>Date: Fri, 14 Jan 1994 09:22:57 -0400 (EDT) >From: "ANNE WILSON, CDC NAC" >Subject: CDC AIDS DAILY SUMMARY 01/14/94 AIDS Daily Summary January 14, 1994 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "Country Singers Join AIDS Ad Campaign" Washington Post (01/14/94) P. G2 (Harrington, Richard) Yesterday marked the launch of "Break the Silence," a public service advertising campaign endorsed by George Jones, Garth Brooks, Wynonna, Willie Nelson, and 42 more country music stars. The project, which features eight television spots, as well as 15 radio and a dozen print advertisements, urges people--particularly those in rural areas--to get informed about AIDS, educate their children about the disease, and to use condoms with every sex act. It targets rural America, where country music rules and AIDS is increasing at a rate twice that in urban areas. In 1992, diagnosed AIDS cases in rural communities, which often lack adequate health-care services and public education programs, increased 37 percent from one year earlier. "There are many parts of this country that still don't have the kind of active education outreach services or support systems that we've come to expect in larger metropolitan areas," observed AIDS czar Kristine Gebbie. Most of the ads discuss sexual transmission of the deadly virus in general terms, and none mention either homosexuals or intravenous drug use--a fact that has drawn some criticism. "Our concern with these ads ... is that they do not tell the people the whole truth about AIDS, condoms and the life-or-death risk people are taking," complained Kristi Hamrick, spokesperson for the Family Research Council. "America's young people do not need half-truths from their cultural heroes." Related Story: Washington Times (01/14/) P.A16; Baltimore Sun (01/14) P. 2A "Group Begins New AIDS Ads in Subway" New York Times (01/14/94) P. B3 (Navarro, Mireya) The Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York City has mounted a new subway advertising campaign for AIDS prevention that targets homosexual and bisexual adults aged 15 to 21. The ads feature gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples kissing or embracing while holding condoms and other protective devices. Officials from GMHC, the largest AIDS service organization in the country, say the ads--which debuted last week--are more explicit that what they have produced in the past for the general public. The agency spent months consulting with youth agencies and focus groups to come up with the concept and wording for the campaign. "We're just trying to be honest and faithful to what the audience needs," said Steven Humes, director of AIDS prevention and training for GMHC. "We've moved beyond general discussions of risk and how HIV is transmitted and we need to be clear about how transmission is avoided." Ann H. Sternberg of the New York City Department of Health says the ads are no more explicit that those used by Calvin Klein and other advertisers to promote their products, adding that her department supports GMHC's project. John Cunningham, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, says that so far the 5,000 posters placed on subways have not sparked complaints. They are scheduled to stay up for a month. "Worries Over AIDS Drug Hit Wellcome Shares" Reuters (01/13/94) (Hirschler, Ben) London--Fears that a new report on its anti-AIDS drug will spark new criticism over its limited use in treating the disease resulted in a sharp decline in the stock of AZT manufacturer Wellcome PLC. A paper detailing full results of the Anglo-French Condorde study has been submitted for publication in the British medical journal, The Lancet. A preliminary report released last April concluded that early use of the drug in asymptomatic HIV patients did not delay the onset of full-blown AIDS. That report caused a drop in AZT prescriptions. Although the full paper is not expected to drop any new bombshells, adverse publicity could have a negative impact, say analysts. "Given the emotional climate surrounding AZT I suspect we're going to have another upset which will probably affect prescribing patterns," speculated Robin Gilbert of stockbroker Panmure Gordon. In American trading, Wellcome's American Depository Receipts fell 25 cents to $9.75 at the close of the New York Stock Exchange. "AIDS Widow to Fight Wellcome Over AZT Drug" Reuters (01/13/94) London--In what is thought to be the first action of its kind, the widow of a British man who died of AIDS has filed suit against pharmaceutical giant Wellcome to prove that the company's anti-AIDS drug killed her hemophiliac husband in 1991. At that time, AIDS-related pneumonia was listed as the cause of death for Bob Threakall, but his widow Sue claims her spouse died not from his condition, but from taking AZT. Threakall said her husband was infected with the AIDS virus through contaminated blood-clotting fluid and was put on the drug in 1989, before he had developed any illness. "Bob was a healthy man when he was first put on AZT," she said, adding that Wellcome claimed the drug would delay the onset of AIDS. "On the contrary, his health steadily deteriorated from that point on and he died 18 months later." Preliminary details of an independent study released last April indicate that early use of AZT demonstrated no significant benefit compared with delayed therapy, either on survival or progression of the disease. Wellcome said it would not comment until it has seen details of the case. Threakall could receive at least $150,000 in damages if she wins the case, said Graham Ross, her attorney. Ross has received legal instructions in five other AZT cases, and announced his intention to form a British group action against Wellcome. "Plans Made for Eastside AIDS Wall" Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (01/14/94) P. B4 (Simon, Richard) Plans have been announced for a proposed memorial to be built on Los Angeles' Eastside to alert the Latino community to the threat of AIDS. The monument is envisioned as a semicircular wall with murals depicting Latino culture and listing the names of 2,000 Latinos who have died from the deadly disease. New cases of AIDS among Latinos are increasing at a rate faster than that of any other ethnic group in Los Angeles. Latinas account for a disproportionately high rate of AIDS and many are transmitting the virus to their babies during pregnancy. Of the infected children countywide, 42 percent are Latino. In addition, say health experts, Latinos only seek treatment in the late stages of disease. The memorial is being proposed for Plaza de la Raza in Lincoln Park, but has yet to be designed or funded. It is being endorsed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as local groups, officials, and gay organizations. "Joseph Lodie; 38; AIDS Activist, Boston Schools Health Educator" Boston Globe (01/13/94) P. 33 (Long, Tom) Services were held yesterday for Joseph Lodie, an AIDS activist who died at the age of 38 from complications related to the disease. As coordinator for comprehensive health education and support service initiatives for the Boston public schools for 15 years, Lodie instructed high-risk urban youth on AIDS awareness and other social problems. After retiring due to illness in 1991, Lodie continued to work as an AIDS activist, and was a strong advocate of condom distribution in public schools. Also in 1991, he coordinated Pro Visions II, a conference on HIV and AIDS for health-care and education professionals. And in 1992, he was keynote speaker at the AIDS Action Committee's Walk for Life, in which he also participated. Lodie is survived by his mother, three brothers, and three sisters. "Beyond Access" Economist (Great Britain) (01/08/94-01/14/94) Vol. 330, No. 7844, P. 79 Although ddc waits for FDA approval to treat AIDS in combination with other therapy, activists hope the drug does not win approval. The NIH established a trial of combination therapy comparing AZT with ddc. Participants included AIDS patients taking AZT. Results from the trial showed that the combination therapy was 50 percent more toxic than either drug by itself and no more effective. By reworking the data, scientists found that combination therapy provided a small benefit to those patients not as sick. From this conclusion, Hoffmann-LaRoche asked for FDA approval. Currently, the FDA has allowed a conditional approval to give to patients taking AZT for a temporary basis. However, an FDA advisory panel recommended that the conditional approval be eliminated even though the committee suggested the FDA approve the drug as a treatment by itself. The Treatment Action Group, an organization that reviews drug trials, believes that the FDA should not approve medication without demonstrating its benefits clearly. In some instances, small drug trials prove that a product really works while other medicine, such as ddc, needs thousands of participants to prove a tiny benefit. "HIV Disease in Print: Hope, Humor and Healing" Focus (12/93) Vol. 9, No. 1, P. 5 (McPherson, Dan) Ten chapters written by six authors make up "AIDS Prevention and Treatment: Hope, Humor and Healing." The editors' goal is to provide basic information about such topics as mental health services throughout the course of AIDS disease, social support for infected men and women, AIDS in the workplace, education and prevention efforts at universities, and HIV-related complications of the central nervous system. They are successful in achieving this goal. For those readers who are not well informed about the AIDS epidemic, the text provides the broad overview intended by the authors, and may expand awareness of its impact for those involved in a particular area of the epidemic. The book has little value for experienced professionals, however, as most of the chapters fail to offer practical and specific guidelines on how to apply the information presented--information about which they may already be well aware. The 276-page paper is $31. The AIDS Daily Summary will not publish on Monday, January 17, 1994. Publication will resume on Tuesday, January 18.