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.
"Screening for Cervical Neoplasia by Self-Assessment for Human
Papillomavirus DNA (Research Letter)"
Lancet (12/04/99) Vol. 354, No. 9194, P. 1970; Hillemanns, Peter;
Kimmig, Rainer; Huttemann, Ulrike; et al.
In a research letter, scientists from Ludwig-Maximilian
University in Munich, Germany, report that they compared
self-collected vaginal human papillomavirus (HPV) tests for
cervical cancer screening with specimens taken directly from the
cervix of 247 patients at high risk for cervical disease.
According to the researchers, HPV DNA was in 53 percent of the
patients' samples, compared to 42 percent of the samples
collected by a physician. In addition, high-risk HPV types much
more likely to be found in the patient-taken samples than in the
ones taken by clinicians. The authors also note that the
overwhelming majority of the patients--94 percent--preferred
self-sampling as compared to sampling by a physician. The
researchers report that "these results indicate that
self-sampling is a reliable method of testing for HPV and, more
important, for cervical cancer screening with a sensitivity of 93
percent for high-grade HPV and invasive cervical cancer."
Washington Times (12/14/99) P. A13
Conflicts, wars, and AIDS threaten to cause setbacks in
improvements made for the poorest children worldwide, according
to a new report from UNICEF. During this century, smallpox has
been eradicated and most children receive basic education;
however, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy noted that war,
poverty, and AIDS continue to hinder progress.
Boston Globe (12/13/99) P. A10
Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles, the
Rand Corp. and eight other institutions have found that one-third
of U.S. HIV patients forgo medical care because of the time or
money it costs them. Minorities, women, drug abusers, and those
in poverty were the most likely to skip treatment and instead
work or spend the money for food and shelter. Eight percent
reported that they went without food, clothing, or shelter at
times to use money for HIV care.
Reuters (12/14/99)
A report presented to a meeting of the British Thoracic Society
reveals that Britain has seen a 20 percent increase in
tuberculosis (TB) cases in the past 10 years. Dr. Peter Ormerod
called for continued efforts to fight TB, and he noted that there
is a need for more nurses trained to work with the disease.
According to the society's statistics, there were 5,658 cases of
TB in England and Wales last year, up nearly 1,000 from 1988.
Reuters Health Information Services (12/13/99)
A study of more than 600 HIV-infected men and women indicates
that the women had higher CD4 T-cell counts when they develop
AIDS and at the time of death compared to men. The males studied
had lower counts at these times, and would reach the threshold
for recommended antiviral therapy about 12 months before women,
according to the Dutch researchers' study model. The gender
differences were studied before highly active antiretroviral
therapy became available. The researchers report their findings
in the December 3 issue of AIDS (AIDS 1999;13:2361-2364)
Washington Post (12/14/99) P. B4; Goldstein, Avram
Washington, D.C.'s government has closed its public health
laboratory because of years of neglect, including outdated
equipment, supply interruptions, and lack of quality control
policies. D.C. Health Director Ivan C.A. Walks said he closed
the lab before it became a public health disaster, although he
noted that the workers were dedicated and efficient. The lab
screens for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and other
communicable diseases for city-sponsored clinics. In recent
years, the problems have become so significant that the city
health department has had to ship 70 percent of the specimens it
has received to private or public labs in the area. The 90-day
shutdown of the lab can also be attributed to low funding by the
city, building problems, and purchasing mistakes. When it
resumes operation, the lab will pick up as much of its former
workload as possible, according to Walks.
"Life After Jail"
New York Times (12/14/99) P. A30; Freudenberg, Nicholas
In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, Nicholas
Freudenberg, director of the urban public health program at
Hunter College in New York, calls for a better system of
re-integrating drug- and alcohol-using former offenders into
their communities after serving their sentences. Drug treatment,
housing, health care and job training are necessary to help keep
these individuals out of jail. Freudenberg notes, however, that
"few jails provide discharge planning and aftercare services,
thus contributing to higher re-arrest rates, the spread of
infectious diseases like HIV and tuberculosis, and continued
crime and violence."
Los Angeles Times (12/12/99) P. A1; Landsberg, Mitchell
The decline in the number of deaths from AIDS the past few years
has affected hospices in the Los Angeles area and throughout the
United States, causing some to close their doors as patients live
longer and healthier lives. Richard Bettger was once near death
because of AIDS, and went to a hospice to die. However, new drug
treatments helped him recover within a year and he was able to
return to his old life. AIDS mortality in Los Angeles County
fell 52 percent in 1997 from 1996, and then by 34 percent in the
following year.