Subject: CDC Summary Date: 3/31/93 (192 lines) From: National AIDS Info Clearinghouse Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD AIDS Daily Summary March 31, 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. Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "AIDS Post Has Potential Czar, Needs a Home" Washington Post (03/31/93), P. A17 (Kamen, Al) New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is expected to be appointed as the federal AIDS czar. Hamburg served as acting commissioner for six months before her formal appointment in late 1991, and received acclamation for improving agency moral and administration. She is a staunch supporter of needle exchange programs as a means to curb the spread of HIV among IV-drug users and was credited with persuading New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins to back the policy. However, the formal appointment of the AIDS czar, which President Clinton promised to create during the campaign, has been held over until administration officials decide on the job description, responsibilities, authority, staff, and under which federal agency it will be established. Related Story: USA Today (03/31) P. 4A "Wilder Seeks Funds for Ashe AIDS Center" Richmond Times-Dispatch (03/30/93), P. A1 (Hardy, Michael) Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder has called for the state's General Assembly to allot $150,000 to establish in South Richmond the Arthur Ashe Health Center, which would serve HIV-positive individuals. The center would focus on early intervention, counseling, and treatment, a spokesman for the governor said on Monday. The facility would be part of the primary care center being developed by the city and the Medical College of Virginia, and expected to open in September. State Secretary of Health and Human Resources Howard M. Cullum said Monday that the Ashe health center could help about 350 HIV-infected people a year. "They would be referred for testing or follow-up after they were diagnosed with HIV to hook up with counseling or new medication," said Cullum. Wilder, who personally knew Ashe while growing up in Virginia, said, "Arthur Ashe's tragic and untimely death has helped educate people--not only from Richmond, but from across the commonwealth and the world--that HIV infection and the risk of AIDS hangs over the heads of many of our citizens, especially young adults." He added, "His name on this center, coupled with our expanded early intervention efforts, signifies to all of our citizens that we are committed to caring for others and lessening the damage done by this dreadful disease." "U.S. Officials Say More Tuberculosis Funds Needed" Reuters (03/29/93) Washington--Health officials announced Monday that it will not be possible to curb the disturbing increase in the number of U.S. tuberculosis cases unless the government increases funding for treatment and for new drug research. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a House subcommittee that if better TB research is not conducted soon, "we'll probably continue to lose ground." Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said that more money must be found to thwart the TB epidemic, even though the government had been forced to reduce AIDS research to fund TB programs. In 1988, the Public Health Service predicted that $36 million a year was needed to control TB, an estimate that jumped to $515 million in 1991, said Waxman. The rate of TB cases has increased about 20 percent since 1984, to 26,283 in 1991. The Centers for Disease Control said that the rise primarily affects the poor, minorities, and people infected with HIV. Dr. William Roper, outgoing director of the CDC, said more funding over the next decade would be needed for the government to control the problem. Fauci said the rise in cases can be attributed to a lack of tuberculosis experts who might have quickly developed better drugs and more efficient diagnostic tests. However, he said that researchers may be able to develop an implantable TB vaccine in a year, thereby facilitating treatment. Roper indicated that proposals to quarantine large numbers of TB patients would be ineffective, but might be needed in acute cases. "Oscar Gets Political" United Press International (03/30/93) (Ryan, Dollie F.) Los Angeles--Some moviemakers and actors used the 65th annual Academy Awards ceremony Monday night as a forum to protest controversial issues ranging from HIV-positive Haitian refugees to federal government secrecy. Early in the ceremony, actress Susan Sarandon and actor-boyfriend Tim Robbins presented the best film editing award with an appeal to the U.S. government. They requested that the Haitian refugees detained in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, be admitted into the United States, regardless of their HIV-status. "We'd like the government to admit having HIV is not a crime, and to let them in the country," said Sarandon. Her plea was greeted with minimal applause from the audience. "Oscar Night Benefit for Elton John AIDS Foundation Draws Hollywood's Finest With Tremendous Show of Support" PR Newswire (03/30/93) Beverly Hills, Calif.--The First Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party to Benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation was held Monday night and was a tremendous success. The event, which was the foundation's first fund-raiser, was sold-out and raised more than $125,000. Honorary Chair Elton John was present to greet Academy Award winners and nominees such as Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Miranda Richardson, Robert Altman, Marisa Tomei, and Denzel Washington. Other members of the entertainment industry included Meg Ryan, Dennis Quaid, Ted Danson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Geena Davis, and Claudia Schiffer. Ron Perlman, chairman of Revlon, contributed $25,000 to the Oscar night benefit. The more than 200 invited guests joined singer Elton John early in the evening to view the Academy Awards telecast. The second half of the evening was dedicated to a post-telecast reception in honor of the Oscar winners and nominees. As a result of the success of the Oscar night benefit, two more fundraising events for the Elton John AIDS Foundation are scheduled for the months ahead. John and his band will perform a special concert May 8 in Atlanta, and on Sept. 22 & 23 Billy Jean King will join John for the "First Annual Slam 'n' Jam." The two-day fund-raiser will start with an all-star World Team Tennis Tournament at the Forum in Los Angeles, followed the next evening by a private concert and dinner. John has been a long-time AIDS activist and formed his foundation in November 1992. He serves as co-director of the Atlanta-based non-profit group, which will fund AIDS causes nationwide. "Federal Court Rules HIV-Infected Haitians Require Adequate Care" United Press International (03/27/93) Miami--A federal court order issued Friday requires the United States to either provide proper medical treatment for 250 HIV-positive Haitians at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba or move them elsewhere. On Saturday, the Miami Herald reported that U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. in New York allowed the U.S. government 10 days to comply. Michael Ratner, an attorney for the Haitians, said he is certain that the judge's ruling will mean that the Haitians will be freed from Guantanamo. "They can't get adequate medical care on Guantanamo because they have to be near a big-city hospital," said Ratner. The refugees have been considered to have legitimate claims of political asylum, but have been detained at the naval base for more than a year because either they or family members are infected with HIV. Joe Krovisky, a spokesperson for the U.S. Justice Department, said the government does not know how it will handle the judge's decision. Johnson did not say where the Haitians should be taken, but he said they should not be taken to Haiti. Ratner said he thinks the government would have to bring them to the United States because no other country is willing to admit them. The Haitians could end up in Miami's Krome Avenue detention center or set free while they pursue their political asylum claims. A naval base spokesman said that at least 15 to 30 Haitians were in danger of becoming severely ill. But Haitian advocates said the number is closer to 60. "Combating AIDS" Hispanic (03/93) Vol. 6, No. 1, P. 12 (Gomez, Margarita) Hispanics with HIV infection or AIDS are currently reaping the benefits of less expensive, more compassionate care as a result of efforts by the Pan American AIDS Foundation and Dr. Yamil Kouri. Kouri and his colleagues have established cost-efficient AIDS prevention and care programs throughout the Americas since 1986 by channeling resources for technical and financial aid. "Two to 3 million people are already HIV-positive in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is important for U.S. Hispanics to support us because the virus knows no frontiers," said Kouri. He believes the epidemic is a global problem that the Hispanic community should help control. "AIDS affects the Hispanic minority disproportionately. People who have succeeded in the United States can find, through this foundation, a vehicle through which to help their country of origin," said Kouri. "Free Trial Offer for New AIDS Drug" Business Ethics (03/93-04/93) Vol. 7, No. 2, P. 9 Vestar Inc., a San Dimas, Calif., pharmaceutical company will soon launch a clinical trial of a new AIDS drug, DuanoXome, that will be given to patients free of charge. Michael Hart, Vestar's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said, "Some of the more advanced clinical trials have very specific requirements. This one, however, was set up in response to the interest AIDS groups have shown in the drug. We wanted to allow a wide range of patients access to the drug before it becomes officially approved by the FDA." In earlier trials, more than half of AIDS patients with advanced Kaposi's sarcoma had at least a slight response to the drug. The new trial will make the drug available to 100 New York City patients with other illnesses as well.