From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CDC Summary 11/6/92
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6421
Organization: unspecified
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 08:29:33 PST

                         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. 

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