little benefit from low-cost AIDS programme: Fabienne Pompey; Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; ABIDJAN, Sept 9 (AFP) - A UN programme helping provide lower-cost AIDS treatment in Cote d'Ivoire, the country most afflicted by the virus in the region, has failed to bring hope to most HIV-positive people, health experts say.
AIDS-Africa-figures: The frightening figures on the AIDS scourge in Africa: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 9 (AFP) - This item includes a series of country sketches drawn from available figures. Certain statistics may be misleading, because some nations have better health monitoring systems than others:
AIDS-Africa-facts: Africa bears the brunt of world AIDS epidemic: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; PARIS, Sept 9 (AFP) - Africa, the world's poorest continent, is bearing the brunt of the world AIDS epidemic:
AIDS-Gabon: Superstition hampers Gabon's struggle with AIDS prevention: Frederic Jeammes; Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; LIBREVILLE, Sept 9 (AFP) - Superstition over the relentless spread of AIDS in Gabon, where the disease is widely viewed as the effect of evil spells, is frustrating health workers seeking to alter people's behavior.
AIDS-Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean woman tells of 'living positively' with HIV: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; HARARE, Sept 9 (AFP) - Linde Francis, 52, was diagnosed with HIV in 1986. She is still "fit and fat" and intends to live "a very long life". She spoke to AFP about how she copes with her condition.
AIDS-Eritrea: Eritrea's youth the focus of fight against AIDS: Carol Pineau; Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; ASMARA, Sept 9 (AFP) - Behind the Asmara Youth Center recreation facilities and library is a small, discreet door leading to a clinic where young Eritreans receive AIDS information, counseling, testing and free condoms.
AIDS-Zimbabwe-drugs: Zimbabweean minister lambasts drugs makers over patents, costs: Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; HARARE, Sept 9 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's Health Minister Timothy Stamps is highly critical of western phamaceutical producers of AIDS suppressants over the sheer cost of drugs and patents rights claims.
AIDS-conference: Africa looks for low-cost weapons in fight against AIDS: Philippe Coste; Agence France-Presse - September 9, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 9 (AFP) - Scientists and grass-roots activists meet here Sunday to explore low-cost ways of combatting the spread of AIDS in Africa, where the disease threatens to kill tens of millions of people and inflict a terrible social and economic cost.
US-AIDS: FDA approves Zerit, Videx as first line drugs for HIV treatment: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (AFP) - The US government has approved the drugs Zerit and Videx for first-line treatment of people infected with HIV, the drug's manufacturers said Wednesday.
Myanmar-AIDS: Myanmar rejects AIDS control criticism: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; BANGKOK, Sept 8 (AFP) - Myanmar on Wednesday rejected warnings it could face an AIDS epidemic unless it cooperates more closely with Thailand to control the spread of HIV among seafarers.
Cambodia-Thailand: Cambodia, Thailand to discuss border health initiative: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; PHNOM PENH, Sept 8 (AFP) - Cambodia and Thailand are for the first time to discuss a scheme to boost health facilities along their ill-defined frontier including in former Khmer Rouge zones, officials said Wednesday.
Malaysia-AIDS: Malaysia eases entry restrictions for AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; KUALA LUMPUR, September 8 (AFP) - Malaysia has agreed to ease strict entry restrictions to allow people with HIV and drug addicts to attend an international AIDS conference in October.
AIDS-conference-guests: Cuba's Castro asked to join African leaders at AIDS conference: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; LUSAKA, Sept 8 (AFP) - Cuban leader Fidel Castro has been invited to join heads of African states struck by HIV/AIDS, which affects a quarter of adults in some nations, at a conference here, organisers said Wednesday.
SAfrica-rape: S. African law commission proposes tougher rape law: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; CAPE TOWN, Sept 8 (AFP) - South Africa's Law Commission wants to toughen law on rape, broadening the definition of the crime and forcing suspects to undergo testing for the HIV/AIDS virus, it recommended on Wednesday.
Vietnam-AIDS: First cafe for HIV infectees opens in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; HANOI, Sept 8 (AFP) - The first cafe for those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has opened in Ho Chi Minh City.
AIDS-Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean cemeteries short of space to cope with AIDS pandemic: Susan Njanji; Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; HARARE, Sept 8 (AFP) - Cemeteries in Zimbabwe are becoming short of space to cope with an AIDS pandemic, now killing at least 1,200 people a week amid chronic poverty and economic misery.
AIDS-SAfrica: AIDS: One of S. Africa's newest, but biggest, worries: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; JOHANNNESBURG, Sept 8 (AFP) - South Africa's HIV/AIDS epidemic has been one of the last to develop because of the country's geographical position in Africa, and it is in its early stages, according to the government.
AIDS-Niger: Niger's Moslem organisations block campaign to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; NIAMEY, Sept 8 (AFP) - Moslem "action commandos" have become one of the biggest obstacles in the fight against AIDS in Niger, according to medical professionals in Niamey.
AIDS-Kenya: Funding seen as main obstacle to fighting HIV/AIDS in Kenya: Anthony Morland; Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; NAIROBI, Sept 8 (AFP) - AIDS claims the lives of 16 Kenyans every hour, according to a national programme fighting the pandemic, which has urged the government to provide sufficient resources for its work.
Aids-Uganda: Openness about HIV/AIDS slows infection rate in Uganda: Vincent Mayanja; Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; KAMPALA, Sept 8 (AFP) - Talking openly about AIDS in Uganda, where the disease has claimed half a million lives, has helped to cut the rate of HIV infection by half over the last six years, according to the professor heading a national programme.
AIDS-Nigeria: Nigeria sleepwalking to an AIDS disaster: Peter Cunliffe-Jones; Agence France-Presse - September 8, 1999; LAGOS, Sept 8 (AFP) - Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is sleepwalking to an AIDS disaster, with little or no government action to tackle what many still see as a "white man's disease", experts say.
Thailand-Myanmar-AIDS: Thailand and Myanmar urged to help seafarers or risk AIDS epidemic: Agence France-Presse - September 7, 1999; BANGKOK, Sept 7 (AFP) - Thailand and Myanmar could face a new AIDS epidemic unless they do more to control the spread of HIV among seafarers, health experts warned Tuesday.
Malawi-AIDS: Malawi set to launch strategic plan for AIDS control: Agence France-Presse - September 6, 1999; BLANTYRE, Sept 6 (AFP) - Malawi, which detected its first AIDS case in 1985, is to launch a strategic plan for AIDS/HIV control 14 years on, officials said Monday.
Africa-health: African health ministers commit to improving health in the region: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - September 3, 1999; WINDHOEK, Sept 3 (AFP) - African health ministers Friday wound up a five-day conference here by committing themselves to a range of measures to improve health in the region, including stepping up the war on HIV/AIDS, prioritising mental health and recognising generic drugs.
Africa-health-AIDS: African health ministers declare war on AIDS: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - September 2, 1999; WINDHOEK, Sept 2 (AFP) - African health ministers Thursday declared war on HIV/AIDS, committing themselves to intensive awareness campaigns and the promotion of abstinence, fidelity and condom use in a bid to stem the spread of the disease.
Tanzania-Uganda-AIDS: Tanzanian prime minister to visit Uganda on AIDS study: Agence France-Presse - September 2, 1999; DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 2 (AFP) - Tanzanian Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye left here for Kampala on Thursday to study Uganda's apparent success in checking the spread of AIDS, a government statement said.
Africa-health: WHO urges African states to increase health budgets: Agence France-Presse - September 2, 1999; WINDHOEK, Sept 2 (AFP) - African countries must increase their health budgets to cope with the diseases they face, World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director Ebrahim Samba said here Thursday.
Africa-health-women: WHO works to end female circumcision in Africa: Brownwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - September 1, 1999; WINDHOEK, Sept 1 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation's Africa committee is working with governments of 10 sub-Saharan countries to end female circumcision, its annual congress in Namibia heard this week.
Angola-health: Angola needs peace for health: minister: Agence France-Presse - September 1, 1999; WINDHOEK, Sept 1 (AFP) - The Angolan health minister Wednesday urged his counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa to back peace for his war-ravaged country for the sake of the population's health.

August

US-AIDS: Young people account for at least half of new HIV infections in US: study: Agence France-Presse - August 31, 1999; WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (AFP) - At least half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in people younger than 25, with especially high rates among young gay men and young black women, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday in a study.
US-AIDS: Decline of AIDS deaths has slowed : CDC: Agence France-Presse - August 30, 1999; WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (AFP) - The number of people dying from AIDS in the United States is still falling but much more slowly, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.
Russia-AIDS: 5,000 new cases of HIV infection in Russia in first half of 1999: Agence France-Presse - August 29, 1999; MOSCOW, Aug 29 (AFP) - Some 5,000 new cases of HIV infection were reported in Russia in the first six months of 1999, raising fears that 20,000 people could be afflicted by the end of the year, Interfax reported Sunday.
Zimbabwe-AIDS: Cremation a burning issue in Zimbabwe as AIDS toll rises: Lawrence Bartlett; Agence France-Presse - August 29, 1999; HARARE, Aug 29 (AFP) - A golfer, his ashes and spiritual taboos are a burning issue in Zimbabwe's capital Harare as authorities face soaring AIDS deaths and overflowing cemeteries.
Africa-health: Health ministers gather to discuss Africa's health problems: Bronwen Roberts; Agence France-Presse - August 29, 1999; WINDHOEK, Aug 29 (AFP) - Sub-Saharan African health ministers gather in the Namibian capital Monday for week-long talks on health issues, including the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in the region, which has 70 percent of the world's infections.
Zambia-AIDS-conference: Zambia to host international conference on AIDS next month: Agence France-Presse - August 27, 1999; LUSAKA, Aug 27 (AFP) - Zambia will host the eleventh International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Africa (ICASA) in the capital Lusaka next month, organisers said Friday.
Ukraine-AIDS: Ukrainian gets compensation for AIDS virus infection: Agence France-Presse - August 19, 1999; KIEV, Aug 19 (AFP) - A 41-year-old Ukrainian father of eight has received 400,000 hryvnias (90,000 dollars) compensation for being accidentally infected with the AIDS virus during a blood transfusion, the media reported Thursday.
Ireland-prison: Hepatitis, HIV infections spreads in Irish prisons: Agence France-Presse - August 18, 1999; DUBLIN, Aug 18 (AFP) - Five prison units in Dublin -- including the country's largest jail, Mountjoy -- have been declared "high risk" after a study Wednesday revealed hepatitis and HIV infections spreading among inmates.
US-health-tuberculosis: Almost one-third of the world infected with TB bacterium: WHO: Agence France-Presse - August 17, 1999; WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (AFP) - Almost one third of the world's population is infected with the bacterium that causes tuberculosis according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
China-UNICEF: China and UNICEF devise five-year plan to protect children: Agence France-Presse - August 16, 1999; BEIJING, Aug 16 (AFP) - China and the United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) are planning a new five-year round of cooperation to focus on matters including child abduction, the protection of girls' rights, and the prevention of HIV/AIDS, Beijing's official Xinhua news agency reported Monday.
Uganda-AIDS: Anti-HIV vaccine trial in Uganda encouraging: Agence France-Presse - August 16, 1999; KAMPALA, Aug 16 (AFP) - An AIDS vaccine under trial in Uganda is showing encouraging results, with 20 subjects developing the antibodies of the HIV virus which causes AIDS, Ugandan medical scientists said Monday.
Sex in the century: revolutions, pandemics and a cigar: Marc Burleigh; Agence France-Presse - August 15, 1999; WARSAW, Aug 13 (AFP) - An international conference on the problems of AIDS carriers, the first to be staged in central Europe, opened here on Friday with 500 participants from 60 countries present.
Poland-AIDS: AIDS conference opens in Warsaw: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 1999; WARSAW, Aug 13 (AFP) - An international conference on the problems of AIDS carriers, the first to be staged in central Europe, opened here on Friday with 500 participants from 60 countries present.
Britain-health: Britain to offer routine HIV tests for pregnant women: Agence France-Presse - August 13, 1999; LONDON, Aug 13 (AFP) - Every pregnant women in Britain is to be offered a test for the HIV virus that causes AIDS in an effort to reduce the number of infected babies, Health Minister Tessa Jowell announced Friday.
UN-AIDS: UN reports nine-fold rise in HIV infection in eastern Europe: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 1999; UNITED NATIONS, Aug 12 (AFP) - The number of people in eastern Europe infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, increased nine-fold in just three years from fewer than 30,000 to an estimated 270,000 by the end of 1998, the United Nations reported Thursday.
Thailand-AIDS: Parent's of HIV-positive baby to sue Thai hospitals: Agence France-Presse - August 12, 1999; BANGKOK, Aug 12 (AFP) - The parents of an HIV-positive baby plan to sue three Thai hospitals for allegedly causing their child to become infected with the potentially deadly virus, reports said Thursday.
Australia-AIDS: Frozen body puts back AIDS' entry to US: researcher: Agence France-Presse - August 11, 1999; SYDNEY, Aug 11 (AFP) - AIDS first appeared in the United States a decade earlier than previously thought after a male prostitute who died in 1969 was later found to have been infected with HIV, a researcher has said.
AZT sharply reduces transmission of AIDS from mother to fetus: study: Agence France-Presse - August 10, 1999; CHICAGO, Aug 10 (AFP) - Scientists have seen a sharp drop in AIDS cases among newborns, now that the drug AZT is routinely administered to many pregnant women infected with the virus that causes the deadly disease, according to a study appearing this week.
China-health: 70 percent of intravenous drug users HIV positive in parts of China: Agence France-Presse - August 6, 1999; BEIJING, Aug 6 (AFP) - Seventy percent of intravenous drug users are HIV positive in parts of China, the state press reported Friday, adding scientists had identified eight different strains of HIV and AIDS in the country.
SAfrica-Uganda-AIDS: S. Africa, Uganda to work together against AIDS: Agence France-Presse - August 5, 1999; JOHANNESBURG, Aug 5 (AFP) - South Africa and Uganda will share research about anti-AIDS transmission drugs and the search for a vaccine for the deadly disease, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said Thursday.
Zimbabwe-farmers-AIDS: AIDS cuts staple food production in Zimbabwe: Agence France-Presse - August 5, 1999; HARARE, Aug 5 (AFP) - The AIDS pandemic which is killing more than 300 people a day in Zimbabwe has reduced the country's production of staple food crops by as much as 60 percent, an AIDS expert told a farmers' conference here.
France-Y2K-poll: Pollution tops survey of French fears: Agence France-Presse - August 1, 1999; PARIS, Aug 1 (AFP) - Increased pollution tops a list of French fears as a new millennium approaches, with a poll published Sunday showing 85 percent of the population worry about air quality, ahead of AIDS and health risks linked to food.

July

Egypt-AIDS: Egypt records 1,155 cases of AIDS since 1996: Agence France-Presse - July 31, 1999; CAIRO, July 31 (AFP) - Egypt has recorded 1,155 cases of AIDS since 1996, the national anti-AIDS programme announced on Saturday.
Britain-Gates-donation: Bill Gates to become world's biggest donor: Agence France-Presse - July 31, 1999; LONDON, July 31 (AFP) - Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates intends to become known as the world's biggest benefactor, to rid the planet of AIDS and malaria, his father told Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper.
Canada-Thailand: HIV positive Thai woman to give her daughter to Canadian couple: Agence France-Presse - July 29, 1999; VANCOUVER, July 29 (AFP) - A Thai woman infected with HIV has decided to allow a Canadian couple to adopt her healthy daughter, the couple said said Thursday.
Zimbabwe urges breastmilk despite HIV pandemic: Agence France-Presse - July 27, 1999; HARARE, July 27 (AFP) - Despite the high prevalence of AIDS and the HIV virus in Zimbabwe, currently ranked among the most affected countries in the world, the government insists that breastmilk is best for infants.
Australia-HIV: First Australian in 14 years gets HIV from donated blood: Agence France-Presse - July 27, 1999; MELBOURNE, Australia, July 27 (AFP) - A Melbourne girl Tuesday became the first Australian in 14 years to acquire HIV from donated blood.
Thailand-AIDS: Thai police search for AIDS needle attacker: Agence France-Presse - July 26, 1999; BANGKOK, July 26 (AFP) - A men believed to be mentally unstable is terrorising women in Bangkok with a needle he claims is infected with the virus which leads to AIDS, police said Monday.
Rwanda-AIDS: 130,000 children under five are HIV-positive in Rwanda: Agence France-Presse - July 26, 1999; KIGALI, July 26 (AFP) - Some 130,000 Rwandan children under five are carriers of the HIV virus that causes AIDS, the director of the Rwandan National Program for Combatting AIDS (PNLS) said Monday.
UNICEF rings alarm bells about AIDS, debt in poor countries: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 1999; PARIS, July 22 (AFP) - Half of the world's poor are children, UNICEF said in its annual report on "The Progress of Nations," calling on rich countries to reduce poor countries' debt and help them face the "AIDS emergency."
AIDS overtakes war as top killer in east, southern Africa: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 1999; NAIROBI, July 22 (AFP) - AIDS has surpassed armed conflict as the number one killer eastern and southern Africa, where the disease claimed 1.4 million lives last year alone, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a report released Thursday.
UNICEF-Vietnam: Malnutrition, AIDS biggest threats to Vietnamese children: UNICEF: Agence France-Presse - July 22, 1999; HANOI, July 22 (AFP) - Vietnamese children are threatened by a dramatic increase in HIV/AIDS infection and high malnutrition rates, UNICEF chief Vietnam representative Morten Giersing said on Thursday.
Britain-health: Piercing your tongue can kill, British dentists warn: Agence France-Presse - July 21, 1999; LONDON, July 21 (AFP) - Piercing your tongue can lead to severe infection and is a potential killer, British dentists warn.
Vietnam-AIDS: More than 1,300 AIDS deaths recorded in Vietnam: Agence France-Presse - July 20, 1999; HANOI, July 21 (AFP) - A total of 1,341 people have died of AIDS and another 14,034 people are known to be HIV-positive in Vietnam, an official from the National Committee for Aids Prevention said on Wednesday.
Bangladesh may be on verge of an HIV-AIDS epidemic: study: Agence France-Presse - July 20, 1999; DHAKA, July 20 (AFP) - Bangladesh may be on the verge of an AIDS epidemic partly because of a very low level of public awareness about the disease, a study published here Tuesday said.
Sri Lanka in fresh bid to target students in AIDS campaign: Agence France-Presse - July 16, 1999; COLOMBO, July 16 (AFP) - School students are to be targeted in a nation-wide campaign aimed at preventing the spread of AIDS amid increased sexual activity among young people, campaigners said here Friday.
Ugandan, US researchers in AIDS breakthrough study: Agence France-Presse - July 15, 1999; KAMPALA, July 15 (AFP) - A joint Ugandan and US study has discovered a cheap, effective and practical drug that reduces mother-to-child AIDS virus transmission by up to 50 percent, Uganda's health ministry said Thursday.
Moscow struggles to face up to rampant street prostitution: Carole Landry; Agence France-Presse - July 15, 1999; MOSCOW, July 15 (AFP) - Every night at dusk, Natasha Strogonova joins the bevy of women near Moscow's Dinamo sports stadium to earn in a few hours many times more than the monthly wages she took home in her previous job as a store clerk.
Gays, lesbians protest denial of visas for two HIV-positive Australians: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 1999; LOS ANGELES, July 14 (AFP) - About 500 gay and lesbian Christians protested after visas were denied to HIV-positive Australians who wanted to attend a gay church conference here.
Drug cuts down spread of AIDS from mother to newborn child: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 1999; WASHINGTON, July 14 (AFP) - A new, easily administered drug has cut in half the spread of AIDS from HIV infected mothers to their infants, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced Wednesday.
US-AIDS: Combination of two AIDS vaccines strengthens body's defenses in tests: Agence France-Presse - July 14, 1999; WASHINGTON, July 14 (AFP) - The combination of two experimental AIDS vaccines boosted immune system defenses against HIV in clinical tests, researcher Robert Belshe told a conference on sexually transmitted diseases.
Philippines-Libya: Libya to repatriate 43 Filipina nurses: Agence France-Presse - July 13, 1999; MANILA, July 13 (AFP) - Tripoli is to repatriate 43 Filipina nurses it has accused of spreading the AIDS virus at a Libyan hospital, President Joseph Estrada's spokesman said Tuesday.
Mozambique to host SADC annual summit next month: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 1999; MAPUTO, July 12 (AFP) - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold its August summit in Mozambique, where a new chairman is to be elected to replace South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela, an official said Monday.
Drugs groups Roche, Trimeris reach deal on new HIV treatment: Agence France-Presse - July 12, 1999; Pharmaceuticals group Roche of Switzerland and Trimeris of the United States have signed a deal for full-scale clinical testing and development of Trimeris' two new HIV drugs, Roche announced Monday.
European Commission approves Glaxo Wellcome's new anti-HIV drug: Agence France-Presse - July 9, 1999; The European Commission has given British pharmaceutical group Glaxo Wellcome the green light to market its new anti-HIV medicine Ziagen in all 15 European Union countries, the group said Friday.
Nearly 200 Russian soldiers test positive for AIDS virus: Agence France-Presse - July 8, 1999; Some 180 Russian troops, including 20 officers, have tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the daily Russian defense Krasnaya Zvezda reported Thursday.
Canadian government enforces stricter safety controls at sperm banks: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 1999; OTTAWA - The Canadian government has ordered the country's human sperm banks to step up screening against the possible transmission of infectious disease, especially the deadly AIDS virus.
Peace in Africa tops South African OAU ministers' agenda: Agence France-Presse - July 7, 1999; PRETORIA - South Africa will lobby for the peaceful resolution of conflicts plaguing Africa at the Organisation of African Unity's (OAU) ministerial meeting in Algiers this week, the deputy foreign minister said Wednesday.
S. Africans protest at US consulates over drugs policy: Agence France-Presse - July 5, 1999; Hundreds protested at the US consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town Monday, accusing Washington of greed in trying to prevent South Africans buying medicines from the cheapest source.
African business urged to spend more to combat AIDS: Agence France-Presse - July 4, 1999; African businesses were urged Sunday to commit more expenditure to AIDS awareness and treatment amongst a workforce rapidly being decimated by the disease.
Two years could turn AIDS into "demographic threat": Russian scientist: Agence France-Presse - July 2, 1999; The number of Russians infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, could soar to one million within two years if the virus continues to spread at alarming rates, a leading AIDS expert said Thursday, quoted by Interfax.
3.6 million in South Africa have HIV/AIDS: report: Agence France-Presse - July 1, 1999; Nearly 3.6 million people in South Africa are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, indicating that the number of people carrying the disease has increased 30-fold since 1990, according to a study quoted here Friday.

June

UN expected to urge swift action to curb AIDS spread: Agence France-Presse - June 30, 1999; The UN will issue a special call to arms to stem the spread of AIDS during its special General Assembly session on population which opened here Wednesday, according to a draft action plan.
Contraceptive debate clouds UN session on population growth: Agence France-Presse; Benedicte Manier; The United Nations opened a special General Assembly session here Wednesday on curbing world population growth amid a bitter debate over contraceptive methods.
Leading doctor condemns westerners' adoption of Cambodian children: Agence France-Presse - June 30, 1999; A leading Swiss doctor working in Phnom Penh on Wednesday condemned the "awful business" of adoption of poor or orphaned Cambodian children by western couples seeking to take them abroad.
Moscow HIV cases up 11 times from last year: Agence France-Presse - June 30, 1999; Nearly 3,000 new cases of HIV infection have been registered in Moscow this year, 11 times the number of new cases for the same period last year, health officials said Tuesday, quoted by Interfax.
AIDS rising in Africa while funding falls: UN: Agence France-Presse - Monday, June 28, 1999; Less money is going to fight AIDS, even though the scourge is making a comeback worldwide, particularly in Africa, the head of a UN program to fight the disease said Monday.
Cambodia testing female condoms: report: Agence France-Presse - Monday, June 28, 1999; Cambodia's health ministry is considering the widespread introduction of female condoms in a bid to empower sex workers dealing with drunken customers, it was reported here Monday.
More than 40,000 Panamanians carry AIDS without knowing it: Agence France-Presse - Sunday, June 27, 1999; More than 40,000 Panamanians are infected with the AIDS virus but do not know they are carrying it, the nation's Health Minister said Sunday.
UN chief urges business leaders to join AIDS fight: Agence France-Presse - June 25, 1999; United Nations chief Kofi Annan told business leaders on Friday that it was in their interest to join the fight against AIDS because of its impact on the global economy.
Visible Genetics says 'genotyping' effective in cutting HIV viral loads: Agence France-Presse - June 25, 1999; Visible Genetics Inc said the latest issue of The Lancet reports that drug selection based on genotyping is effective in producing a statistically significant benefit in lowering the viral loads of HIV patients who are failing triple drug combination therapy.
Benefit of Glaxo Wellcome's AZT 'not called into question' - French govt: Agence France-Press - June 23, 1999; The benefits of Glaxo Wellcome PLC's Aids drug AZT are "not called into question" despite reports it may damage the nervous system of children whose mothers have been treated with it during pregnancy, the Health Ministry said.
Pharmacia Upjohn's says tipranavir effective against drug resistant HIV: Agence France-Presse - June 23, 1999; Pharmacia Upjohn said new data indicates that tipranavir, a protease inhibitor currently in development, is effective against strains of HIV resistant to the four protease inhibitors currently approved in the U.S..
Africa carries 90 percent of global AIDS burden: WHO: Agence France-Presse - June 23, 1999; Africa has been the hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic, carrying 90 percent of the global burden of the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) African regional office said Wednesday.
Immediate action to prevent AIDS epidemic in Bangladesh: World Bank: Agence France-Press - June 23, 1999; The World Bank Wednesday warned Bangladesh must take immediate action to halt the spread of AIDS, saying time was running out to tackle a possible epidemic.
German man jailed for giving wife AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 22, 1999; A 29-year-old German man on Tuesday was sentenced to four years in prison by a Hamburg court for deliberately infecting his wife with HIV.
Zimbabwean morgues to open round the clock for AIDS deaths: Agence France-Presse - June 22, 1999; Hospital mortuaries in Zimbabwe will soon open round the clock in a bid to speed up the collection of corpses to cope with the increasing death toll from AIDS, the Herald daily reported Tuesday.
Man who killed five homosexuals to stop AIDS, gets life sentence: Agence France-Presse - June 21, 1999; A convicted kidnapper who confessed he robbed and strangled five gay men to stop the spread of AIDS, was sentenced Monday to five consecutive terms of life in prison without parole.
Two in five Kenyan women don't know where to buy a condom: Agence France-Presse - June 21, 1999; Two in five Kenyan women do not know where to obtain a condom even though 1.4 million people, or about five percent of the population, are HIV-positive in the east African country, the weekly East African reported Monday.
More than 1,300 AIDS deaths recorded in Vietnam: Agence France-Press - June 21, 1999; A total of 1,320 people have died of AIDS and another 13,623 people have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as of June 19, an official from Vietnam's National Committee for Aids Prevention said on Monday.
Australian scientists say breakthrough offers hope for AIDS sufferers: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 1999; A newly discovered drug has stopped the AIDS virus in its tracks during laboratory tests, Australian researchers announced Wednesday.
Cameroonian tree derivative may combat AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 19, 1999; A student at Yaounde University has isolated an active substance, drawn from a tree native to Cameroon, that may be effective against AIDS, the university said in a statement Saturday
Chinese students blow up condoms to learn about AIDS: Agence France-Presse - June 18, 1999; China has introduced a novel sex-education and AIDS prevention program, scrapping educational lectures for stories and games such as blowing condoms up like balloons, official media said Friday.
US public views infectious diseases as serious threat - poll: Agence France-Presse - June 16, 1999; Americans believe infectious diseases are a serious threat, ranking them as their third highest concern after poverty and hunger and biological chemical weapons development, a poll said Wednesday.
Philippine Roman Catholic church blasts former Spice Girl: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 1999; The dominant Roman Catholic church here Tuesday denounced former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell for promoting contraceptives and safe sex in the Philippines in her role as a UN goodwill ambassador.
HIV-AIDS rises sharply in Nepal: Agence France-Presse - June 15, 1999; The incidence of HIV and AIDS has risen sharply in Nepal with more than 1,076 people confirmed as carriers, health authorities revealed Tuesday.
Southern Africa seeks coordinated means to fight AIDS: Agence France-Presse - Monday, June 14, 1999; Nine southern African countries on Monday gathered in the Mozambican capital Maputo to discuss ways to implement a UN-led African programme to fight the AIDS epidemic.
Clinton dedicates first AIDS vaccine research center: Agence France-Presse - Wednesday, June 9, 1999; President Bill Clinton Wednesday launched the construction of the first AIDS vaccine research center at a ceremony in a Washington suburb.
Trial over HIV-tainted blood opens in Iran: Agence France-Presse - Wednesday, June 9, 1999; Three former directors of Iran's state-run blood transfusion body went on trial Wednesday over complaints involving thousands of people infected with diseases including AIDS through contaminated blood.
Iranian official plays down HIV contaminated blood scandal: Agence France-Presse - Monday, June 7, 1999; The head of Iran's blood transfusion body Monday played down fears over the possibility that his organisation provided HIV contaminated blood, as several of his former colleagues face trial over the issue.
Iranian officials to go on trial over HIV-tainted blood: Agence France-Presse - Sunday, June 6, 1999; Several former directors of Iran's state-run blood transfusion body are to go on trial over the deaths of hemophiliac children who received blood contaminated with Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV).
US teens have less sex because of AIDS: poll: Agence France-Presse - Thursday, June 03, 1999; American teenagers have less sex and take more precautions when they do have it because of fear AIDS infection, according to a survey released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Contrtol and Prevention (CDC).
Weakened HIV could still be dangerous as vaccine: Agence France-Presse - Thursday, June 03, 1999; Some people infected with a weakened strain of the Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) have suffered weaker immune systems over the long term, according to a study to appear Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Libyan children infected with AIDS treated in Europe: Agence France-Presse - Tuesday, June 1, 1999; Up to 200 Libyan children infected with the AIDS virus have undergone treatment in France, Italy and Austria, the French health ministry said Tuesday.

May

Parties recoil from AIDS in South African election: Agence France-Presse - Thursday, May 27, 1999; Denis Barnett; In an election campaign dominated by crime and unemployment, South Africa's vast and growing AIDS/HIV population has largely been ignored, despite consensus that AIDS poses the biggest threat to the country's future.
New therapies needed to suppress AIDS infection: Agence France-Presse - Thursday, May 27, 1999; New drug therapies are needed to knock out all traces of the human immunodeficiency virus in human beings, according to two studies to be published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Some 500 children test positive for AIDS in Germany since 1980's: Agence France-Presse - Tuesday, May 25, 1999; Some 500 children under the age of 13 have checked positive for AIDS in Germany since the beginning of the 1980's, the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin reported Tuesday.
AIDS vaccine development advances - experts: Agence France-Presse - Tuesday, May 18, 1999; Researchers are closer to finding an AIDS vaccine, but prevention should be stressed in the meantime, experts said here Tuesday.
Pregnant women with HIV up by 34 percent in S. Africa: Agence France-Presse - Thursday, May 13, 1999; The number of pregnant women in South Africa with HIV, the precursor to AIDS, rose by 34 percent last year, according a Department of Health survey released here Thursday.
70 percent of teachers in Swaziland estimated to have HIV: Agence France-Presse - Wednesday, May 12, 1999; Education officials in Swaziland estimate that some 70 percent of teachers in the small kingdom are infected with the HIV virus which causes AIDS, South Africa's SAPA news agency reported Wednesday.
Japanese firm develops "promising" agent for possible HIV treatment: Agence France Presse - Wednesday, May 12, 1990; Japan's Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. said Wednesday it had developed an agent that "seems to be a promising agent" for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
AIDS is world's fourth killer but top cause of death in Africa: Agence France-Presse - Tuesday, May 11, 1999; AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Africa and has moved up to fourth place amid world killer diseases, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report said Tuesday.

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