                     AIDS Daily Summary
                      December 9, 1993 


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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, and the CDC
Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information.
Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD

 
"More Than 50,000 Filipinos Infected With HIV" 
United Press International (12/08/93) 
     Manila--More than 50,000 Filipinos are believed to be infected  
with the AIDS virus, "although only 500 know about their  
conditions because they have been tested," reported Health  
Secretary Juan Flavier.  He also said that there are 111 reported 
cases of full-blown AIDS, and that the death toll from the  
disease is now at 72.  Health officials have warned that the  
country could experience an AIDS crisis similar to that in  
Thailand which, like the Philippines, has a large population of  
returning overseas contract workers who are considered at high  
risk for the virus.  Prostitution is also rampant in the  
Philippines and, because many brothels are run clandestinely, it  
is even more difficult to monitor the spread of the disease. 
       
"HIV-Tainted Blood Victim Files Lawsuit" 
Reuters (12/08/93)  (Willmer, Tanya) 
     Toronto--A woman, one of hundreds of Canadians who contracted the 
AIDS virus from contaminated blood, has launched a class action  
lawsuit accusing the Canadian Red Cross and the Ontario  
government of negligence.  According to attorney Michael  
Peerless, the action will be open to all hemophiliacs and blood  
transfusion patients who believe they were infected by tainted  
blood between 1978 and 1989, as well as their families or  
caregivers.  Peerless said he believes there are only a handful  
of other HIV-related class actions around the globe.  No specific 
damages have been sought because the amount depends on the number 
of people who become involved.  But John Plater, chairman of  
Ontario's Hemophilia's compensation task force, says that the  
suit could present a dilemma for some infected people.  They will 
have to choose between the compensation package offered by the  
government--which means waiving the right to litigate--and  
becoming part of the class action.  Authorities have set a March  
15 deadline for infected Canadians to apply for the $113- million 
compensation deal. 
       
"'Artists for AIDS' Crafts Show and Sale Featuring 43 Artists'  
Work for Sale to Benefit ActionAIDS" 
Business Wire (12/08/93) 
     The city of Philadelphia will host the "Artists for AIDS" Crafts  
Show and Sale, to benefit ActionAIDS, from Dec. 10-12.  The event 
features the sale of work by 43 artists.  Also for sale is  
"Brothers and Sisters," a two-volume compilation disc of more  
than 30 Philadelphia musical and performing artists.  Opening  
night of the craft show spotlights eight top-notch local chefs,  
gourmet food samples, and entertainment from an electric  
violinist, as well as classical and flamenco guitarists.  Twenty  
percent of the proceeds from the craft sale will directly benefit 
ActionAIDS programs. 
       
"Trinity Biotech Commences Shipment of HIV 1/2 Test to India;  
Completes Trial in Bangladesh" 
PR Newswire (12/08/93) 
     Dublin, Ireland--Trinity Biotech, an Ireland-based diagnostics  
company, announced that it has shipped an initial order of HIV  
1/2 SeroCard tests to two Indian-based distributors, Nicco Corp.  
and Stangen Immunodiagnostics.  "This is an initial order to  
allow our distributors to commence activity in the important HIV  
arena," said Vice Chairman Michael Hubbard.  The company also  
reported that it has received approval of the SeroCard in  
Bangladesh, India.  A study conducted there by the Institute of  
Epidemiology Disease Control Research recorded 100 percent  
specificity and 100 percent sensitivity of the product.  Beximco, 
Trinity's local distributor, is expected to place its first order 
soon.  Broadwell Enterprises, Trinity's distributor in Iran, from 
whom it has also received product registration, expects to place  
orders before the end of this year.  "We have great confidence in 
the performance of the Trinity product and thus in the growth of  
future orders," declared Hubbard. 
       
"AIDS Anxiety Heightened by Accidental Cases" 
Reuters (12/07/93)  (Frank, Jacqueline) 
     Washington--AIDS patients feared renewed social stigma following  
two widely publicized reports of accidental transmission of the  
virus between young people, but were pleased to see health  
authorities act swiftly to mitigate public concern.  Within days, 
representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and the  
National Institutes of Health reassured the public that no new  
method of transmission was involved, and reaffirmed the need for  
schools, families, and caregivers to adhere to proper hygiene,  
including avoidance of contact with the blood of an infected  
individual.  AIDS experts said that people with AIDS had cause to 
be anxious about the impact of the reports on the stigma  
associated with the disease.  "As much as one would comment that  
this is a rare event and is not a new method of transmission, it  
is understandable that it makes people anxious," explained Dr. S. 
Kenneth Schonberg of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  But,  
according to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation in California, the  
hysteria observed regarding early cases of AIDS has not been seen 
recently in schools and day care centers.  Carol Perlman of the  
foundation says the tendency of people today not to panic may  
reflect better public awareness of how the virus is transmitted.  
Still, says Perlman, "there are a lot of families in hiding for  
fear of not being accepted." 
       
"Families Around the World Devastated by AIDS" 
United Press International (12/07/93) 
     United Nations--The General Assembly of the United Nations on  
Tuesday kicked off the International Year of the Family in 1994  
with a warning from the United States that families worldwide are 
being torn apart from the force of the AIDS epidemic.  "AIDS is  
devastating families and orphaning thousands of children," said  
Health and Human Resources Secretary Donna E. Shalala in the  
opening comments.  "The Year of the Family should serve as a  
constant reminder to us to think about the needs of families as  
we do our jobs."  Shalala noted that the disease is infecting  
increasing numbers of children and adolescents and destroying  
family ties at a time when the international community is  
struggling to preserve them. 
       
"AIDS Exposure" 
Associated Press (12/07/93)  (Williams, Michelle) 
     Chattanooga, Tenn.--Richard Lewis Williams, accused of  
intentionally exposing four women to the AIDS virus, will be  
obliged to inform future sexual partners of his condition in a  
written statement, a copy of which must be sent to District  
Attorney John Bobo's office.  Williams, 27, accepted these  
criteria as conditions of a plea bargain reached Tuesday,  
following his guilty plea to three of four charges of aggravated  
assault.  He admitted having unprotected sex with four women from 
1990 to 1992, although he was infected with the AIDS virus.   
According to Bobo, Williams denied being HIV-positive when one of 
the women questioned him about it.  Under the agreement, Williams 
was handed a sentence of 15 years probation in lieu of prison  
time.  He will not, however, be able to purchase a car, switch  
jobs, or change residence without notifying a probation officer.  
If he does, says Bobo, "his probation would be revoked and he'd  
serve prison time."  Deliberate exposure of someone to the AIDS  
virus is not a specific crime in Tennessee, said Bobo; however,  
legislation taking effect in April will require the state  
Department of Health to quarantine or isolate people who  
knowingly expose others to communicable diseases, including AIDS. 
       
"'Philadelphia' Premieres to Benefit AIDS Organizations in Three  
Cities" 
PR Newswire (12/08/93) 
     Culver City, Calif.--Tristar Pictures will donate proceeds from  
separate premieres of "Philadelphia," a hard-hitting drama with  
AIDS at its core, to three major AIDS service organizations,  
announced Tristar Chairman Mike Medavoy.  The first premiere will 
take place Dec. 14 in Los Angeles, and will benefit AIDS Project  
Los Angeles, one of the premiere AIDS service organizations in  
the country.  APLA provides educational awareness programs,  
public policy programs to increase government funding, assistance 
to over 3,900 people living with the AIDS virus, and advocacy for 
people with the disease.  "Philadelphia" will debut in New York  
on Dec. 16, with proceeds going to the American Foundation for  
AIDS Research.  AmFAR is America's leading non-profit  
organization dedicated to biomedical and clinical AIDS research,  
and has provided more than $65 million to over 1,300 research  
teams conducting this research.  The final benefit premiere is  
scheduled for Dec. 17 in Philadelphia.  The film will raise money 
for the Philadelphia AIDS Consortium, which serves as the federal 
government's HIV Services Planning Council as well as  
Pennsylvania's HIV Services Planning Coalition for the southeast  
portion of the state.  "Philadelphia" will open in Los Angeles,  
New York, and Toronto on Dec. 22, and in the rest of the United  
States and Canada on Jan. 14. 
       
"New York Bar Proposes AIDS Law Changes" 
National Law Journal (11/22/93) Vol. 16, No. 12, P. 6 
     Earlier this month, the policy-setting House of Delegates of the  
New York State Bar Association approved a report recommending  
widespread legislative changes that would provide new protection  
for HIV-infected people before the courts, on the job, and at  
home.  The recommendations range from keeping AIDS-infected  
people out of prison to prohibiting discrimination against gays  
seeking insurance.  They also include adding safeguards to  
protect the identity of blood donors, and limiting the  
admissibility of HIV status in divorce proceedings.  In addition, 
the proposal aims to make it easier for people with chronic  
illness to qualify for Medicaid home care, and to crack down on  
enforcement of labor laws banning discrimination against  
HIV-infected persons.  The changes are necessary to protect the  
rights and confidentiality of the increasing number of  
HIV-infected New Yorkers, said Steven Kessler, co-chairman of the 
bar committee that wrote the report. 
       
"Dossier: Rubber Tree" 
Advocate (11/30/93) No. 643, P. 8 
     Lynn Weihrauch, a public health nurse in Nashua, N.H., apologized 
for an AIDS prevention program in which outreach workers tied  
packets containing condoms and HIV testing information to trees.  
The "rubber trees" were strategically located in a park infamous  
for drug deals and prostitution.  Parkgoers, however, protested  
that the condoms offended them, and city park officials responded 
by removing the latex.  "Our commitment is to try to keep this  
AIDS epidemic under control," explained Weihrauch.  "We're not  
out to offend anybody.  We may make mistakes along the way, but  
our intentions are for the best." 
       
