From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CDC Summary 10/9/92
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6299
Organization: unspecified
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 92 07:23:06 PDT

                         AIDS Daily Summary
                          October 9, 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 
************************************************************************
"Group With H.I.V. Has No Symptoms" New York Times (10/09/92), P. A17 
(Altman, Lawrence K.)
     Researchers have discovered five people who tested HIV-positive  but have
exhibited no signs of the disease 7 to 10 years later,  which indicates it was
a nonvirulent strain.  The five  HIV-positive individuals all were infected
through tainted blood  transfusions from one donor, according to a report
published in  tomorrow's Lancet.  In addition, the donor was a symptomless 
carrier of HIV.  The authors, from Sydney, Australia, said it is  the first
report to indicate that nonvirulent strains of HIV  continue to be nonvirulent
after being transmitted to other  people.  However, it is unknown whether the
donor or any  recipients will eventually develop AIDS, because the time for 
progression from infection to disease varies.  The study is also  the first to
report blood or blood products from a single donor  infecting a group of
recipients with all parties remaining free  of symptoms and having normal
results from standard tests of  immune function like CD-4 count.  Moreover,
the donor and the  blood transfusion recipients did not take AZT to treat
their  infections.  The authors said they were reporting the unusual 
occurrence to prompt other scientists to look for similar  instances, because
the results might eventually prove significant in the development of an AIDS
vaccine.  Dr. James W. Curran, a  leading AIDS official at the Centers for
Disease Control, said  the unusually long time over which the recipients have 
demonstrated no symptoms is unlike the normal pattern among  transfusion
recipients, who experience a quicker progression to  AIDS than those who
contract HIV through sexual intercourse. 

"Bound by the Thread of Humanity" Washington Post (10/09/92), P. A1 
(Thompson, Tracy)
     This weekend the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed on the  mall in
Washington, D.C., and is expected to draw many people who wish to commemorate
those who died of AIDS.  The Quilt, which  covers the size of 12 football
fields, is a massive memorial to  26,988 AIDS patients who have died.  In 1981
when the disease was first discovered, it appeared virulent and horrifying. 
Now, 11  years later, it is still virulent and frighteningly terminal.  
However, after it has claimed 152,000 American Lives--4,519 in  the Washington
area alone--it is somehow more a part of our  lives, familiar to middle-class
families and inner-city teenagers alike.  Nearly half of all AIDS patients in
the Washington area  are between 30 and 39 years old.  Approximately 1.5
million  people in the United States are infected with HIV.  Those who are
covered by health insurance can significantly prolong their lives by obtaining
new drugs early in infection.  But for those who are poor or non-English
speaking--those who are out of the  information stream---AIDS is still quick
and lethal.

"House Panel Asserts Delay on AIDS Report Is Political" Washington Post
(10/09/92), P. A25  (Thompson, Tracy)
     The Bush administration was criticized by a congressional  subcommittee
yesterday for allegedly postponing the publication  of a new surgeon general's
report on AIDS for more than a year  because of fears that its candid language
would offend  conservative voters before the Nov. 3 election.  A draft of the 
unreleased report, the first to be issued by the surgeon general  on AIDS
since 1988, uses explicit language on sexual practices,  in addition to
information not known in 1988 about how HIV is  transmitted.  The House
Government Operations subcommittee on  human resources and intergovernmental
relations released a report yesterday that quoted Frederick Kroger, head of
the AIDS  education program at the Centers for Disease Control, as telling 
the subcommittee staff last May that the revised AIDS report was  "being held
until after the election."  The subcommittee report  said Kroger's statement
suggested that the update, circulated for review nine months ago, was being
delayed "for political  reasons."  The panel's report said, "It is
unconscionable to  withhold from the American public [information] that could 
potentially save many lives."  However, a spokeswoman for Surgeon General
Antonia C. Novello said this week that the AIDS update,  entitled "Preventing
HIV Infection and AIDS: What Everyone Should Know," was being updated to
include references to basketball star Magic Johnson, who announced last year
that he tested  HIV-positive, as well as to incorporate information that was 
released at this year's AIDS conference in Amsterdam.  The  spokeswoman said
the delay was not politically motivated. 

"Norfolk Homeless Shelter Tells Victim of AIDS Virus to Leave" Richmond
Times-Dispatch (10/09/92), P. B3
     An HIV-positive homeless man says he was told to leave a Norfolk, Va.,
shelter this week after he disclosed his condition.  David  Murray, who was
diagnosed with HIV infection in January and moved into Union Mission in July,
said, "I feel like this just isn't  right.  I don't know about the law or
anything, but I know there  is something wrong with this."  However, the Rev.
Ted Bashford,  the mission's executive director, advocated the shelter's
policy. He said that since it is a private organization it can set its  own
administration rules.  He said, "Basically, we'd rather not  have them in
here.  We have to consider the whole program that  we're here for.  We have to
look out for the welfare of  everybody, not just one man."  Bashford said that
many of the  200-275 people in his shelter do not understand the disease and 
are afraid of it.  He added that he questions medical research  that states
how the virus is transmitted and its progression to  full-blown AIDS. 
Bashford said there should be a place for AIDS  patients to "live their last
days in serenity and peace, but it's not the Union Mission."  David Gilooley,
executive director of  the Tidewater AIDS Crisis Task Force, said 130 of his
676 clients are homeless.  He said other shelters do not prohibit 
HIV-positive patients as the Union Mission does, but he  recommends to his
clients that they not mention their condition. 

"HemaCare Stock Up on Positive Test Results" United Press International
(10/08/92)
     Los Angeles--Following the disclosure of positive results in  Hemacare
Inc.'s clinical trial of Passive Hyperimmune Therapy  treatment for AIDS
patients, the company's stock escalated  Thursday.  The Los Angeles-based
company's stock increased from  $1.875 to $7.875 a share in over-the-counter
trading soon after  the announcement.  Hemacare said its research from a
12-month  study verified the findings of its 6-month interim analysis 
reported last March, which demonstrated how its therapy enhances  survival and
maintains the ability of the immune system in  patients with T4 lymphocyte
counts above specific levels.  The  therapy is considered by Hemacare as a
potential treatment for  AIDS.  It involves the monthly infusion of high
levels of  anti-HIV antibody plasma from asymptomatic HIV-positive people.  
The company said that one in 20 patients in the group receiving  the full
strength treatment died during the trial, whereas in the group receiving
placebo treatment five people died.  Hemacare  said it expects to release the
data from the test to the  California State Department of Health Services as
part of an  application for a Phase III test of as many as 1,000 patients. 

"Consumer Commissioner Hit Stores for Hiding Condoms" United Press
International (10/08/92)
     New York--Consumer Affairs Commissioner Mark Green yesterday  accused New
York stores that keep condoms behind the counter or  in closed display cases
of practicing "bad health and bad  business."  Green said a departmental
survey of 150 stores  demonstrated that more than 50 percent of them kept
condoms out  of reach, and added that the sale of condoms in these stores 
hasn't changed much in 50 years.  He said, "Not using a condom in 1992 can
have much more serious implications than not using one  in 1942.  We can't
allow the morality of the Victorian era to  control condom sales in the AIDS
era."  Green added that the head of one major drug store chain told his
investigators that the  sales may decrease by as much as 50 percent if condoms
are kept  behind the counter.  He said the investigation showed that chain 
stores, such as Pathmark, Genovese, and Love, are more inclined  to keep
condoms in the open, while independent stores require  customers to ask a
sales clerk for assistance.  A Bronx  pharmacist told DCA investigators, "A
lot of old people come in  here, and nuns, and they might be offended."  Green
said that the pharmacists added that other druggists indicated they were 
located in a "right-to-life" neighborhood.  Green said stores  where
assistance is required in purchasing condoms accounted for  55 percent of
those surveyed in Manhattan, 57 percent in  Brooklyn, 67 percent in Queens,
and 68 percent in the Bronx.  He  added that only in Staten Island were these
stores a minority. 

"Clinic Opening Slated" American Medical News (10/05/92) Vol. 35, No. 37, P. 19
     A clinic designed to treat HIV-positive patients is opening in 
Washington County, Ark., home to the second-largest group of  HIV-positive
people in the state of Arkansas. 

"Clinic on Critical List" American Medical News (10/05/92) Vol. 35, No. 37, P.
19
     The first home for AIDS patients in Mississippi may be closed due to poor
management and financial programs.  Eddie Sandifer,  executive director of the
Mississippi Gay/Lesbian Alliance, after which the house was named, said
conditions at the Sandifer House  have worsened and there is no money
available to make  improvements. 

"Home for Children" American Medical News (10/05/92) Vol. 35, No. 37, P. 19
     Boston city officials opened a house to be used as New England's  first
home for children with AIDS.  The 10,000-square-foot  facility will house 12
children with AIDS and offer day care  services for 25 more.  Currently, there
are 38 children in Boston with AIDS, which makes it fifth among the major
American cities  in the rate of pediatric AIDS, according to the Centers for 
Disease Control. 

"AIDS Speakers OK'd" American Medical News (10/05/92) Vol. 35, No. 37, P. 19
     High schools in Spokane, Wash., may invite AIDS patients to speak to
students about the disease.  A unanimous vote by the school  board allowed the
Spokane AIDS Network and county Health District volunteers to be added to the
list of approved classroom  speakers.  Any AIDS patient who speaks to the
students will be  accompanied by a public-health educator. 

"Second Opinion" American Medical News (10/05/92) Vol. 35, No. 37, P. 19
     A Los Angeles school district panel is reviewing a Magic Johnson  AIDS
video that was rejected earlier by another committee.  The  first committee
felt the 42-minute "Time Out: The Truth About  HIV, AIDS, and You" was too
long for use in classrooms.  The  group also considered the language
inappropriate and the  structure poorly defined. 

"Condom Approval" American Medical News (10/05/92) Vol. 35, No. 37, P. 19
     Most participants in a Rapid City, S.D., newspaper call-in poll  said
they support the distribution of condoms in public schools  to help prevent
HIV infection and teenage pregnancies.  Recently, a national poll found that
68 percent of respondents favored  distribution of condoms in their public
schools.