NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/sci/med/aids/2016

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Subject: CDC Summary 11/17/92
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                       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.