                     AIDS Daily Summary
                     December 13, 1993 


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS
Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public
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Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD

 
"U.N. Agency Reports AIDS Virus Spreading Very Quickly in Africa" 
New York Times (12/13/93) P. B8 
     Some 2 million additional people contracted the AIDS virus in the 
last year, most of them in Africa, where the teenagers and young  
adults are being infected at a distressing rate, reported the  
World Health Organization.  Nearly 70 percent of the world's HIV  
population is in Africa and 60 percent of new infections are  
among people aged 15 to 24, cited Dr. Michael Merson,  
director-general of WHO's global AIDS program.  "This  
demonstrates the vulnerability of Africa's youth and shows us  
where to focus our prevention efforts," declared Merson, citing  
migration and population displacements due to civil strife as  
partially responsible for the AIDS crisis in Africa.  Merson made 
his comments at the opening of the eighth annual International  
Conference on AIDS in Africa, which was attended by some 3,500  
medical researchers, sociologists, health officials, AIDS  
activists, and artists representing 40 countries. 
       
"Penn Enrolling Subjects for Testing of HIV Drug" 
Philadelphia Inquirer (12/11/93) P. B2 
     The University of Pennsylvania is currently enrolling  
HIV-infected patients with T-cell counts lower than 400 and high  
HIV antibodies to participate in the trial of an experimental  
drug that aims to prevent cell-to-cell transmission of the AIDS  
virus.  Labeled L-735,524, the compound inhibits the protease  
enzyme that is used by the virus to replicate.  The drug was  
developed by Merck & Co., and is also being tested in four other  
school-based clinics. 
       
"Second Wave of AIDS Feared by Officials in San Francisco" 
New York Times (12/11/93) P. 1  (Gross, Jane) 
     In the gay capital of the United States, San Francisco, health  
officials fear the city may be headed for a second wave of AIDS  
infections.  Many gay men--numb from loss, pessimistic about  
their own survival, unwilling to face some sexual deprivation,  
and eager for the attention bestowed on those ill or dying--are  
again engaging in unprotected anal intercourse, which behavior  
experts say is boosting infection rates.  Ron Stall, a behavioral 
epidemiologist, and other experts discovered a rising infection  
rate and a disturbing level of unsafe sex in their combined  
reading of epidemiological data.  Among every 100 uninfected gay  
men in San Francisco, there were 18 new cases of infection in  
1982.  That number fell to one in 1985, but has been bumped back  
up to two--four among men under age 25.  This, insist experts, is 
the clearest indication of a corresponding increase in unsafe  
sexual behavior.  While it is now common knowledge that anal  
intercourse without condoms spreads AIDS, surveys show that one  
in every three gay men is still engaging in unsafe sex.  Lack of  
information does not account for the problem.  Experts cite  
emotional factors as possible explanations, including depression  
and feelings that the disease is unavoidable. 
       
"U.S. to Crack Down on Tainted Tissue Transplants" 
Reuters (12/10/93)  (Trautman, Robert) 
     Washington--The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced  
a crackdown against trade in contaminated human bones and tissue  
for transplants that could cause AIDS or hepatitis.  The FDA is  
issuing regulations to require that American tissue banks ensure  
adequate screening of these products, said FDA Commissioner David 
Kessler, citing potentially infectious tissue from cadavers  
imported from at least six sources in Russia and eastern Europe.  
Two FDA agents discovered that two small tissue banks, Kalev USA  
of Los Angeles and Flark Medical Inc. of Detroit, received bodies 
from these regions.  One blood sample that the agents bought from 
the companies tested positive for hepatitis.  According to  
Kessler, the firms handled only about 200 cadavers, a small  
percentage of the national total.  Although the risk of disease  
transmission through cadavers is small, said Kessler, "the  
potential of tissues to transmit infectious diseases must be  
thoroughly guarded against."  FDA officials said they had no  
documentation of infections from previous transplants.  The  
Center for Infectious Diseases, however, has cited cases of HIV  
from organs transplanted during the six-month incubation period  
between when HIV is contracted and when it can be detected in  
tests. 
       
"'Proof Positive' Captures a Good Life, Despite HIV" 
Baltimore Sun (12/11/93) P. 5D  (Dorsey, John) 
     Through Jan. 15, Maryland Art Place in Baltimore, Md., will  
feature "Proof Positive: Five Photographic Interpretations of  
Life with HIV."  The AIDS exhibit displays pictures taken by five 
photographers, and the content varies.  Some of the subjects are  
HIV-positive; some have progressed to full-blown AIDS, some have  
not.  The content is reflective not only of the dual nature of  
the show, but of the disease.  Jack Radcliffe's work, for  
instance, creates an indelible and devastating impression through 
his images of AIDS patients, while Cary Beth Cryor's "Throne of  
Resistance" focuses instead on the images of infected persons who 
continue to lead productive lives.  According to curators Connie  
Imboden and Jose Villarrubia, the exhibit is about living and  
intends to show that "there can be a positive outlook to the  
lives of those affected with HIV." 
       
"A 'Messiah' for Kids With AIDS" 
Boston Globe (12/10/93) P. 67  (Dyer, Richard) 
     Sing-along "Messiahs" have become increasingly popular during the 
holiday season, and one scheduled for Dec. 20 will benefit  
youngsters infected the AIDS virus.  The "Messiah for Hope"  
performance, accompanied by members of the New England  
Philharmonic, will donate proceeds to Boston's Children's  
Hospital AIDS Program (CHAP).  The event will be further enhanced 
by the solo performances of professional singers. 
       
"New Chamber Ensemble Promotes AIDS Awareness; Positive Music to  
Perform Series of Free Concerts" 
PR Newswire (12/09/93) 
     New York--An HIV-positive bassist has formed POSITIVE MUSIC, a  
new chamber music ensemble that aims to promote AIDS awareness  
and education.  "POSITIVE MUSIC is a group of professional  
musicians whose lives have been deeply affected by AIDS and HIV," 
says founder and artistic director Charles Tomlinson.  "We hope  
to provide a forum where music can serve to enlighten, inform,  
and help the healing process for all of us who have felt the pain 
and loss of this epidemic."  Tomlinson has played with the  
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra,  
Michigan Opera Theatre, Music for Life, and additional chamber  
music organizations.  POSITIVE MUSIC will present a series of  
free concerts called Fourth Wednesdays at the Lesbian and Gay  
Community Services Center in Manhattan.  The concerts will  
spotlight new material as well as a standard chamber music  
repertoire.  The series begins on Jan. 26, 1994, and presents new 
performances on the fourth Wednesday of each month. 
       
"Life Insurers Eye Specter of AIDS Claims" 
Nikkei Weekly (Japan) (11/29/93) Vol. 31, No. 1597, P. 26 
     Fearing an increase in AIDS-related claims, Japan's life insurers 
are debating whether potential clients should be obliged to take  
HIV tests.  Japanese insurance companies currently require  
potential buyers with big payouts to undergo health check-ups,  
and those clients found to have a serious illness--such as  
terminal cancer--are turned away.  The companies do not, however, 
require HIV-status information; therefore, life insurers must pay 
up when a policyholder with AIDS dies.  In the United States, as  
well as in several European nations, insurance companies have for 
years called on buyers to declare HIV status when signing up for  
a policy and, in the late 1980s, mandated blood tests for buyers  
of large-payout policies.  Despite these precautions,  
AIDS-related policies in America equaled close to $1.4 billion in 
1992--four times the amount in 1986--according to the American  
Council of Life Insurance.  Some insist that many HIV carriers  
know that they are infected, yet intentionally purchase policies  
so that their families can be provided for when they die.  These  
and other problems encountered by American and European insurance 
companies have raised concerns among Japanese insurers, who are  
known for their caution.  In response, the Life Insurance  
Association of Japan is compiling guidelines on how best to  
implement questions about HIV status and blood tests, as well as  
pamphlets on how to prevent HIV carriers from obtaining policies. 
Industry insiders do not expect much from these measures.  In  
fact, they are holding their breath and hoping that Japan escapes 
the AIDS explosion felt in so many other countries. 
       
"AIDSLine" 
Advocate (11/30/93) No. 643, P. 34  (Cohan, Gary R.) 
     As many as 20 percent of AIDS patients can develop a dermatologic 
condition known as molluscum contagiosum.  The lesions, which  
resemble pimples, do not affect internal organs or cause medical  
complications, so the problem is mostly cosmetic.  Ranging in  
size from a small acne-like pimple to large clusters, the  
whitish, indented, hemispherical papules can surface on the face, 
neck, armpits, groin, and buttocks, causing a great deal of  
emotional anxiety.  The condition is caused by a pox-virus  
infection of the skin similar to wart viruses.  Molluscum lesions 
can be treated by freezing them with a topical liquid nitrogen or 
by burning them with electric current or trichloroacetic acid.   
Some mild cases have been successfully treated with Retin-A, an  
acne medication.  The lesions, however, are nearly impossible to  
cure and have a tendency to recur and spread despite aggressive  
treatment. 
       
"Resources" 
Business & Health (11/93) Vol. 11, No. 13, P. 12 
     Deaconess Press presents "We Are All Living With AIDS: How You  
Can Set Policies and Guidelines for the Workplace," a book of  
guidelines for establishing an HIV or AIDS education program at  
work.  The examples detailed in the book are designed to apply to 
companies and industries of diverse sizes.  The book also  
identifies and thoroughly discusses 10 major obstacles companies  
may encounter when developing and implementing comprehensive HIV  
or AIDS policies.  In addition, accompanying the book are  
resource sheets and appendices of organizations to call for more  
information.  The cost is $14.95. 
       
