From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CDC Summary 11/17/92
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6467
Organization: unspecified
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 08:05:50 PST

                       AIDS Daily Summary
                        November 17, 1992 
 The Centers for Disease Control (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. Copyright 1992, 
Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD 
************************************************************************
 "News of Celebrities With AIDS Boosts HIV Testing" Washington Post 
(Health) (11/17/92), P. 5  (Colburn, Don) 
Researchers have discovered that when public figures reveal their HIV-
positive status, the public tends to get tested for HIV in greater 
numbers.  Four officials at the Orange County Health Care Agency in 
Santa Ana, Calif., documented the correlation and reported it in a 
letter to the New England Journal of Medicine. They found that as a 
public figure disclosed being HIV-positive or having AIDS, the number of 
HIV tests per month increased significantly.  In the letter they said, 
"Although unauthorized disclosure of a celebrity's HIV status is both 
illegal and immoral, the preventive power of disclosures by well-known 
persons is difficult (and perhaps unwise) to ignore."  The first notable 
rise came in October 1985, after actor Rock Hudson disclosed he had 
AIDS--in what the Orange County officials consider "perhaps the first 
major shock produced by the epidemic  within American popular culture."  
The next increases coincided  with the death of pianist Liberace, the 
illness of California tax revolt leader Paul Gann, the revelation by 
basketball star Magic  Johnson that he tested HIV-positive, and the 
disclosure by Arthur Ashe that he has AIDS.  The letter indicated that 
Johnson's  disclosure helped substantially increase demand for HIV 
testing  among two overlapping groups at high risk for HIV infection, 
the  young and racial minorities.  The authors said in the letter,  "The 
more frequently members of America's royal family choose to  alarm and 
motivate the public about AIDS through personal  disclosure, the more 
successful will be our national effort to  control this disease." 

"AIDS Deaths Tear at Figure-Skating World" New York Times (11/17/92), P. 
A1  (Bondy, Filip) 
Figure skating has been hard hit by the AIDS epidemic.  In the  last 12 
months, three world class Canadian figure skaters have  died of the 
disease, and a British former Olympic champion skater announced he has 
AIDS.  Tracy Wilson of Canada, who won a bronze  medal in ice dancing in 
the 1988 Winter Olympics with Rob McCall, who died of AIDS last 
November, said, "I've lost three skating  friends to AIDS, and you can 
safely assume there are others out  there who have the disease and 
aren't talking about it."  If a  skater discloses he or she is HIV-
positive or has AIDS, there is  more than just a loss of privacy.  The 
disclosure also brings  along the strong possibility of loss of 
endorsements from  sponsors and increased difficulties when crossing 
international  borders for competitions.  John Curry, the former world 
and  Olympic champion from Britain, announced last month that he was  
suffering from AIDS and that he was returning to his home in  England.  
Paul George, who represents the United States Figure  Skating 
Association on the United States Olympic Committee Board  of Directors, 
said he was shocked by Curry's recent announcement. "It made me think 
that we should redouble our education efforts.  We have an obligation to 
our young athletes," he said.  George  added that the United States 
association's official magazine,  Skating, will soon publish an article 
on the disease.  Also,  there will be a greater focus on the disease in 
seminars and  educational programs for junior skaters. 

"Sex Businesses to Get Tougher Anti-AIDS Rules" Philadelphia Inquirer 
(11/17/92), P. B2  (Copeland, Larry) 
Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell has directed the city health  department 
to develop new guidelines for AIDS prevention measures in public 
bathhouses, adult bookstores, theaters, massage  parlors, and escort 
services.  The new regulations will possibly  include monthly visits by 
a Health Department-sanctioned  inspector to each of the establishments.  
Violators will be cited and repeat offenders could be closed down.  
Deputy Health  Commissioner Donna Gentile O'Donnell will execute the 
program.   Rendell revealed the policy changes last week in response to  
recommendations by his Task Force on AIDS Prevention in  Commercial Sex 
Establishments.  It is unclear precisely how many  establishments will 
be covered under the new standards.  The  Health Department's effort 
includes taking an inventory of such  businesses.  The task force 
recommended that the city incorporate new, detailed regulations on 
cleanliness, lighting, and  compliance with occupancy, building, and 
fire codes.  Also, it  advised the city to eliminate structural designs 
that promote  anonymous sex or sex with multiple partners.  Latex 
condoms and  safe sex instructions should be made available to all 
customers,  the task force said.  In addition, drugs and alcohol at the  
businesses should be prohibited, and safer-sex videos should be  
provided for screening by all customers.  Moreover, the task  force 
recommended that training for all employees of the  establishments 
should be required "to enable them to assess  patrons and to identify 
unsafe behaviors." 

"AIDS Virus Survives More Than 21 Hours After Death of Victim" United 
Press International (11/16/92) 
Evergreen Park, Ill.--HIV can apparently survive for more than 21 hours 
in the blood of an infected person who has died, according  to a study 
that was sponsored by a morticians' group and was  revealed at the fall 
meeting of the American Society for  Microbiology.  Scientists at the 
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's  Medical Center in Chicago, Ill., examined 
blood samples form 41  deceased AIDS patients provided by area 
morticians.  The  researchers were able to identify HIV from the blood 
of 21 of the bodies for up to 21.25 hours after they had died, but not 
after  that time period, they said.  The Funeral Directors Services  
Association of Greater Chicago said that due to the results of  the 
study, funeral directors should hold the bodies of  HIV-positive people 
for 24 hours before processing them to reduce the risk of spreading the 
virus.  Dr. Harold Kessler, who  presented the study, said, "For unknown 
reasons, the viability of the virus appears to be time-dependent 
following death.  We were  still able to isolate the virus up to 21.25 
hours after a  patient's death."  He added that refrigeration does not 
seem to  affect the virus' survival. 

"Dr. Peter Jepson-Young, 35, Dies; Educated Canadians About AIDS" New 
York Times (11/17/92), P. D21  (Farnsworth, Clyde H.) 
Dr. Peter Jepson-Young, a Canadian physician who helped educate  other 
Canadians about AIDS, died of the disease on Sunday in  Vancouver.  Dr. 
Jepson-Young helped fight stereotypes and  misunderstandings about AIDS 
through his candid television  discussions of his own battle with the 
disease.  He was known to  millions of Canadians as Dr. Peter, and 
broadcast more than 100  segments of his "AIDS Diaries" over the last 
two years.  He was  believed to be one of the nation's most effective 
educators on  the disease.  The "AIDS Diaries" segments lasted three 
minutes  each and were shown by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 
with the evening news.  He let his audience know what it was like to  
experience AIDS and its complications in the segments.  Once he  
described what Kaposi's sarcoma was like.  He said, "This is what a 
typical K.S. lesion looks like."  He added that it felt "like  shin 
splints."  He also told the audience that blindness was,  "like a thick 
gray fog."  Dr. Jepson-Young learned that he was  HIV-positive in 1986.  
He summed up the objective of his  television segments: "If I have 
managed to reach out and educate  people, to touch them and perhaps 
change their viewpoint about  people with AIDS and gay people, then I 
think that will be my  greatest contribution."  His sister, Nancy 
Hennessy, has  announced the establishment of the Dr. Peter AIDS 
Foundation,  designed to improve the quality of life for other AIDS 
patients.  Related Story: Toronto Globe and Mail (11/16) P.A6 

"Yeast Infections May Signal AIDS-Virus Infection, Government  Warns" 
United Press International (11/16/92) 
Washington--Vaginal yeast infections that are recurrent or  persistent 
may be an early warning of infection with HIV,  according to federal 
health officials.  Approximately 13 million  cases of vaginal yeast 
infections, also known as vaginal fungal  infections or vaginal 
candidiasis, are reported each year in the  United States.  Officials 
said, however, that most women who  experience such infections are not 
co-infected with HIV.  Dr.  James Mason, assistant secretary of health 
and human services,  said, "But any woman at risk for AIDS should be 
aware of the  possibility that recurrent or stubborn cases of vaginal  
candidiasis sometimes may be an early sign of infection with  [HIV] and 
should check with a doctor."  Recent studies suggest  that recurrent or 
frequent cases of vaginal candidiasis are the  most common initial signs 
of HIV infection in women, said  officials.  One study demonstrated that 
among women whose immune  systems had been suppressed by HIV, 38 percent 
suffered recurring or persistent cases of vaginal candidiasis as their 
first  symptom.  Consequently, the Food and Drug Administration has  
ordered drug companies that make non-prescription drugs for yeast 
infections to include a new label warning women who are at risk  for HIV 
and experience frequent or persistent yeast infections to see a doctor. 

"Taupin's Wish Will Be Realized at Star-Filled AIDS Benefit" Los Angeles 
Times--Washington Edition (11/17/92), P. B9   (Fox, David J.) 
The AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) will host a "Commitment to  Life" 
benefit that will honor Barbara Streisand and show-business mogul David 
Geffen for their efforts on behalf of AIDS causes.   The first half of 
the program will include acoustic sets, and the second half will feature 
songs from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story."  
Those who are expected to  participate in the show are Elton John, 
Wynonna Judd, Kenny  Loggins, Billy Joel, Eddie Van Halen, Natalie Cole, 
Patti  LaBelle, Barbara Streisand, and Johnny Mathis.  It will be held  
Wednesday at the Universal Amphitheatre in Hollywood, Calif.   Bernie 
Taupin, the lyricist who planned the show, said he ran  into few 
difficulties when calling the stars.  "Basically, I just got on the 
phone and called favors on people.  And everybody was  extraordinary 
about it.  I mean, I didn't have to fight," he  said.  Few tickets for 
the show were available by late last week. APLA reports that about 6,500 
tickets at prices ranging from $50  to $1,000 each were sold well in 
advance of the show.  With all  of the celebrities and talent, the 
sellout indicates that more  than $2 million will be raised for APLA, 
exceeding last year's  total of $1.3 million. 

"Name an AIDS High Command" New York Times (11/15/92), P. 19  (Kramer, 
Larry) 
President-elect Bill Clinton needs to appoint more than just an  AIDS 
czar to deal with the epidemic, writes Larry Kramer, a  playwright and 
founder of Gay Men's Health Crisis and ACT-UP.   The new president must 
formulate a list of unanswered questions  regarding AIDS.  He must also 
identify the top researchers in the world who are best able and most 
qualified to investigate and  research such unanswered questions.  
Kramer adds that Clinton  must establish a joint chiefs of staff for 
AIDS, much like any  other war.  The joint chiefs would comprise the 
AIDS czar and the chiefs of AIDS research, drug development, drug 
approvals, and  clinical trials.  The czar would cope with the 
overwhelming  nonresearch problems: insurance, Medicare, education,  
immigration, discrimination, and needle exchange, to name a few.  Kramer 
suggests that Dr. David Baltimore should be made chief of  AIDS 
research.  Dr. Baltimore has won a Nobel Prize for a  discovery that has 
greatly advanced AIDS research and believes  the disease is curable.  
Moreover, Kramer recommends Dr. P. Roy  Vagelos for chief of drug and 
vaccine development.  Vagelos is  the head of pharmaceutical company 
Merck and is greatly respected by his peers.  Dr. David Kessler of the 
Food and Drug  Administration should be made chief of drug approvals, 
Kramer  feels, and Adm. James Watkins, who served on Ronald Reagan's  
Presidential Commission on AIDS, should be made chief whip.   Kramer 
concludes that all AIDS research should be consolidated  because it is 
senseless to have different branches of the  government conducting the 
same experiments. 

"Is There No More Magic?" Newsweek (11/16/92) Vol. 120, No. 20, P. 91  
(Deford, Frank) 
Magic Johnson has recently discovered what it is really like to  be HIV-
positive in American society.  Johnson rescinded his  decision to return 
to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this month  following accusations that 
he is bisexual, fear of the rejection  of NBA players, and a $2 million 
lawsuit filed against him from a one-time lover who accuses him of 
infecting her with HIV.  A  woman known only as Jane Doe is seeking $2 
million from Johnson,  which threatens most to damage the reputation of 
a man who is  probably the most renowned athlete in all of the world.  
Doe  wrote a letter to Johnson dated Aug. 29, 1991, which is six weeks 
before he underwent an HIV test for a life-insurance policy.  In  it, 
she said, "I have no idea when the bottom will fall out, so I must 
prepare now.  So you see, I can't be a silent voice any  longer, not 
even for you, Baby Boy."  The woman, a health-office  worker, argues in 
the letter that she could have contracted the  virus only from Johnson.  
She writes that she had tested  HIV-negative three times beginning in 
1986.  She added that she  had not been intimate with any man for eight 
months before their  liaison in June 1990.  But Johnson's attorney, 
Howard Weitzman,  indicates that she has been promiscuous and could have 
contracted HIV "from any number of men."  The woman allegedly tried to  
contact Johnson via telephone after she discovered her infection  in 
1991.  But Johnson never followed-up on her phone call and  denied ever 
receiving the letter through a spokesman.  The woman, however, said 
Johnson told her that he had read the letter and  said, "But I can't be 
sick. Look at me."  Subsequently, he tested positive for HIV when 
applying for a life-insurance policy.

"HIV-Infected Protected Under Human Rights Act" American Medical News 
(11/09/92) Vol. 35, No. 42, P. 36 
HIV-positive people are protected by anti-discrimination terms of 
Minnesota's Human Rights Act, ruled the state Court of Appeals.   A 
three-judge panel unanimously decided that a dentist unlawfully 
discriminated against an HIV-positive man by referring him  elsewhere 
for dental care.  Erica Jacobson, a special assistant  attorney general 
who represented the state Human Rights Dept.,  said the ruling "places 
upon the health care provider or employer the obligation to base his 
decision on competent medical  opinion."  The case was brought against 
Minneapolis dentist  Donald J. Clausen, DDS.  Minneapolis attorney 
Jeffrey Sikkema,  who represented Dr. Clausen, said it's too early to 
say if the  case will be appealed higher.  The case was filed by a man 
known  only as J.B. who had been Dr. Clausen's patient since 1986.  J.B. 
had disclosed his HIV status in February 1989 and revealed in  March 
1990 that he was taking AZT.  Dr. Clausen canceled a  September 1990 
appointment that J.B. had made for a routine  examination and referred 
him to the University of Minnesota,  which at that time treated HIV-
positive patients in isolation  rooms.  Dr. Clausen said at a hearing 
before an administrative  law judge that he believed he should refer 
HIV-positive patients  to protect them and because of his lack of 
knowledge about AIDS.  Two experts for the state testified that there 
was no  medically-based reason to treat HIV-positive patients in  
isolation rooms and no medical reason for a dentist who uses  universal 
precautions to refer an HIV-positive patient. 

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