The CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases, and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.
Journal of American Medical Association (01/05/00) Vol. 283,
No. 1, P. 81; Wright, Thomas C.; Denny, Lynette; Kuhn, Louise;
et al.
A study of 1,415 South African women aged 35 to 65 years was
performed to compare testing methods for cervical disease. The
researchers wanted to determine whether testing with
self-collected vaginal samples for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA
was effective. The women were screened with four different tests
after a self-collected vaginal swab. They included a Pap smear,
direct visual inspection of the cervix, cervicography, and HPV
DNA testing with a sample obtained by the physician. Those women
with abnormal results were referred for colposcopy for further
testing. The results showed that 550 of the women had positive
results for at least one of the screening tests, and 500
underwent colposcopic examination. Invasive cancer was found in
nine of the 1,356 women who returned to be screened. The authors
found that testing of self-collected vaginal samples for those at
high risk for HPV was as effective as a conventional Pap smear.
Therefore, in areas where cytologic screening is not available,
self-collected tests could be used. This approach has advantages
for women at high risk for cervical cancer, but the researchers
note that it does not guarantee that women will return for
further treatment or testing.
Washington Post (01/21/00) P. A10; Brown, David
A team of researchers, led by Franco Lori and Julianna Lisziewicz
of Georgetown University, has found that intermittently stopping
triple-drug therapy boosted the immune systems of two HIV
patients studied. The findings, which are published in The
Lancet, suggest that taking breaks from drug treatment may
actually benefit those with HIV or AIDS. Recent studies have
shown that daily doses of antiviral drugs keep the virus at
undetectable levels in the blood in most HIV-infected
individuals; however, Lori and Lisziewicz suggest that by
stopping treatment, the body is able to fight back against the
virus. The study followed three HIV patients who were recently
infected. One patient was able to control the virus for longer
and longer periods after each therapy interruption; the last time
he stopped treatment, he was able to go 150 days before starting
again. The researchers warn, however, that further trials are
needed, and patients and doctors should not attempt to replicate
this or other similar research until more is known.
"Groups Join to Criticize Ruling on HIV Inmates"
Birmingham News Online (01/21/00); Brumas, Michael
Several AIDS activists and gay organizations are criticizing a
recent Supreme Court ruling that supports Alabama's segregation
of HIV-positive inmates. The original Circuit Court of Appeals
ruling and the High Court's refusal to hear an appeal allow
prisoners in Alabama to be excluded from educational and
recreational activities since they pose a risk of HIV
transmission to others. The Supreme Court last year asked the
Clinton administration's opinion on the matter, and U.S.
Solicitor General Seth Waxman said the 11th Circuit ruling should
stand. A statement signed by several groups, including AIDS
Alabama and the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison
Project, asserts that "their recommendation upholds
stigmatization of people with HIV and sets a precedent for an
unnecessary and unfair double standard regarding HIV-positive
prisoners."
Reuters Health Information Services (01/20/00); Rostler, Suzanne
The first national human papillomavirus (HPV) hotline is now
available to counsel and refer individuals with questions or
anxiety regarding the sexually transmitted disease. HPV is the
most common cause of cervical cancer, which can be detected
through the Pap test and is treatable if caught in time.
According to the American Social Health Association, which
launched the hotline, 5.5 million cases of HPV are detected each
year. Trained counselors at the toll-free service, which can be
reached at (877) HPV-5868, are available from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time Monday through Friday.
Reuters (01/20/00)
A recent survey of 163 young people in Britain indicates that
young people lack information about sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) and their consequences. Few of the respondents, whose
average age was 26, knew much about STDs like gonorrhea and
chlamydia. Specifically, less than half of the men and women
knew about chlamydia, and many also could not answer questions
regarding fertility. The study, conducted by Dr. Brian Clark of
University College in London, is published in the journal
Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Reuters Health Information Services (01/20/00)
Two recent studies show that the AIDS epidemic has caused
increased incidence of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, with trends
in Uganda and Zimbabwe showing more cases of Kaposi's sarcoma
(KS), squamous cell carcinomas of the conjunctiva, and
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Dr. D. Maxwell Parkin of the
International Agency for Research on Cancer in France found that
the incidence of KS in Uganda has increased significantly since
the 1960s and been stable since 1990s. Meanwhile, Dr. Eric
Chokunonga of Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare found that KS rates
doubled in men and women from 1990 to 1995, and there was a
dramatic increase in squamous cell tumors of the conjunctiva.
The studies, both published in the journal AIDS
(1999;13:2563-2570, 2583-2590), reveal the primary HIV-related
cancers in Africa.
Detroit Free Press Online (01/21/00)
New HIV treatments are allowing infected children to live longer
lives. Statistics show that whereas as many as three children
with AIDS died per week at Children's Hospital of Michigan in
Detroit five years ago, only one about child dies per year now.
Children's Hospital employs social workers and psychologists to
help its young patients, aiding them with such issues as school
and dating as they grow older. According to statistics, there
are more than 100 children 12 years of age and younger living
with HIV or AIDS in Michigan.
"Going the Extra Mile for Children in Need"
Washington Post (01/21/00) P. C11; Mann, Judy
Georgetown University students Thor Cheston and Stephen Sobhani
began volunteering to help children with HIV/AIDS in December
1998 at a hospital Christmas party. After the party, they
decided to do more to help children in the HIV/AIDS pediatric
unit, and decided to raise money for it by biking across the
country. The bike ride, called "It's for the Kids," now has a
Web site and the backing of the department of pediatrics, along
with the support of the National AIDS Policy director. The
students also began pen-pal programs and other activities that
bring college students and HIV-infected children together. The
Georgetown basketball team has also volunteered its time and free
tickets for kids to go to games. In all, 12 Georgetown students
will make the bike ride from San Francisco to D.C., hoping to
raise $100,000 for Metro Teen AIDS, Grandma's House, and
Georgetown's pediatric infectious disease unit.
Infectious Diseases in Children (12/99) Vol. 12, No. 12, P. 22;
Rosenthal, Marie
At the end of 1999, global estimates for AIDS rates were not a
positive indication for the future. New statistics from UNAIDS
and the World Health Organization show that the number of AIDS
deaths reached 2.6 million this year, the highest total since the
epidemic began. Nearly all the infections and deaths occurred in
the developing world, primarily among young adults. About 50
percent of those who contract HIV are infected before age 25, and
African girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are at least five
times more likely to have HIV than boys the same age. HIV is
also leaving behind thousands of orphans whose parents have died
from the disease. The former Soviet Union has seen a sharp
increase in cases, caused mainly by intravenous drug use with
infected needles. In India and China, AIDS is becoming a more
serious concern, as an increasing number of women and commercial
sex workers become infected. There are an estimated 4 million
prostitutes in China, and surveys show that only half have ever
used a condom. Thailand has seen improvement through a HIV
prevention program, though, and the Philippines' testing of
registered sex workers is also helping to contain the spread of
the deadly virus.
Washington Times (11/27/99) P. A2; Wetzstein, Cheryl
A recent survey of girls participating in the Best Friends
abstinence program found that 97 percent of more than 2,600 girls
did not have sex during the 1998-1999 school year. National
studies show that 48 percent of high school students have had
sex. The Best Friends programs teaches girls in 26 cities, the
District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands about self-respect
and success, using a holistic approach. According to the report,
girls in the program are less likely to have sex, drink alcohol,
become pregnant, or use drugs. Founded in 1987, the program uses
classroom time, dance and exercise classes, and meetings with
mentors to help teens reach their goals.
New York Times (11/25/99) P. A14; Swarns, Rachel L.
Officials in South Africa have raised concerns that the AIDS drug
AZT may be toxic and could cause cancer. Health Minister Manto
Tshabalala-Msimang recently announced her suspicions in a speech
to the National Assembly. Doctors are protesting the statements,
hoping that the drug will not be banned in a country with one of
the highest HIV infection rates in the world. While others have
raised safety questions about AZT, the U.S. National Institutes
of Health concluded in 1997 that the drug's benefits are much
greater than any possible side effects. Physicians, AIDS
advocates, and officials at Glaxo Wellcome, which manufactures
AZT, have called on the South African government to review
scientific literature about the drug; however, even while the
government has agreed to conduct such a review,
Tshabalala-Msimang said that AZT is still too costly. The South
African government is researching a new AIDS drug called
nevirapine, which is much less expensive than AZT.
PA News (11/28/99); Raven, Nell
Some AIDS prevention programs in Britain are being stopped as
funding for expensive drugs increases, according to Dr. George
Kinghorn of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
Kinghorn has been forced to reduce his workforce by 5 percent as
the demand for costly drugs grows. He fears the lack of
prevention programs will cause an increase in sexually
transmitted diseases, including HIV. Kinghorn also noted that
reducing support for AIDS patients taking antiretroviral drugs
means that it is less likely that they will follow their
medication regimen correctly, possibly developing resistance as a
result.
"Where $609 Billion in Federal Spending Will Go: HHS"
Washington Post (11/26/99) P. A43; Eilperin, Juliet
Congress has reached a plan for federal spending, with $4.65
billion allocated for the Department of Health and Human
Services. The National Institutes of Health received a 15
percent budget increase, to $17.9 billion, including a $3 billion
delay to keep the Social Security surplus. The plan also
includes $1.6 billion for Ryan White AIDS programs and $3 billion
for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
USA Today (11/26/99) P. 10A
In Illinois, fewer people died from AIDS in 1998 than any year in
the last decade. The falling number of deaths is slowing,
though. There was a 52 percent decrease in deaths for 1997, but
only a 10 percent decline last year.
Reuters Health Information Services (11/26/99)
Findings published by Taiwanese researchers in the Journal of
Medical Virology show that hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is
safe and effective in individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus
(HCV) infection. Three groups of patients were studied: patients
with chronic HCV who received the vaccine, patients with chronic
HCV who did not receive the vaccine, and healthy subjects who
were vaccinated against HBC. According to the report, nearly
two-thirds of those with chronic hepatitis C gained effective
immunity to HBV. Researchers found the vaccination as safe for
HCV patients as it was for healthy patients.
Reuters (11/25/99)
HIV cases in Vietnam are rising, as 16,175 people have been
recorded as having the virus. Figures from the Vietnam News
Agency show that 2,907 people have full-blown AIDS. Widespread
prostitution and drug use are two factors cited in the spread of
HIV in the country.
Reuters (11/24/99); Sithole, Emelia
South Africa's deputy Minerals and Energy Minister, Susan
Shabangu, recently reported that about 45 percent of mine workers
in the country are infected with HIV. A high incidence of
tuberculosis is also a problem. Shabangu asked that mining firms
set up safe sex education at their mines to reduce the spread of
HIV. The AIDS epidemic could kill up to 10 percent of the miners
per year, according to a report presented recently at a mining seminar.
AIDS Alert (11/99) Vol. 14, No. 11, P. 129
A recent study of 7.000 AIDS patients admitted to one of 333
hospitals in California shows that AIDS mortality at hospitals
with more experience in treating HIV/AIDS was 30 percent lower
than the rate at the least experienced hospitals. The study also
found that public hospitals had higher death rates than
for-profit and nonprofit hospitals. The California researchers
believe that consistent provider education needs to take place in
order to give equal treatment.
Oregonian Online (01/14/00); McCall, William
After peaking in 1993 at 766 cases, the number of reported AIDS
cases in Oregon dropped 32 percent in 1998 from the previous
year, for a total of 199 new cases. Dr. Mark Loveless of the
Oregon Health Division attributes the decline to better antiviral
drugs, prevention efforts, and increased access to medical care.
The dramatic decrease is encouraging, but minorities remain
disproportionately affected. Minorities made up 18 percent of
the AIDS cases in Oregon, with 16 cases per 100,000 population
among African Americans and 10 cases per 100,000 for Hispanics.
Comparatively, the incidence of AIDS among Whites in the state is
five cases per 100,000 population. The statistics show that the
number of AIDS-related deaths in Oregon also declined
substantially, dropping 74 percent between 1996 and 1998.
Arizona Republic Online (01/14/00); Snyder, Jodie
In Arizona, an increasing number of African Americans, Hispanics,
and women are becoming infected with HIV, which has taken the
lives of some 4,000 people in the state in the past 20 years.
Phoenix Body Positive, an AIDS support group, is helping
minorities and women find treatment for HIV/AIDS. The
group--which is trying to help more than the gay, White men who
began the organization over 10 years ago--is working with
churches, doctors, and testing centers to spread its message.
Phoenix Body Positive offers HIV prevention counseling, support
services like day care, and respite services. The agency's 1,200
clients include approximately 400 women, 380 Hispanics, and 330
African Americans.
"Supreme Court Reinstates Suit Over STD Transmission"
Las Vegas Sun Online (01/13/00); Ryan, Cy
A $15 million suit in which a woman sued her ex-boyfriend for
battery, negligence, and emotional distress after she contracted
two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has been reinstated by
the Nevada Supreme Court. Mary Wilson was diagnosed with herpes
simplex virus and human papillomavirus (HPV) four months after
the relationship ended. Wilson claims she had no sexual contact
with anyone else while she was dating Ronald Radcliffe or in the
three years prior to that relationship, and she says Radcliffe
lied to her about not being infected with an STD. While
Radcliffe's attorneys noted that millions of Americans contract
herpes or HPV during their lifetimes, the court said Wilson "does
not bear the burden of completely eliminating the possibility
that the defendant's conduct did not cause her injury. ... In
short, a plaintiff does not need to prove her case beyond a
reasonable doubt."
Houston Chronicle Online (01/13/00); Zuniga, Jo Ann
Texas' Harris County has received more funding for the Ryan White
Planning Council, which administers money to organizations
serving HIV-infected people in the metropolitan Houston area.
The organization saw a 14 percent increase in funding, from $15.5
million to $17.6 million. That sum includes a significant
increase in funds for African Americans, after new statistics
showed that more than half of the new HIV cases reported in
Houston and Harris County during the first six months of 1999
were among African Americans. Kathy Burton of the Houston's
Health and Human Services Department noted that prevention
efforts remain a priority for the city.
Reuters Health Information Services (01/13/00)
New research shows that up to 39 percent of HIV-infected patients
in an inner-city population did not adhere to their
antiretroviral regimens. The study, led by Dr. Paul Weidel of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, used a
confidential interview and a self-administered anonymous survey
to determine antiretroviral drug adherence among 173 people in
the South Bronx. Common reasons for not adhering to treatment
were forgetfulness and lack of access to medications. The
researchers, who report their findings in the December 15 issue
of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
(1999;22:498-502), called for interventions that help to make
dosages easier to remember and that ensure a continued supply of
medications.
San Francisco Examiner Online (01/13/00); Matthews, Christopher
Swaziland has a population of slightly less than 1 million, and
statistics show that 25 percent of those people are infected with
HIV. Long in denial, the country has started to realize the AIDS
epidemic is continuing to pound southern Africa. Ambassador Mary
Kanya explains that while the denial has not completely ended, an
increasing number of people are realizing the horror of AIDS, as
life expectancy has dropped significantly. Also, while U.S. Vice
President Al Gore pledged $150 million in new U.S. funding in the
fight against AIDS this week, Kanya and others fear the money may
never reach their small country.
Itar Wire Service (01/14/00)
The Russian city of Nakhodka has recorded 62 new HIV infections
in the last two months, causing alarm about an epidemic. Anna
Kalinina, spokeswoman for the Primorye AIDS Prevention Center,
notes that many of the city's HIV patients are either drug
addicts or the children of addicts. Vladivostok will soon open
three new anonymous testing centers, a project being financed by
the Soros Fund.