Date: Mon, 24 Jan 1994 12:27:05 -0400 (EDT) From: "ANNE WILSON, CDC NAC" Subject: CDC AIDS DAILY SUMMARY 01/24/94 AIDS Daily Summary January 24, 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 "Needle Exchanges Can Work" New York Times (01/24/94) P. A14 Evidence supporting needle exchange programs as a successful effort to curb the spread of AIDS is adding up, observe the editors of the New York Times. Although a majority of the handful of studies on the issue were conducted abroad, the New York Times points to the results of two newly released studies in major American cities. In San Francisco, a needle exchange program showed that 45 percent of interviewed addicts reported getting clean syringes from the program. Contrary to the fears of critics, there was no evidence that the program increased or encouraged drug abuse. A New York City study showed a similar program resulted in a 51 percent decline in the use of dirty needles. Currently, note the Times editors, a three-year demonstration program in evaluating the effect of legal needle exchange programs is underway in New York. Although Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has expressed doubts about such programs, he has opted to continue the demonstration and evaluate the results. This is logical, say the editors of the New York Times, considering that more and more data suggest that these programs offer more promise than risk. "Ban Upheld on Spreading AIDS Virus" Chicago Tribune (01/21/94) P. 1-7 (Crawford, Jan) An Illinois law prohibiting people with the AIDS virus from participating in any behavior that could spread the disease is not unconstitutional, ruled the state's Supreme Court in a recent unanimous decision. The ruling reversed the opinions of two state trial judges, who found the law unconstitutional in separate criminal cases. One case involved a woman who was charged with deliberately spreading the virus by having sex without informing her partner of her condition. In the other case, a man was charged with raping a woman while aware of his infection. With the Supreme Court decision, prosecutors are now able to file criminal charges against people suspected of spreading HIV. The charges in the two cases will, therefore, be reinstated. "Pentagon Drops AIDS Vaccine Test Plans" Reuters (01/23/94) Washington--The Department of Defense will abandon plans to conduct a controversial $20 million clinical trial of an experimental AIDS vaccine, according to the Washington Post. From the beginning, the planned trial of VaxSyn had been strongly opposed by federal health officials, but was approved by Congress anyway after lobbying by the manufacturer, Connecticut-based MicroGeneSys. According to the Post, acting Assistant Defense Secretary Edward Martin told the heads of the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health in a letter that the Pentagon would not proceed with the tests, but would use the congressional funds to conduct tests of other potential AIDS treatments. "It is a victory for science, and I hope it will lead to a victory over AIDS," said Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala, according to the paper. "UN--AIDS" Associated Press (01/21/94) (Nullis, Clare) Geneva--Overwhelmed by the relentless spread of the AIDS epidemic, the United Nations on Friday launched new efforts to counter the confusion and internal disputes that have hindered campaigns against the disease. The executive board of the World Health Organization approved a plan to centralize the work of six different AIDS programs operated by separate U.N. agencies, including WHO; the U.N. Children's Fund; the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; the U.N. Development Program; the U.N. Population Fund; and the World Bank. "Competition and insufficient coordination among organizations has slowed total response from the U.N. system," said a report prepared by representatives from the six agencies and presented to WHO's board. The paper said that many Third World governments were confused by conflicting advice on behavior modification, condom promotion, and school education. It proposed a joint U.N. program to be overseen by a secretariat managed by WHO and with a single coordinator in each country. "There would no longer be six agencies knocking on the door of the donor and asking for the same thing," said Michael Merson, the American head of WHO's AIDS program. "There would be one budget." "U.S. Declines to Prosecute AIDS Researcher Gallo" Chicago Tribune (01/21/94) P. 1-1 (Crewdson, John) Federal prosecutors have opted not to bring criminal charges against U.S. researcher Dr. Robert Gallo for sworn statements he made defending the American patent on the AIDS blood test from a French challenge seven years ago. The prosecutors said they based that decision on "procedural, jurisdictional, and other obstacles," as well as on concerns about the strength of some evidence collected by the Department of Health and Human Services and the inspector general's office during a two-year investigation. In declining to seek charges, however, the prosecutors have failed to determine whether Gallo and his former assistant, Dr. Mikulas Popovic, should continue to receive royalties produced from the domestic sale of the AIDS test or whether they should be forced to repay any of the combined $1.5 million they have accumulated so far. "Blood Donors Screened, Court Told" Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (01/21/94) P. A5 (Downey, Donn) The Canadian Red Cross Society had several screening procedures in effect when the AIDS-tainted blood that killed Kenneth Pittman was donated in November 1984, according to Robert Armstrong, the society's attorney. The Red Cross, Pittman's physician, and what is now the Toronto Hospital are being sued by Pittman's HIV-positive wife and the four Pittman children. Contrary to contentions made by the Pittmans' lawyer, however, Armstrong asserts that "An Important Message to Our Donors," a pamphlet used to screen out high-risk donors, was available at clinics and prospective donors were instructed to read it. In addition, Armstrong told the Ontario court, discussions with nurses were common, and many times donors were turned away. In 1984, he noted, 22,000 prospective donors were rejected after registering in donor clinics in the Toronto area. The Pittmans' attorney asserted that there were no pamphlets available at the clinic in Ajax--from where Pittman received blood--when a donor identified only as Mr. L gave the blood that later infected Pittman. Armstrong, however, produced three witnesses testified that the pamphlet was available. Mr. L died of AIDS-related causes in 1990. "During the scientifically turbulent 1980s, the Red Cross acted responsibly to safeguard the Canadian blood supply from the threat of HIV and AIDS," said Armstrong. "Magic Johnson's Arrival Drew Mixed Reactions From Indonesia" United Press International (01/21/94) Jakarta--After Magic Johnson was reportedly being barred from playing exhibition basketball in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei because of his HIV infection, government officials in Indonesia are trying to decide whether to permit the former NBA star to play there next month. A 1992 Indonesian law dictates that "the immigration officials are allowed to bar a person who suffers from insanity or contagious diseases to enter the country," according to Roni Sikap Sinuraya, director general of immigration. However, says Sinuraya, an exception could be made if the health minister or the youth and sports minister determines that the benefits of the visit outweigh the risks. Last week, Health Minister Suyudi said, "We should welcome Johnson warmly because he will give information to the society on the dangers of AIDS." The four-day visit of the Magic Johnson All-Star basketball team will include an exhibition match to raise money for an AIDS campaign. The team is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on Feb. 24. "Cuomo States Gay Support, Goals on AIDS" Washington Blade (01/14/94) Vol. 25, No. 2, P. 17 New York Mayor Mario Cuomo, in his State of the State address on Jan. 5, reaffirmed his support for gay rights and his commitment to fighting AIDS. The mayor said his administration will stress AIDS education and "outreach services to every group at risk including those hardest hit--people of color and gay men." Cuomo also pledged to "expand funding to improve nutritional services for individuals homebound with AIDS." "HIV and Alcohol" Focus (12/93) Vol. 9, No. 1, P. 7 (Matano, Robert A. and Bronstone, Amy B.) "Risk and Recovery," targeted at providers of alcohol rehabilitation, is a comprehensive guide for addressing HIV-related issues in an alcohol treatment environment. The authors aim to demonstrate how to incorporate HIV disease into alcohol recovery programs. An innovative approach is the authors' theory that HIV infection should be treated in a manner similar to alcohol addiction--as a life-threatening progressive illness. Like in treating alcoholism, Matano and Bronstone suggest that encouraging HIV-infected patients to share their experiences, strengths, and hope, while struggling through loss may offer similarly beneficial results. Treating AIDS like a death sentence, they assert, is detrimental. The book includes detailed outlines for leading discussions on issues related to HIV infection and alcohol use, such as sexuality, grief, loss, and cultural diversity. The authors cover a wide range of topics, and do so in well-written language that avoids the use of technical jargon, which makes it accessible to providers from various backgrounds. This 242-page paperback is available for $16.95. "Janet and Randy Conners" Maclean's (Canada) (12/27/93) Vol. 106, No. 52, P. 26 (DeMont, John) Since the transmission of the AIDS virus to scores of Canadian hemophiliacs through contaminated blood products, individual provinces have negotiated compensation deals for patients and their families. These efforts began not with the government, but with one devastated--and angry--couple in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1979, severe hemophiliac Randy Conners began using Factor VIII, a blood-clotting product that allowed him to lead a normal life. A decade later, however, he learned that he had been infected with HIV through a tainted blood product. Three years later, his wife Janet discovered that she, too, was HIV-positive. Anxious to ensure that Janet and their son Robert were financially stable after his death, the couple launched an intense publicity campaign. They met three times with George Moody, then minister of health for Nova Scotia. They held press conferences, conducted media interviews, and gained the sympathy of the public. Two weeks after Randy was hospitalized with AIDS-related pneumonia last March, Moody informed the couple that his province would be the first to negotiate a financial compensation deal. The package gives them each $30,000 tax-free each year, free drugs, and $50,000 worth of life insurance, as well as four years free university tuition for Janet and Robert. As the first recipients of such a deal, Randy says, "we proved that two ordinary people can make a huge difference."