Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020 - Thursday, September 4, 1997; 4:39 a.m. EDT
Experts gathered Wednesday at an international conference said the AIDS epidemic is raging among newborns from HIV-infected mothers in Asia and Africa because poor nations cannot afford drug therapy that has been successful in reducing HIV infection among American babies.
Dr. Helen D. Gayle of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 300,000 babies are born with HIV each year in developing nations. She said the problem may get worse because the rate of HIV infection is increasing among women.
"In Africa, over half of new HIV infections occur among women," said Gayle. "And in Brazil, in Sao Paulo, AIDS is now the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age."
An estimated 22.6 million people worldwide are infected with the AIDS virus and about 830,000 are children, most of whom were infected by their mothers. About 1.4 million children have died of the disease.
Without treatment, more than 25 percent of HIV-positive mothers will pass the disease to their newborn. With anti-viral drug treatment, the rate drops to about 8 percent.
Developed in the United States, the prenatal HIV treatment calls for a pregnant woman to take the anti-viral drug AZT, or zidovudine, starting at the 14th week of pregnancy. During labor, the drug is given intravenously. After birth, the baby receives the drug for the first six weeks of life.
But Gayle said this therapy costs about $1,000 per patient, far more than many developing nations can afford.
Copyright 1997/The Associated Press. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, The Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020.
970904
AP970901
Copyright © 1997 - 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Always watch for outdated information.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 1997. 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, 1997. 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. .