AIDS Daily Summary August 04, 1994 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 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "Hoping for a New Life Free of HIV" USA Today (08/04/94) P. 1D; Painter, Kim HIV-positive women--faced with the risk of infecting their babies as well as the threat to their own fragile health--are changing the way they make decisions regarding motherhood, thanks to recent developments. Doctors say that only about 25 percent of infected women transmit HIV to their infants, compared to estimates of 70 percent a few years ago. There is also new hope that the drug AZT can reduce that rate even further. Finally, some studies challenge the theory that pregnancy is hazardous for infected women. Public health officials, who say they want to help more women make informed decisions about pregnancy, are taking action. An FDA advisory committee last week recommended formal approval for use of AZT in pregnant women, and federal officials announced plans for guidelines urging doctors to tell infected women about AZT. They are also drawing up an HIV testing policy for pregnant women, which is likely to be controversial. All agree, however, that HIV-positive pregnant women cannot make informed choices about having children unless they know their HIV status. "Houstonian With AIDS Files Federal Fair Housing Complaint" Houston Chronicle (08/03/94) P. 23A; Robinson, James A 33-year-old Houston man with AIDS filed a federal fair housing complaint against Community Management Co. and its owner, G.W. Ralston, after he was asked not to use the swimming pool at Southwinds Apartments. "The problem was that you had sores on your body that were bothersome to people, that scared them in their stupidity," Ralston told David Morales, who had been living in the complex only a few weeks. In a secretly recorded conversation, Ralston conceded that Morales' use of a pool did not present any health risks, but recognized that financial problems could emerge if the complex lost tenants complaining about the sores on Morales' body. "This is purely a business decision," said Ralston, who said that his company frequently rents apartments to people with AIDS. "Gebbie Exits Via AIDS Home" Richmond Times-Dispatch (08/03/94) P. A1; Billingsley, Anna Barron Kristine M. Gebbie's final act in her role as national AIDS policy coordinator was to make an appearance in Richmond, Va., to try to rake up support for two new AIDS residences that have sparked local controversy. She appeared on behalf of the Richmond AIDS Ministry, which owns the two homes. Since the project began, neighbors have objected, contending that the homes are actually hospices. "This is a home for people who happen to have HIV," Gebbie countered as she toured Iris House, one of the homes. "They should not be segregated." She also expressed concern over bureaucratic delays that have postponed the opening of the residences, but stopped short of condemning government officials. "Former Prostitute Given Japanese Visa" United Press International (08/03/94) In an exemption to regulations prohibiting commercial sex workers and drug users from entering Japan, the country has granted a special travel permit to a former British prostitute so that she may attend the 10th International Conference on AIDS next week. Justice Minister Isao Maeda said he approved the permit because the ex-hooker is a key person at the conference, which is being held Aug. 7-12. The 36-year-old woman has earned a Masters degree in education since she stopped soliciting sex, and now counsels former sex workers. She is the chair of a subcommittee at the conference. "AIDS Seen Becoming Number One Killer in Thailand" Reuters (08/03/94) AIDS could become the leading cause of death in Thailand by the end of the century, according to a report by Thai health experts. The number of children whose parents will die as a result of the disease will become an increasing problem, they said. The first AIDS case was reported in Thailand 10 years ago, and since then, 5,990 cases have been confirmed. Because under-reporting remains a problem in Thailand, however, the actual number could be greater, the report warned. Government and nongovernment organizations project that there could be 350,000 to 650,000 Thai cases of AIDS by the year 2000. "AIDS Cases in India Said Grossly Understated" Reuters (08/03/94) The number of AIDS cases reported in India is a gross underestimate, and the disease could present a significant threat given the dearth of resources to cope with the epidemic, reported a group of Indian professors at the Institute of Economic Growth. The actual number of people with AIDS could be as high as 10,000, the group said. The report also said there were approximately 1.5 million HIV carriers in India, and that the figure was expected to rise to about 10 million by the year 2000. "Hemophiliac Wins AIDS Suit" National Law Journal (07/11/94) Vol. 16, No. 5, P. A8 In a precedent-setting ruling, the American Association of Blood Banks was ordered to pay $570,000 to 67-year-old William Snyder, who contracted AIDS through a transfusion in 1984. While an AIDS test did not become available until 1985, Snyder's attorney argued that the association knew as early as 1983 of a "surrogate test" for a hepatitis strain that could have effectively screened for the deadly, unknown virus that would later be identified as HIV. The agency, which establishes standards for the nation's blood supply, recommended against that test in January 1983. "Scientists Say HIV and Herpes May Be Linked" Washington Blade (07/08/94) Vol. 25, No. 28, P. 27; van Hertum, Aras Two clinical trials indicating that HIV patients who take both AZT and the herpes drug acyclovir have longer survival rates than those who take only AZT has renewed interest in an early theory that herpes viruses act as "co-factors" in HIV infection and stimulate the spread of the virus in the body. "Herpes viruses may drive the replication of HIV, while simultaneously taking advantage of immune system damage to cause opportunistic infections," explained British researcher Dr. Paul Griffiths. Scientists believe that cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EPV) are two infections most likely to act as co-factors, while herpes simplex and herpes zoster are unlikely to serve in that function. "Twist at Prof Allain's Appeal" Lancet (07/09/94) Vol. 344, No. 8915, P. 120; Bader, Jean-Mitchel The Supreme Court of Paris recently rejected an appeal by Prof. J.P. Allain against his conviction stemming from France's HIV scandal. The court also ruled against an application by the prosecution to change the charge against Allain to that of willful poisoning, saying that new evidence was needed to demonstrate intention to poison. Allain must now cling to the hope that the High Court, which will convene shortly to discuss the matter, will grant him early release--which is customary in France when half of a prison term has been completed. The Minister of Justice, however, can appeal against such a release, and has announced his intention to do just that.