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American Journal of Public Health (11/99) Vol.
89, No. 11, P. 1722; Deuson, Robert R.; Hoekstra, Edward J.;
Sedjo, Rebecca; et al.
A vaccination project implemented in 18 middle schools in Denver
sought to compare the cost-effectiveness of a school-based
hepatitis B vaccine program with a program associated with a
network health maintenance organization (HMO). The program
involved 3,359 sixth-grade students. The results indicate that
the per-dose cost-effectiveness ration for the school-based
program was $31, while the direct cost per dose for the HMO
program was $68. For the HMO program, the cost rose to $118 when
the student's father worked full-time and the mother worked
part-time. According to the researchers, it is unlikely that the
HMO-based program could be more cost-effective than the school
program. The school program used vaccines purchased at a lower
cost through the government, and parents were not affected by
loss of work.
Wall Street Journal (11/09/99) P. A1
A California law that went into effect in July seeks to protect
healthcare workers from accidental needle injuries. The law
requires medical care providers to use safe needles, ones that
are usually sheathed or retractable. Throughout the United
States, healthcare workers receive an estimated 600,000 needle
sticks from syringes each year, with hundreds contracting HIV or
hepatitis C as a result. California officials anticipate that
the new law could decrease the number of such injuries by up to
80 percent.
"Researchers Stung by Claims of AIDS Origin"
Reuters (11/09/99); Morgan, David
The Wistar Institute, which developed an attenuated live polio
vaccine in the 1950s, said Monday it would allow two independent
laboratories to test lab specimens to prove that its research in
Africa was not responsible for initiating the transfer of SIV
from chimpanzees to humans, where it mutated into HIV. The
decision came after the release of a new book by British
journalist Edward Hooper, titled "The River: A Journey to the
Source of HIV and AIDS," which argues the vaccine was produced
with tissue from chimpanzees infected with SIV and then tested on
children. Researchers directly involved with the development and
testing of the polio vaccine in the 1950s adamantly denied the
accusations and said the chimpanzees were used to test the
vaccines, not produce them. Four years ago, Swedish scientists
tested one of the samples to dispel similar arguments, but the
new testing will involve both lots in order to reach a final
conclusion.
"Not Just Young People Are HIV-Positive"
Denver Rocky Mountain News Online (11/08/99); Frazier, Deborah
The rate of HIV infection is growing in rural western Colorado,
as many people remain unaware of the virus and of how to prevent
it. A new documentary on AIDS in western Colorado that was shown
at the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Denver reveals that many
residents have misconceptions about the disease, believing it
has been cured or only affects homosexuals. The 28-minute
documentary, "Soft Smoke, AIDS in the Rural West," was the result
of two years of interviews and filming in rural communities in
Colorado. Part of the reason for such ignorance is a lack of sex
or AIDS education in high school because of religious
conservatism. In addition, Jennie Franks, the video's producer,
notes that many of the new AIDS cases involve drug use, and some
users may not be aware that used needles can transmit HIV. There
has also been an increase in HIV infections among people between
the ages of 50 and 60.
"Commonwealth Urged to Declare AIDS Emergency"
CNN Interactive (11/08/99)
Commonwealth medical associations meeting in South Africa are
calling on Commonwealth leaders to declare a global state of
emergency on AIDS. The Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA)
Trust, which represents medical associations from the
Commonwealth, also plans to ask leaders of Britain and its former
colonies to make developing an affordable and effective AIDS
vaccine a greater priority. CMA director Marianne Haslegrave
noted, "If we're going to be able to do anything, the heads of
government have to acknowledge the reality of the situation and
to begin the debate that needs to be taking place and to be in
the forefront of speaking out against the spread of HIV/AIDS."
The Commonwealth leaders will convene later this week.
"Would Needle Exchanges Curb AIDS?"
Orlando Sentinel Online (11/07/99); Curtis, Henry Pierson
The high number of intravenous drug users in Florida with AIDS
has many healthcare workers pushing for needle exchanges.
Central Florida is the state leader in heroin deaths, and as more
people get tested for HIV, more cases will appear. It is
estimated that one out of five injection drug users in Florida
tests positive for HIV. Sharing needles increases the risk for
contracting HIV and hepatitis C. To reduce that risk, some
healthcare workers support sales of syringes or needle exchanges
that provide new ones for used. However, opponents claim that
needle exchanges work against efforts to stop drug abuse.
Florida's Office of Drug Control has argued that needle exchanges
do not stem the spread of HIV, and its 1999 drug policy noted
that state funds will not be provided for such programs.
Oregonian Online (11/08/99)
A $40,000 grant from the Northwest Health Foundation will help
expand a needle exchange program in Oregon. The HIV Alliance's
needle exchange in Eugene aims to reduce the transmission of
bloodborne diseases through the use of dirty needles. People
bring in old needles and are given new, clean ones once a week.
The program was launched in Eugene earlier this year, and the new
funding will enable it to expand to Springfield and Lane County
as well.
Sacramento Bee Online (11/09/99); Hanley, Christine
Three activists arrested for giving clean syringes to addicts are
on trial in California. National expert Dr. Peter Lurie has come
to their defense, testifying that needle exchanges can save lives
and reduce the spread of diseases like HIV. The hearing is for
three members of the San Joaquin Valley Exchange Works, a group
that hands out 20,000 needles a month to drug addicts on the
streets of Fresno. Dr. Lurie stated that needle exchange
programs are cost-effective; do not increase drug use; and reduce
HIV infection among users, their partners, and their children.
Reuters (11/08/99)
Becton Dickinson and Co. has been cleared by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration to market its system for the detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, two common
causes of sexually transmitted diseases. The BDProbeTec ET
System has been approved for use with endocervical swabs, male
urethral swabs, and urine.