| prevention-news@cdcnpin.org 2004-11-08, 11:09 am |
| CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the follo=
wing information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scie=
ntific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmi=
tted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. The f=
ollowing summaries were prepared without conducting any additional resear=
ch or investigation into the facts and statements made in the articles be=
ing summarized, and therefore readers are expressly cautioned against rel=
ying on the validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summar=
ies. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other gover=
nment agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Repo=
rt (MMWR) articles, fact sheets and announcements. Reproduction of this t=
ext is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/T=
B Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the=20
information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for ful=
l texts of the articles.
HEADLINES
NATIONAL NEWS
GEORGIA: =93Georgia's TB Case Decline Is Lowest Drop in Dozen Years=94
UNITED STATES: =93Liver Cancer Fastest Growing Cancer in US =97 Report=94
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
GLOBAL: =93AIDS Session Focuses on Africa=94
MEDICAL NEWS
UNITED STATES: =93Vaccine Gives Long-Lasting Protection Against Cervical =
Cancer, Latest Study Shows=94
LOCAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: =93Many with HIV/AIDS Won't Get Flu Shots=94
LOUISIANA: =93AIDS Programs Suffering in Cash Shortage=94
NEW YORK: =93Planned Parenthood Project; Graduates Talk Sex=94
NEWS BRIEFS
UGANDA: =93US Grants Uganda $200 Million for HIV/AIDS=94
ETHIOPIA: =93Ethiopian Church Leaders Launch Anti-AIDS Campaign=94
TANZANIA: =93AIDS May Hurt Tanzania's Productivity: Expert=94
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NATIONAL NEWS=09
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GEORGIA:
=93Georgia's TB Case Decline Is Lowest Drop in Dozen Years=94
Associated Press (10.31.04)::Daniel Yee
Although Georgia's TB cases dropped for the third year in a row, off=
icials are concerned that last year's decrease was the smallest the state=
has seen in a dozen years. From 2002 to 2003, there was less than a 1 pe=
rcent decrease in TB cases, according to the Georgia Division of Public H=
ealth. Last year, 531 cases were reported, compared to the 533 reported i=
n 2002. Georgia ranks ninth highest in the nation with a TB rate of 6.1 c=
ases per 100,000 population.
Georgia TB cases dropped 8 percent from 2001 to 2002 and 17 percent =
from 2000 to 2001. The state's TB cases for 2003 represent a 42 percent d=
ecline since the peak year of 1991, when Georgia reported 909 cases.=20
=93We've been fairly fortunate with TB, with basically declining num=
bers over the last 10 or so years,=94 said Richard Quartarone, spokespers=
on for GDPH. =93But we do have areas of concern. There are some counties =
in metro Atlanta that have higher TB rates than the rest of the state.=94=
Metro Atlanta accounts for 54 percent of Georgia's TB cases.=20
Among the state's black residents, TB case rates have been declining=
, although they still make up 59 percent of cases in Georgia. TB among fo=
reign-born residents dropped from 32 percent of state cases to 29 percent=
of the state's cases.=20
State health officials and advocates say the current TB program acti=
vities must be continued, including sufficient recruitment, training and =
retention of public health workers; maintaining well-equipped laboratorie=
s; and devoting proper funding to manage outbreaks and treat drug-resista=
nt TB strains. =93We're always sitting on the edge of an increase due to =
the growth of the population of the state, which has been tremendous,=94 =
said American Lung Association spokesperson June Deen.=20
UNITED STATES:
=93Liver Cancer Fastest Growing Cancer in US =97 Report=94
Reuters Health (11.01.04)::Martha Kerr=20
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is involved in more than half of US cases of=
liver cancer, which are increasing faster than any other cancer, accordi=
ng to a preliminary report presented Monday in Boston at the annual meeti=
ng of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. =20
The Liver Cancer Network early report has to date enrolled about 250=
patients from six centers to assess demographics and risk factors for li=
ver cancer, liver disease, tumor characteristics and different treatments=
.. Mean patient age was 59 years; 75 percent were male; 80 percent were Ca=
ucasian; 10 percent were African-American; 4 percent were Hispanic; and 4=
percent were East Asian.
Most liver cancer patients (87 percent) had underlying liver disease=
and more than half (52 percent) had HCV infection. And in those cases, 2=
0 percent involved a history of alcohol abuse. Liver cancer =93in the US =
is almost always associated with chronic liver disease,=94 the report not=
ed.
Survival was =93slightly better for those who were asymptomatic at p=
resentation or who were candidates for liver transplantation,=94 said St.=
Louis University's Dr. Alex S. Befeler, who presented the data. Chemothe=
rapy was =93generally ineffective for liver cancer. Liver transplantation=
is the best approach,=94 he noted. =93Most patients also have advanced c=
irrhosis, so drug metabolism is poor.=94=20
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS=09
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GLOBAL:
=93AIDS Session Focuses on Africa=94
Indianapolis Star (11.01.04)::Bill Ruthhart
The number of people with AIDS worldwide and the amount of money all=
ocated to help them are both at a record high. Yet problems remain in tra=
nslating that funding into treatment, according to a conference held Sund=
ay at the Indiana university School of Medicine. Randall Tobias, the US g=
lobal AIDS coordinator, gave the opening speech at the one-day conference=
..=20
The meeting focused heavily on the difficulty of getting AIDS drugs =
to Africa. =93We just can't get the drugs we need,=94 said Dr. Joseph Mam=
lin, co-founder of the Indiana University-Moi university Partnership Prog=
ram, which treats AIDS patients in Kenya. =93We've recruited all these pa=
tients, but we've been unable to treat new patients with drugs for the la=
st two months because the infrastructure needed to move the drugs to us i=
n the quantities we need is not there.=94
According to Tobias, the problem is a lack of medical staff to admin=
ister the drugs in places like Mozambique, where there are only 500 physi=
cians for 18 million people. And while funding for AIDS has never been hi=
gher =97 including the US commitment of $15 billion over five years =97 m=
any countries have not responded adequately to the problem. =93The rest o=
f the world's responsibility in fighting this pandemic =97 to put it blun=
tly =97 has not been enough,=94 said Tobias.=20
Dr. Debrework Zewdie, director of the Global HIV/AIDS Program for th=
e World Bank, said the United States, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB a=
nd Malaria and the bank are the three major sources of funding for Africa=
.. But putting that money to use, she said, has been difficult because the=
three donors have =93pulled these countries in three different direction=
s.=94 The three donors have different bureaucratic requirements =97 which=
have slowed spending =97 and should work to make it easier for countries=
to use the money, Zewdie said.=20
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MEDICAL NEWS=09
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UNITED STATES:
=93Vaccine Gives Long-Lasting Protection Against Cervical Cancer, Latest =
Study Shows=94
Associated Press (11.01.04)::Marilynn Marchione
On Monday at the meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in=
Washington, researchers presented study results suggesting a vaccine can=
provide long-term protection against the STD human papillomavirus (HPV).=
Four years after receiving the vaccine, 94 percent of women were protect=
ed from HPV-16, a strain that accounts for about half of all cervical can=
cers, and none had developed precancerous conditions.
=93We're thrilled about these results. The immune responses seem to =
be really long-lasting,=94 said Dr. Eliav Barr, who developed the vaccine=
for New Jersey-based Merck & Co. university of Washington researchers le=
d the Merck-funded study.=20
Merck plans to seek US Food and Drug Administration approval next ye=
ar for an expanded version of the vaccine. If the vaccine reaches the mar=
ket, it would be only the second vaccine developed to prevent a form of c=
ancer. The hepatitis B vaccine has dramatically cut infections linked to =
liver cancer.=20
The vaccine was given to women ages 16-23 in three doses over six mo=
nths. A previous study showed that HPV-16 infections were completely prev=
ented in 768 women who had received the vaccine 18 months prior; none dev=
eloped precancerous conditions.=20
The new study tracked 755 of these women four years after vaccinatio=
n. Seven participants developed HPV-16 infections, while none developed p=
recancers. In a control group of 750 women who received placebo injection=
s, HPV-16 infections occurred in 111 women and precancers formed in 12. =20
Dr. Douglas Lowy, the National Cancer Institute scientist who invent=
ed the vaccine, said even though protection waned for a small number of t=
he women, the vaccine's effectiveness was still very high. =93Revaccinati=
on might be advisable at some point,=94 but further studies as to whether=
that is necessary or would improve effectiveness are needed, said Lowy. =
The government gave both Merck and GlaxoSmithKline rights to develop the =
vaccine, and Merck's work is slightly farther along, he noted.=20
=93Most people think [the vaccine] would be recommended for young ad=
olescents. The idea would be you would immunize people relatively soon be=
fore they become sexually active,=94 said Lowy.=20
Merck is also in the final stages of testing an expanded vaccine tha=
t contains HPV-16 and HPV-18, which causes another 10-20 percent of cervi=
cal cancers, as well as strains that cause genital warts in men and women=
, and anal and penile cancers in men. Results from that study, which invo=
lves 25,000 men and women in 34 countries, are expected next year, said B=
arr.=20
Such a vaccine given to men could also help prevent infections in th=
eir partners, said Steven Projan, a drug development expert with Wyeth wh=
o helped review research for the meeting. The vaccine may also help preve=
nt women already infected with HPV from developing cancer, he added.=20
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LOCAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS=09
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:
=93Many with HIV/AIDS Won't Get Flu Shots=94
Washington Blade (10.29.04)::Joe Crea
Dr. Philippe Chiliade, medical director of Washington's Whitman-Walk=
er Clinic, said conversations with the D.C. Department of Health indicate=
it is unlikely there will be enough flu vaccine to treat all clinic pati=
ents. WWC, which currently provides medical care to 2,500 patients, expec=
ted to receive 350 doses of flu vaccine by week's end. Chiliade said WWC =
is still waiting to learn how many doses it can expect to receive from he=
alth departments in Prince George's and Montgomery counties and Northern =
Virginia. Clinic spokesperson Chip Lewis said HIV-positive clients will b=
e prioritized based on T-cell counts. =20
Individuals with fewer than 100 T-cells and uncontrolled viral loads=
would not respond well to the vaccine and will not receive it. Those wit=
h fewer than 100 T-cells and stable viral loads will be offered vaccinati=
on. Those with T-cell counts between 100 and 200 will be vaccinated. Chil=
iade said those with fewer than 100 T-cells who cannot be vaccinated will=
likely be treated with non-vaccine medications to help stave off the flu=
..=20
Last week, DCDH announced it had received 5,400 additional adult flu=
vaccines and is working with CDC to obtain 30,000 more doses for adults =
and children in early December. The department has already distributed 11=
,000 doses for children.=20
On Oct. 15, Gregg A. Pane, acting director of DCDH, issued an emerge=
ncy rule that designated priority groups that are to receive the vaccine =
and imposed a $1,000 fine on any health-care provider who violates the or=
der.=20
Paul Feldman, public affairs director for the National Association o=
f People with AIDS, criticized the US government's failure to secure adeq=
uate doses and for not taking HIV patients into account in its emergency =
plan for the flu season.
LOUISIANA:=20
=93AIDS Programs Suffering in Cash Shortage=94
Times-Picayune (10.28.04)::Valerie Faciane
A $600,000 cut in federal assistance this year affects HIV/AIDS serv=
ice organizations in eight Louisiana parishes, including Orleans. For the=
New Orleans AIDS Task Force, it means that 65 of the 130 people with AID=
S in the Food for Friends program no longer receive the three meals a day=
the agency used to deliver to their homes, said Ann Porch=E9, director o=
f food services. Only 400 of 600 other clients can pick up groceries and =
personal care items from the group's pantry. =93It is absolutely heartbre=
aking,=94 Porch=E9 said. =93If they don't have the food, it could affect =
them taking their medication.=94
Community fundraising, including the Task Force's annual AIDS walk, =
helped soften the loss of federal funds for a few months, Porch=E9 said. =
But on Aug. 1, Food for Friends had to cut the number of clients it serve=
s. Because the food program has been without a paid coordinator since Mar=
ch, Porch=E9 hopes to organize and train a team of volunteers to fill tha=
t role.=20
So far, the community has done well in donating food to the program,=
Porch=E9 said. =93We have some social and civic organizations that ask m=
embers to bring canned goods to their monthly meetings and then donate th=
ese items to Food for Friends.=94 Second Harvesters Food Bank also provid=
es food assistance, she said.
Case managers and social workers at Ryan White-financed agencies ref=
er people to the Food for Friends program, said Porch=E9. The program ser=
ves a wide area, including clients who live in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Be=
rnard, St. James, Plaquemines, St. John, St. Charles and St. Tammany pari=
shes. The pantry operates five days a week. For more information, telepho=
ne 504-944-6028.
NEW YORK:=20
=93Planned Parenthood Project; Graduates Talk Sex=94
Newsday (10.30.04)::Rhoda Amon
Nine teens ages 14-17 finished 40 hours of training with Planned Par=
enthood of Nassau County recently and, before proud parents, received rib=
bon-tied diplomas and business cards identifying them as =93Teen Advocate=
s.=94 At the Hempstead Health Center, CEO Karen Paul reminded graduates o=
f Teen Advocate Project of their mission to educate other youths to help =
them make responsible decisions. =93You can reach more kids than we are a=
ble to reach,=94 she said.=20
In the past 20 years, TAP has graduated more than 200 teen boys and =
girls, and =93not one has gotten pregnant=94 while in the program, said D=
anielle Varney, TAP program coordinator. TAP graduates offer =93honest fa=
ctual information=94 to prevent pregnancies and STDs, said Varney. They w=
ork as part-time Planned Parenthood staff earning $7 an hour, doing outre=
ach at schools, workshops, conferences, health fairs and teen hangouts.=20
Teens who have difficulty talking to parents or an adult could feel =
more comfortable talking with a peer about sex, said Varney, 29. =93Our g=
oal is prevention=94 of unwanted pregnancies, she said. Beyond just sex e=
ducation, TAP graduates gain =93self-esteem and communication skills,=94 =
she said.
=93If you can't handle a conversation about sex, you shouldn't be do=
ing it,=94 said Erik Libonati, a 17-year-old from MacArthur High School. =
Libonati was motivated to enter TAP when a friend told him she had =93eng=
aged in unsafe sex with her boyfriend and was worried.=94 =93Don't do it =
because you think it's a cool thing to do,=94 he tells students.
=93A girl has a right to say no,=94 said Latoya Dixon, 15. Her grand=
mother, Gale Biggins, said she is glad Latoya is a teen advocate, since =93=
if she makes other children aware, it will keep her aware herself.=94
Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, which includes Suffolk, has a sim=
ilar program in Wyandanch called Teen Information and Peer Services. =20
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NEWS BRIEFS =09
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UGANDA:
=93US Grants Uganda $200 Million for HIV/AIDS=94
Agence France Presse (11.01.04)
On Monday, the US Embassy in Kampala announced in a statement that t=
he United States has granted Uganda $200 million for HIV/AIDS programs. A=
s part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the US will giv=
e Uganda $100 million in new grants to support orphans and vulnerable chi=
ldren, the statement said. =93In addition, more than $100 million in Emer=
gency Plan funds have been allocated to Uganda during 2004 for new or con=
tinuing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs,=94 the statemen=
t continued. Five organizations currently active in Uganda =97 Africare, =
AVSI, Christian AIDS, Plan International and Salvation Army =97 won compe=
titive awards for the first $100 million grant.=20
ETHIOPIA:
=93Ethiopian Church Leaders Launch Anti-AIDS Campaign=94
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (10.30.04)
On Saturday, 26 prelates of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church departed o=
n a two-week tour of provinces in Oromiya and southern Ethiopia to raise =
awareness of HIV/AIDS. The tour is part of an interdenominational four-mo=
nth campaign launched by the National Anti-AIDS Secretariat to fight the =
epidemic. Later, leading Ethiopian Catholics, Protestants and Muslims wil=
l take the tour. On the current tour, members will advocate fidelity and =
caring for, rather than discriminating against, HIV-infected persons. The=
tour is being funded by the US Agency for International Development, the=
Packard Foundation and the International Union of Orthodox Churches.
TANZANIA:
=93AIDS May Hurt Tanzania's Productivity: Expert=94
Xinhua News Agency (11.01.04)
HIV/AIDS will cut Tanzania's productivity in certain economic sector=
s by as much as 20 percent between 2035 and 2049, according to Emmanuel H=
umba, director-general of the national insurance fund. Tanzania has lost =
13 percent of its workforce in agriculture, and 45 percent of HIV/AIDS-af=
fected households in rural areas said they have had to reduce areas under=
cultivation. Humba, whose remarks appeared in The Citizen newspaper, sai=
d HIV/AIDS patients occupy 60 percent of the hospital beds in Tanzania, w=
here life expectancy has fallen from 52 years to 46.
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CORRECTION: On Oct. 26, Prevention News Update summarized the article =93=
Chlamydia trachomatis Prevalence in Men in the Mid-West of Ireland=94 fro=
m the October 2004 issue of Sexually Transmitted Infections. The PNU loca=
tion headline above the study's title misidentified the nation where the =
research was conducted. The correct location was the Republic of Ireland,=
not the United Kingdom.
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