Date: Sun, 13 Mar 1994 07:58:00 EDT From: Song Weaver Subject: CDC AIDS DAILY SUMMARY 03/11/94 (Selected Items) "AIDS Increased Most Rapidly Among Heterosexuals, CDC Says" Philadelphia Inquirer (03/11/94) P. A18 According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of AIDS cases reported in 1993 increased most rapidly among heterosexuals--especially young people and black and Hispanic women. Cases resulting from heterosexual contact skyrocketed 130 percent, from 4,045 in 1992 to 9,288 last year, the federal health agency reported. The increase in AIDS was also greater among women than among men, and higher among blacks and Hispanics than among whites. The largest increases, however, occurred among teenagers and young adults--primarily through heterosexual transmission. Heterosexuals at highest risk were those with several lovers who were infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, or were intravenous drug users. The overall growth in AIDS cases jumped 111 percent. The total number of AIDS cases in the United States through Sept. 30, 1993 was 339,250, with the total number of related deaths at 204,390, reports the CDC. The agency had predicted overall growth of 75 percent due to the agency's expanded definition of AIDS, which became effective on Jan. 1, 1993. Related Stories: Washington Post (03/11) P. A8; Baltimore Sun (03/11) P. 8A; New York Times (03/11) P. A12. "Condoms Are Seen and Heard in New HIV Prevention Campaign" Nation's Health (02/94) Vol. 24, No. 2, P. 1 In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a series of radio and television public service announcements urging young adults to abstain from sexual activity, or to use condoms if they do have sex. Already, advocates for the ads are locking horns with a coordinated campaign to stop this effort to educate young people about preventing HIV infection. "We've already seen evidence of a strong campaign from the religious right," confirms Mary Jean Collins, field director for People for the American Way. "I can't imagine that the conservative members [of Congress] are gonna let this go by" without making some attempt to remove funding from the CDC ads. Advocates, including the American Public Health Association, are retaliating with action alerts and letters to Congress. They are also working in coalitions such as National Organizations Responding to AIDS. While the protests of conservative groups have been loud, public outcry against the ads has been little more than a whisper.