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.
"U.S. Effort to Eliminate Syphilis Moving Forward"
Journal of the American Medical Association (www.jama.com)
(03/29/00) Vol. 283, No. 12, P. 1555; Mitka, Mike
The U.S. syphilis rate is at the lowest level ever recorded in
the nation, and health officials are hoping to eradicate the
disease. Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, noted last year that, "at the close of
this century, we have a brief window of opportunity to eliminate
one of the public health threats we've been battling the longest.
The plan to "eliminate" the disease aims to have fewer than 1,000
cases of primary and secondary syphilis by 2005. The CDC's
National Plan for Syphilis Elimination is focusing on 33 states
and cities with high rates of the disease, including Baltimore,
Chicago, and Memphis. The racial health disparity in the United
States is exemplified with syphilis, as African Americans have a
rate 34 times higher than White Americans. Dr. Helene Gayle,
head of the CDC's National Center HIV, STD, and TB Prevention,
notes that even though syphilis is treatable with penicillin and
is preventable, "it takes a staggering toll on the
African-American community." Eliminating syphilis will also help
improve infant health and stem the spread of HIV. Pregnant women
with syphilis have a 40 percent chance of delivering a stillborn
or losing their baby shortly after birth. The CDC points out
that having syphilis also increases the risk of acquiring and
transmitting HIV. To end the disease, it is important to improve
surveillance, encourage community involvement, and develop quick
responses to outbreaks. Sensitive approaches to treating the
disease will help reduce its prevalence in areas that still have
high rates, including Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, which had 73
cases in 1998. Still, the CDC's efforts may be hampered by high
rates of syphilis in other parts of the world, as tourists and
immigrants continue to bring the disease into the country.
"Annan Seeks Debate on U.N. Future in 'Millennium Report'"
Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (04/04/00) P. A22;
Lynch, Colum
Secretary General Kofi Annan's vision for the United Nations in
the 21st century, outlined in a 57-page "Millennium Report,"
focuses on ending illegal traffic in small arms, altering
economic sanctions on Iraq and Libya, and working to improve the
lives of less fortunate people worldwide. Annan also urged the
188 member states of the United Nations to work towards reducing
HIV infection rates among 15- to 24-year-olds by 25 percent in 10
years. "Unless we redouble and concert our efforts, poverty and
inequality will get worse," Annan told the U.N. General Assembly.
Reuters (04/03/00); Pierson, Ransdell
Many analysts believe that pharmaceutical companies will not feel
any additional pressure to give away AIDS drugs for free, even
after Pfizer's new initiative to freely distribute the antifungal
treatment Diflucan in South Africa. Most AIDS patients in
developing countries do not have the financial resources to
purchase AIDS drugs, which can cost thousands of dollars
annually. Christina Heuer, a Salomon Smith Barney analyst,
believes that most drug companies are not willing to abandon the
profit motive and that Pfizer may not be able to provide Diflucan
free of charge indefinitely. Although drug companies have
donated medicines to treat more manageable diseases for tax
benefits and public relations appeal, some analysts feel that
giving away AIDS drugs--which must be administered regularly and
supervised by doctors to be effective--may do more harm than good
in countries where limited medical infrastructure and personnel
are present to control dosages.
Las Vegas Sun Online (www.lasvegassun.com) (04/03/00)
Researchers led by Dr. Lilly Cheng Immergluck of the University
of Illinois at Chicago have found that mandatory HIV screening of
pregnant women would reduce the number of HIV-infected newborns
and would cost less than voluntary or no testing. The study,
published in the April issue of Pediatrics (2000;105:e54), noted
that mandatory testing would save money in the long-term because
it would lower the amount of money spent for treatment. The
researchers concluded that, compared to voluntary testing,
universal HIV screening of 100,000 pregnant women in Chicago
would save $270,000 and prevent 4.8 infant infections.
"California County Tries Shock Ads"
Washington Times (www.washtimes.com) (04/03/00) P. A5; Elias,
Thomas D.
A new anti-AIDS campaign in California's Alameda County is part
of an explicit advertising idea that targets homosexual
African-American men. The ads feature naked black men with a
liquor bottle and unused condom nearby. The slogan, "Been there.
Done that. Get HIV tested. It could save your life," can be
found on billboards, postcards, business cards, and condom
packages in areas frequented by gay African-American men. The
shock ad campaign takes aim at the No. 1 killer of African
Americans ages 25 to 44 in Alameda County. African Americans
account for 42 percent of Alameda's 5,400 active AIDS cases,
although they make up just 18 percent of the county's population.
A $300,000 grant from the California Department of Health
financed the ads.
New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (04/04/00) P. D8; Brody, Jane E.
The dangers of body piercing may not reach the ears of fad-driven
teenagers. Many young people put their health at risk by getting
pierced tongues or faces at the hands of inexperienced clerks.
Dr. Charles Stewart of the Dakota Heartland Hospital in Fargo
explained in a recent issue of Emergency Medicine that allergic
reactions, infection, scars, injury, or jewelry rejection can
complicate body piercing. Infections cause redness, swelling,
and pain. If sterilized instruments are not used, there is a
risk of contracting hepatitis B virus or HIV from blood left on
the tools. Nose piercing can cause staphylococcal infection, and
tetanus is also a risk for those not recently immunized.
"China's AIDS Patients Surges 69 Percent in 1999"
Agence France Presse (04/04/00)
The Shanghai Daily reported that the number of AIDS patients in
China increased 69 percent in 1999 from the previous year, with
4,677 new cases of HIV. The report noted there were over 17,000
confirmed cases of HIV or AIDS by year-end 1999, including 647
cases of AIDS. Dai Zhicheng of the Chinese Association of AIDS
Prevention and Control asserted that "the figure has been
rocketing for five years, and rampant sexually transmitted
diseases and tuberculosis may make the situation worse."
Halifax Herald Online (www.herald.ns.ca) (04/04/00); Mellor,
Clare
Canadian women who have received donor semen from the IWK Grace
Health Center since 1988 are not at risk for infection with HIV
and hepatitis C, but individuals who received semen before 1988
should be tested for the diseases. The IWK Grace sperm bank,
located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was investigated after several
Canadian sperm banks were found to be violating health and safety
regulations. The IWK bank, which has served about 7,000 women
since 1973, was found to meet all federal regulations.
"JICA, UN Staffs Donate Blood in Dar"
Africa News Service (04/03/00)
Staff members of the Japanese Aid Agency (JICA) and United
Nations agencies in Dar Es Salaam are donating blood to needy
individuals in Tanzania in an effort to mark World Health Day,
April 7. The themes of this year's World Health Day are "blood
saves and safe blood starts with me." Tanzania has been
experiencing significant blood shortages, with the Muhimbili
Medical Center reporting that some blood groups were completely
gone. Experts suggest the shortage of blood at the center could
be related to some people's fear of being identified as
HIV-positive.