CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update
Monday, March 1, 1999

The CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention provides
the following information as a public service only. Providing
synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on
HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis
does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also
includes information from CDC and other government agencies,
such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases, and announcements.
Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not
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HEADLINES

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
"Special Population: HIV/AIDS Among the Deaf and Hard of Hearing"

GENERAL MEDIA
"Kids Want the 'Big Talk' Sooner From Parents"
"Across the USA: Connecticut"
"Vietnam AIDS Death Toll Rises to 1,249"
"Make Needles Easier to Obtain: Experts"
"Meeting Seeks to Close Black-White AIDS Gap"
"State Officials Move Against Hepatitis C"
"Health Officials Urge Completion of TB Tests"
"Zuma Turns Down Cut-Price HIV Drug"
"Man Guilty of Exposing Sex Partners to AIDS"


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PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
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"Special Population: HIV/AIDS Among the Deaf and Hard of Hearing"
Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (03/99-04/99)
Vol. 10, No. 2, P. 75; Gaskins, Susan
There are approximately 20 million deaf and hard of hearing
people (D&HH) in the United States, according to the National
Center for Health Statistics, many of whom are isolated from
hearing communities due to linguistic and cultural distinctions.
Some 7,000 deaf people are estimated to have HIV, the National
Coalition on Deafness and HIV/AIDS reports, and D&HH people are
believed to be at higher risk for the disease. A 1992 study
estimates that the deaf population is about eight years behind
the hearing population in HIV knowledge and awareness. Efforts
have been made to reach the deaf community through targeted
HIV/AIDS education, but some findings indicate that D&HH
individuals may not be completely receiving the messages.
Studies show that deaf adolescents have large information gaps
concerning HIV transmission and prevention. Deaf college
students were found to be better informed, but their knowledge
does not correlate with reduced risky behavior. Diagnosis of HIV
for many deaf people often does not occur until the patient is
symptomatic, and HIV-positive deaf people tend to die earlier
than hearing patients. A delay in treatment resulting from lack
of patient knowledge and comprehension of HIV may account for
these findings. Adherence issues are also problematic, with
studies showing that D&HH individuals sometimes do not fully
comprehend their medical prescriptions. Author Susan Gaskins, of
Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama, asserts
that HIV/AIDS education programs are needed for D&HH children and
adults and that interpreters should be used when D&HH people
communicate with health care professionals.


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GENERAL MEDIA
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"Kids Want the 'Big Talk' Sooner From Parents"
USA Today (03/01/99) P. 6D; Thomas, Karen
A new survey of parents and children ages 10 to 15 indicates that
preteens want more information from their parents on such issues
as AIDS, the pressure to have sex, and how drugs and alcohol
affect one's decision to have sex. The study, conducted by the
Kaiser Family Foundation and Children Now, most of the 880
parents surveyed said they had talked about drugs, violence, and
sex with their children by age 12. However, more than half of
parents with 10- to 12-year-olds said they did not discuss
relationships and becoming sexually active, and more than 60
percent did not discuss how to avoid pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases. The study found that half of the 10- to
12-year-olds would like more AIDS and STD information, and more
than one-third need more information on pregnancy prevention.

"Across the USA: Connecticut"
USA Today (03/01/99) P. 12A
The Connecticut Department of Health reports that the number of
new AIDS cases recorded last year dropped by nearly 50 percent
from 1997. There were 672 new AIDS cases reported in 1998,
compared to 1,207 in the previous year.

"Vietnam AIDS Death Toll Rises to 1,249"
Reuters (03/01/99)
More than 12,300 HIV infections have been reported in Vietnam,
according to an official from the National AIDS Protection
Committee. The official said there were 2,374 cases of AIDS,
with a total of 1,249 deaths from the disease. The Vietnam New
Agency reported last week that Vietnam requires 100 million
condoms a year to help with population and birth control efforts.

"Make Needles Easier to Obtain: Experts"
Age Online (03/01/99); Gray, Darren
Australian drug researchers are arguing that injection drug users
should to able to purchase needles and syringes from convenience
stores and gas stations. The researchers note that the equipment
should only be sold with proper packaging and instructions as to
their disposal, and they should not be dispensed to youths. In
the current edition of the Medical Journal of Australia, they
also call for needle-exchange programs in prisons and youth
training centers. According to the researchers, dirty needles
and syringes are not the only sources of risk for blood-borne
pathogens; contaminated swabs, spoons, water vials, and
tourniquets are also dangerous and pose a risk to injection drug
users. The researchers, from the Centre for Harm Reduction at
the MacFarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research and the
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, also
proposed special efforts to help Aboriginal drug users and those
with non-English-speaking backgrounds.

"Meeting Seeks to Close Black-White AIDS Gap"
Philadelphia Inquirer (02/27/99) P. A4; Neergaard, Lauran
Approximately 1,000 health care providers and activists convened
last week for the first medical conference on AIDS among
African-Americans. Statistics show that African-Americans make
up 12 percent of the U.S. population, but represent 45 percent of
new AIDS cases. Participants at the conference discussed finding
practical ways to fight HIV in drug-infested and impoverished
neighborhoods. They also debated the issue of preventing and
treating HIV in prisons. Cornelius Baker, of the National
Association of People With AIDS, explained that the meeting's
primary objective was to empower workers on the front lines of
AIDS, noting that "we need to make care more culturally
appropriate."

"State Officials Move Against Hepatitis C"
Houston Chronicle Online (02/28/99); Snyder, Mike
Texas State Representative Glen Maxey (D-Austin) has proposed a
statewide hepatitis C education and prevention effort. Maxey's
bill would include a seroprevalence study "to estimate the
current and future impact of hepatitis C on the state," as well
as hepatitis C testing and counseling in state-funded clinics
that now offer HIV testing and counseling. The legislator
explained the measure was proposed in an effort to get Texas
ahead in its response to hepatitis C, which can often infect
patients for years before causing any symptoms. Earlier in
February, state legislative committees heard requests for
additional funding to treat prisoners for hepatitis C. At least
5,000 Texas inmates have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, and Dr.
David Smith, dean of the Texas Tech University Medical Center,
has also asked for $15 million to vaccinate incoming prisoners
against hepatitis B over the next two years.

"Health Officials Urge Completion of TB Tests"
Postnet Online (02/26/99)
Missouri health officials are calling on individuals who may have
been exposed to tuberculosis at a Springfield clinic last fall to
complete their TB testing. In February, health officials
notified 4,500 individuals who had attended St. John's Woman's
Clinic between August and October of 1998 that they may have been
exposed to TB. The warning came after it was discovered that one
patient had infected four clinic workers last fall. The TB test
is done in two stages: in the first part, a small amount of
bacteria is injected under the skin, while in the second part,
the site is examined for infection. However, health officials
report that 115 people who were tested early last week have yet
to return for the follow-up visit. "We just want to make sure
people aren't walking around with [tuberculosis] out there, so
years later they're not among those walking around with active
TB," explained Cyndi Baker, a nurse coordinating the testing for
the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

"Zuma Turns Down Cut-Price HIV Drug"
Africa News Online (02/26/99); Underhill, Glynnis
Although the international community has criticized South
Africa's health minister, Nkosasana Zuma, for declining an offer
from Glaxo Wellcome to get AZT at a 70 percent discount for
HIV-positive pregnant women, the government recently said it
could not give in to external pressure to accept aid that is
limited and will only provide a short-term fix. Even with the
discounting, it said it would not be able to provide treatment to
all women who need it. Glaxo indicated it guaranteed the 70
percent discount, which would reduce the price from R1,200 to
less than R400 for each HIV-positive pregnant women, for a five
year period; but Zuma said the government could not advocate a
program whose costs keep rising when funding is limited and could
be withdrawn at any time. The outrage over the decision
reportedly has some U.S. researchers threatening to boycott next
year's 13th World AIDS Conference, set to take place in South
Africa.

"Man Guilty of Exposing Sex Partners to AIDS"
Washington Times (02/27/99) P. A3
Nushawn Williams pleaded guilty Friday to statutory rape and
exposing young women to HIV. If convicted on these charges,
Williams could serve up to 12 years in jail. He was recently
found guilty of exposing a 15-year-old girl to HIV. The cases
came to light in 1997, when public health officials took the
unusual step of identifying Williams as a public health threat.


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