Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1983. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - January 6, 1983
Public health officials and blood experts met here Tuesday at the national Centers for Disease Control to discuss possible ways to curb the spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which robs the body of its ability to fight off deadly infections.
The syndrome has fatal consequences in 40 percent of cases, and has been identified in four primary groups: homosexual males, people who use drugs intravenously, Haitian immigrants and hemophiliacs. The disorder has become the second leading cause of death among hemophiliacs.
It will be several weeks before the Federal health agency recommends what specific preventive measures should be taken.
Concern About Blood Supplies
Dr. Bruce Evatt of the disease control centers said scientists suspected that the syndrome was transmitted through blood and blood products, raising concern about the purity of blood supplies used for transfusion.
David J. Sencer, New York City's health commissioner, a former director of the Federal agency, said he believed the city was doing all it could to protect the recipients of blood and blood products. But he said that even more should be done.
"I think there should be more screening of people who are giving blood," he said. "I think these people ought to have good physical examinations and serological tests."
The syndrome, known by the acronym AIDS, was first identified among homosexual men in New York and California. It has taken the lives of eight of the 70 hemophiliacs whose deaths were reported last year, Dr. Evatt said.
"That means that AIDS has now become the second leading cause of death of hemophiliacs," he said. The primary killer of hemophiliacs is uncontrollable bleeding. About 15,000 hemophiliacs live in the United States.
The two diseases that most often kill syndrome victims are Kaposi's sarcoma, a rare form of skin cancer, and Pneumocystia carinii pneumonia. Neither is likely to occur in people with strong, normal immunity systems.
881 Cases in 18 Months
James Curran, who heads a group that the agency has formed to investigate the syndrome, said 881 cases of the disease had been identified in the last 18 months.
"There are another 200 cases which have not been confirmed and probably 10 or 100 times that number who have the symptoms and don't know they have the disease," he said. About 60 percent of the cases have been in New York City, he said.
"We don't really know what causes AIDS," Mr. Curran said, "but evidence suggests exposure to some transmissible infectious agent. Also, it is suggested that AIDS is transmitted sexually and probably through blood and blood products."
He said that identifying the disease was a problem because of the time lapse between exposure and the onset of illness. "The period between exposure and the onset of a recognizable illness is not known, but available evidence suggests the average exceeds one year," he said.
"Whatever we come up with is not likely to have any effect for at least a year," he said.
MEDICINE AND HEALTH; INFECTIONS; BLOOD
830106
AP830101
Copyright © 1983 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1983. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1983. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .