Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary for Date: Thu May 4 07:01:00 PDT 2000 (173 lines) From: National AIDS Info Clearinghouse Copyright 2000, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update Thursday, May 4, 2000 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 be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles. HEADLINES PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS "Population-Based Study of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Neoplasia in Rural Costa Rica" GENERAL MEDIA "AIDS Epidemic May Sweep Through Asia in 10 Years" "Special Interests: DSCC Director to Head AIDS Action" "Primates May Be Source of Hepatitis B Virus" "VaxGen AIDS Vaccine Trials Get Positive Review" "South Africa: AIDS Drug for Nelspruit Rape Victims" "Malawi Churches Brand Condoms as Immoral" "Number of AIDS Cases Sharply Goes Up in Sakhalin" "TB: Increase in N.M. Feared" *************************************************************** PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS *************************************************************** "Population-Based Study of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Neoplasia in Rural Costa Rica" Journal of the National Cancer Institute Online (jnci.oupjournals.org) (03/15/00) Vol. 92, No. 6, P. 464; Herrero, Rolando; Hildensheim, Allan; Bratti, Concepcion; et al. Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Cancer Institute screened 9,175 women in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The study found that among women with normal cytology, HPV infections peaked first in women under age 25, and peaked again after age 55 or older with mostly non-cancer-related types of HPV and uncharacterized HPV types. Nearly three-quarters of the low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) tested positive for HPV, with 16 percent of positive subjects testing positive for HPV16. Furthermore, almost 90 percent of both HSILS and cancers contained HPV, with HPV16 strongly predominant. In conclusion, the authors noted the decline in HPV infection with aging, although there was increased prevalence after menopause. The researchers suggest that polyvalent vaccines that include the primary cancer-associated HPV types may be useful in preventing most cases of cervical disease in the rural area. **************************************************************** GENERAL MEDIA **************************************************************** "AIDS Epidemic May Sweep Through Asia in 10 Years" Minneapolis Star-Tribune Online (www2.startribune.com) (05/04/00) David Gordon of the National Intelligence Council, which advises the CIA director, said Wednesday that the AIDS epidemic will continue to plague sub-Saharan Africa for the next 20 years, but in 10 years it may be moving through Asia and Pacific Rim countries even faster. Gordon told a congressional forum on infectious diseases and national security that the region could exceed Africa in the number of AIDS deaths in the next decade. In the national intelligence estimate, "The Global Infectious Disease Threat and its Implication for the United States," Gordon and others note contributing factors in Asia, including a dependence on traditional medicine. The report was used by the White House to support its decision to declare AIDS a threat to national security. "Special Interests: DSCC Director to Head AIDS Action" Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (05/04/00) P. A23; Sarasohn, Judy Jamie Fox, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, will leave his job after the November elections to become the executive director of AIDS Action, a national network of 3,200 AIDS service groups. The previous head of AIDS Action, Daniel Zingale, left earlier this year to serve as director of California's new Department of Managed Care. AIDS Action--which helps almost 1 million HIV-infected people--aims to improve federal policies for HIV/AIDS care and services, medical research, and prevention. Fox has served on AIDS Action's Foundation Board for two years and is currently on leave from his position as Sen. Robert G. Torricelli's (D-N.J.) chief of staff. "Primates May Be Source of Hepatitis B Virus" Reuters (05/03/00) British scientists who tested three wild chimpanzees in Cameroon found they were infected with the same strain of hepatitis B virus (HBV) detected in chimpanzees at the London Zoo. According to a report in New Scientist magazine, the researchers say this is proof of epidemics that occur naturally among animals, according to the researchers, and may dispel previous theories about HBV's origins. The researchers, led by Peter Simmonds of the University of Edinburgh, said the HBV strains most likely co-evolved with primates at least 10 million years ago, with different strains developing when the virus was passed to humans. The authors note, however, there are still many questions, including why the six major human strains of the virus are fairly similar, even though the virus can mutate rapidly. "VaxGen AIDS Vaccine Trials Get Positive Review" Reuters (05/03/00) An independent data and safety monitoring board has given VaxGen's AIDS vaccine trials their third positive review. VaxGen is testing two formulations of its vaccine in two separate Phase III trials and noted that 96 percent of the volunteers have continued to participate. Thus far, over 14,000 doses of the AIDSvax vaccine have been given, with no serious side effects related to the shot. "South Africa: AIDS Drug for Nelspruit Rape Victims" Africa News Service (05/03/00) The Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project of South Africa has donated anti-HIV drugs to rape victims in rural Mpumalanga. The group helps rural rape victims who lack access to medical care. The donated drug, Retrovira-3TC, could reduce the risk of contracting HIV if given quickly after rape. Many young teen girls are being raped because men believe they can be cured of AIDS by sleeping with a virgin. The project is also working on training staff and equipping rape crisis centers with private rooms. "Malawi Churches Brand Condoms as Immoral" Africa News Service (05/03/00); Gama, Hobbs Malawi's Council of Churches has condemned the use of condoms to prevent HIV transmission as immoral. Council secretary general Reverend Augustine Musopole argued that the government is supporting promiscuity by handing out thousands of condoms every month. Musopole said condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing infection, noting that the only sure way to protect oneself is strict monogamy or abstinence. In response, Malawi's Health Ministry said the council's criticism of condom use is disheartening, especially since the nation's condom distribution and safe sex programs have been praised by the World Health Organization. "Number of AIDS Cases Sharply Goes Up in Sakhalin" Itar Wire Service (05/04/00); Tserendorzhiyev, Pyotr Russia's Far East has seen a significant increase in AIDS cases, according to the Sakhalin AIDS Prevention Center. The group reported Thursday that the number of registered AIDS cases has increased from 347 to 569 in two months. Doctors at the center note that HIV is now affecting not just injection drug users in the region but also the clients and staff at area brothels. "TB: Increase in N.M. Feared" Albuquerque Journal Online (www.abqjournal.com) (04/03/00); Jadrnak, Jackie Health officials in New Mexico fear the state's low tuberculosis (TB) rates will skyrocket as TB rates worldwide soar and drug resistance increases. The state's location on the border also puts it at risk. Although there is no evidence that the drug resistant TB seen in Mexico has spread to New Mexico, officials are concerned because thousands of immigrants enter the state each year. The state recorded only one case of multi-drug resistant TB between 1992 and 1999; however, 56 cases showed resistance to one drug and 620 TB cases were reported overall. New Mexico is currently working with other border states and Mexico to identify people at high risk for TB and to treat infected individuals who cross over the border.