AIDS Daily Summary June 1, 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 ************************************************************ "China Admits Need for AIDS Education" "China's "AIDS Town" Fights Deadly Image Problem" "Helping Kin of Those With AIDS" "Across the USA: Illinois" "ImmuCell Announces Receipt of $210,000 Milestone Payment" "US--Population" "AIDS Drama" "Show and Tell in Swaziland" ************************************************************ "China Admits Need for AIDS Education" Philadelphia Inquirer (06/01/94) P. A7; Wilhelm, Kathy China could face an explosion in the number of AIDS cases unless it launches far-reaching public education, health officials warned yesterday at a conference to approve recommendations for government action. Viewed as a disease of foreigners and drug users, AIDS is rarely mentioned in the official Chinese media, and few people understand how it is transmitted. The proposals to be considered by the conference includes a requirement that the domestic media provide free time and space for AIDS information. While the number of HIV cases identified in China through official testing reaches only 1,361, government statistics place the actual tally as high as 11,415, and predict that the figure could surpass 253,000 by the end of the decade if preventive measures are not taken. "China's "AIDS Town" Fights Deadly Image Problem" Reuters (05/31/94); Quinn, Andrew The town of Ruili in China's Yunnan province is perceived as an "AIDS Town," where a combination of sex, drugs, and the deadly disease have triggered fear and prejudice. Although it is true that Ruili accounts for more than 70 percent of China's 1,200 documented cases of HIV infection, public health authorities say the focus on this city diverts attention away from China's real AIDS problem--the coastal cities. "Helping Kin of Those With AIDS" New York Times (06/01/94) P. B3; Kaufman, Michael T. Nita Pippins traveled from Pensacola, Fla. to New York City to take care of her son Nick--who had AIDS--for his final three years. When he died in 1990, she stayed, taking it upon herself to counsel other out-of-towners who come from the heartland of America to New York's Miracle House. The hostel for families with AIDS was established, through donations, in two three-bedroom apartments not far from Times Square. Nick's battle taught Pippins "what's important, people, feelings, not things," she says. "Now I try to pass that on as best I can." "Across the USA: Illinois" USA Today (05/31/94) P. 12A AIDS care advocates have mixed feelings about Sunset House, an AIDS nursing home in Burbank, Ill. Some supporters have expressed concern that the opening of the facility this month would signal the dawn of TB sanitarium-like homes. State officials say Sunset House will be the only one of its kind when it opens this month. "ImmuCell Announces Receipt of $210,000 Milestone Payment" Business Wire (05/31/94) Univax Biologics Inc. made a $210,000 milestone payment to ImmuCell Corp under a pact that calls for ImmuCell to manufacture and supply CryptoGAM, a passive antibody product used as an AIDS treatment, for distribution and sale by Univax upon federal approval. The two firms have been collaborating since May 1992 on clinical trials of CryptoGAM for the treatment of cryptosporidium parvum, an infection that causes severe, chronic diarrhea in as many as 15 percent of AIDS patients. "US--Population" Associated Press (05/31/94) Reacting to a program on population scheduled for United Nations adoption this fall, U.S. Catholic leaders sent a letter to President Clinton accusing his administration of acting as an "agent of coercion" for abortion in developing nations. Supporters of the program counter that it does not promote abortion, but rather, is a fresh approach to population problems that also makes services available for prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. "AIDS Drama" Chicago Tribune (05/30/94) P. 2-3; Mills, Nancy Eric Stolz and Randy Quaid starred in the AIDS drama "Roommates," which aired on NBC Monday night. The movie featured Stolz as a Harvard-educated professional who is gay, and Quaid as a loud-mouthed, homophobic ex-con. Both have AIDS--Quaid's character became infected through a blood transfusion. "Roommates" explores the relationship that unfolds as these two men share a room in a residence for AIDS patients. Related Story: Boston Globe (05/30) P. 29 "Show and Tell in Swaziland" Advocate (05/17/94) No. 655, P. 20 Swaziland health minister Dr. Derek von Wissel brought AIDS education to the floor of the country's parliament on April 8, when he distributed boxes of condoms to legislators. In response to comments by legislator Majahnkhaba Dlamini--who had said that some government officials did not known the proper use of condoms--Wissel demonstrated his know-how by rolling one of the prophylactics on a pen and waving it around.