From: MPetrelis@aol.com Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 20:21:46 EDT Subject: SF DPH: We need more AIDS and STD numbers Minutes of the August 31, 1999 general meeting of the S.F. health commission [Excerpted out of the official posting from www.dph.sf.ca.us, the health department's web site.] Item 4) DIRECTOR'S REPORT (Presented by Dr. Mitchell H. Katz) POPULATION HEALTH AND PREVENTION National HIV Prevention Meeting at CDC The CDC has convened a national HIV Prevention meeting in Atlanta. Several members of our staff including Larry Meredith, Ph.D., the head of our Prevention Unit are attending the meeting. The meeting is an opportunity for HIV Prevention leaders to review the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and use the data to design interventions to decrease the number of new AIDS cases. This morning's newspaper covered the opening presentation at the meeting. At the opening the number of AIDS deaths over the past several years was discussed. After examining the national data as well as our local data, I believe this morning's newspaper coverage exaggerated the significance of the plateau in the decrease in the rate of AIDS deaths. The national data show that the number of AIDS death in 1996-97 was 21,222 a 42% decline from the number of deaths in 1995-96 when the number of deaths was 36,792. In 1997-98 there were 17,047 deaths, which was a 20% decrease from 1996-97. The newspaper coverage suggested that these decreases in the percentage decline may reflect that we have already seen most of the benefits of protease inhibitors. I have shown the number of deaths for the similar period in San Francisco. 1995 1996 1997 1998 Projected 1999 # of AIDS cases 1678 1118 360 304 230 As you can see San Francisco also had a much larger decline of deaths between 1997 and 1996, and between 1998 and 1997. However, it is unmistakable that the number of deaths keep decreasing. It would be highly improbable that we could continue to see decreases the size of 68% in San Francisco as we've seen between 1996 and 1997 each year. We know that protease inhibitors are not a cure. They do not work for everyone, in some people resistance develops, and some persons have side effects that preclude them from taking protease inhibitors. The fact that AIDS deaths continued to decrease should give us increased motivation to make sure that everyone benefits from antiretroviral drug combinations by increasing the number of people who are HIV positive who know they are positive (through increased voluntary HIV testing) and increase in programs that address access and adherence to treatments (for example HIV Action Point Center). Commissioner Parker asked for clarification on AIDS statistics and the food handler training program. Commissioner Chow asked how the Department is responding to the new population of HIV infected individuals. He requested AIDS statistics reports. Dr. Katz reviewed our present programs but indicated our current programs are not decreasing the rates of infection. The Department of Public Health is locating new areas to do intervention. The message is to get treatment for HIV infections. Commissioner Hill commented on the alarming yet sad increase in unsafe sex among young gay men. Public Speaker: Michael Petrelis, AIDS Accountability Project, commented on the Annual STD Report being late and that he is not seeing an increase of STD in the gay community. ------------------------------------------ Item 7) PUBLIC COMMENTS Michael Petrelis, AIDS Accountability Project, stated the Department is giving confusing information to the gay community and recommended public meetings with the gay community, the dissemination of the annual STD Report, and the presentation of scientific facts to the gay community.