-----===[[[ A I D S w i r e D I G E S T 09.06.93 ]]]===-----


AIDS Researchers Seeing Their Quarry in a New Light *
Baltimore Sun (09/07/93) P. 1A
Garrett, Laurie

Scientists in the fight against AIDS are excited over a new
research strategy that shifts the focus away from HIV itself, and
towards how the immune system is effected by this virus. A popular
belief is growing that HIV fools the body's immune system into
attacking itself and other areas of the body, and that its ability
to cause harm is complex and enduring. Dr. Anthony Fauci says,
"It's clear that you need the virus at some point to kick off the
pathological events. But even if you knocked off the virus early
you could still have damage to the immune system." While optimism
over these latest findings is somewhat guarded, international
researchers gathered at this year's annual AIDS meeting seemed to
share in the belief that research should focus on how HIV causes
AIDS. On another front, hope for new AIDS treatments, which to date
attempt to either block or slow the progression of the virus, or
prevent and treat the AIDS-related diseases that inevitably occur,
have arisen with these new revelations. Their is talk of completely
shutting down and infected immune system and then quickly
restarting it in an effort to right the system's course. Also, the

possibilities of over-stimulating T-cell responses, or introducing
healthy immune system-defending cytokines are being considered.


Nominee Expected to Get OK *
USA Today (09/07/93) P. 3A
Hall, Mimi

Surgeon-general nominee Joycelyn Elders is expected to receive
confirmation from the U.S. Senate today despite some misgivings
concerning her record and rhetoric. Liberals have praised her for
being an unapologetic health-care maverick who has not shied away
from such weight issues as teen pregnancy and the spread of AIDS.
She has repeatedly defended her decision not to disclose reports of
defects in condoms being dispensed at Arkansas school health
clinics, arguing that it would have undermined public confidence in
condoms. Elders has been serving as public health director of
Arkansas, appointed by then-Gov. Clinton.


Middle-School Condom Giveaway *
Washington Times (09/07/93) P. A6

In a program believed to be the first of its kind in the United
States, four New Haven, Conn., schools will make condoms available
to fifth- and sixth-graders. The program, which begins with the
start of classes this week, was granted school board approval
partly because of a Yale University survey indicating that 28
percent of the city's sixth-graders are sexually active. Supporters
say the program will slow the spread of AIDS and decrease the rate
of teen pregnancies. Critics, however, say the availability of free
condoms will encourage sexual activity. Luz Gonzales, who runs an
AIDS awareness program, disagrees. She points out that New Haven,
with 833 AIDS cases, has the highest infection rate of any
Connecticut city. Gonzalez says that "Personally, I counsel the
kids to stay away from sex, but the reality is that our kids are
sexually active." The Center for Population Options says that about
50 school systems across the nation now make condoms available. But
New Haven's program is the first time condoms will be given to
students below the eight grade.


Wives Want Husbands Held Liable for Hiding in Closet *
Toronto Globe and Mail (09/03/93) P. A1
Parsons, Charlotte

Sophia Bell-Ginsburg made Canadian legal history last June when
Justice Alvin Rosenberg of the Ontario Court's General Division
gave her the go-ahead to file a $1.4 million suit against Myron
Ginsburg, her estranged husband, for not informing her that he was
bisexual. Bell-Ginsburg, who argued that her husband unfairly put
her at risk of contracting AIDS, is aiming to set a legal precedent
that will help other women. She says that the principle at stake is
a woman's right to know what kind of risks her husband is taking
and decide for herself if she's still willing to be indirectly
involved in such practices. Judge Rosenberg contended that Ginsburg
had breached his duty as a husband. The Bell-Ginsburg case comes on
the heels of an unrelated case of 35 married men arrested for
performing "indecent acts" in an Oakville park bathroom in July.
Peter Carey, Bell-Ginsburg's attorney, hopes that the successful
resolution of his client's case will provide the Oakville wives
with an avenue for legal action.


Panel Tells Firm to Pay AIDS Victim *
Washington Post (09/04/93) P. E1
Mariano, Ann

A local real estate company has been ordered to pay $35,000 to a
city resident afflicted with AIDS after the company refused to make
repairs to his apartment because of his disease. The District's
Commission on Human Rights ruled last week that the Joel Truitt
Management Co. of the District discriminated against J. Corwin
Condren when it would not make repairs to his apartment. The
commission found Truitt to be in violation of the District's Human
Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on a physical
handicap. On Dec. 19, 1991, a Truitt employee had demanded that
Condren provide assurance from health officials that a plumber
scheduled to work in his apartment would not be at risk of
contracting AIDS. The employee sent a memo to Condren asking him to
"provide certification from a qualified health authority that it is
safe to enter your apartment, and that there is no danger of
getting the disease and that the apartment is sanitary." Condren,
who filed his discrimination complaint on May 18, 1992, lived in
the building for three years before moving out in the fall of 1992.
The plumbing work was never done while he lived there. The Human
Rights Commission ruled that the Truitt company's memo to Condren
"implied a restriction of service because of his AIDS condition"
and caused him "humiliation, embarrassment and indignity." Truitt
was also ordered to pay for Condren's attorneys' fees and the human
rights commission's costs of adjudicating the complaint.


Attempted HIV-Murder Cases Dropped *
Richmond Times--Dispatch (09/03/93) P. B5
Pope, Jon

First-degree murder charges against two Virginia prostitutes have
been dropped at the request of prosecuting attorney Cassandra S.
Burns. Brenda Hines and Rita Conway of Petersburg Commonwealth had
been held without bond pending their trials for attempted murder
for knowingly having sex after testing positive for the virus that
leads to AIDS, HIV. Prosecutor Burns said that she requested
dismissals due to the conflicting reports from witnesses involved
with the case. "We had problems with these witnesses just like we
have problems with rape victims." said Burns. "Its hard to get them
to come forward." Originally, a man told police that he had
unprotected sex with both women, not having been made aware of
their HIV status. Later however, the man vacillated and said that
he had used a condom and that both ladies had told him their were
HIV carriers. Burns said that the man's statements constituted
"perjured testimony," and that she was ethically obliged not to
present such differing accounts. In an unrelated case, Johnny Webb,
known to be HIV positive, has been charged with eight counts of
attempted murder for his sexual exploits with three female minors.


Tenor Pavarotti Throws His Weight Into AIDS Fight *
Reuter (09/02/93)

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti last week pledged to help one of
the discoverers of the AIDS virus, Dr. Luc Montagnier, and the
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
in their joint effort to fight the disease. Montagnier and UNESCO
joined forces last January to form the World Foundation for AIDS
Research and Prevention. The foundation said that Pavarotti pledged
to donate proceeds from an upcoming concert, and royalties from a
record based on that concert, to their organization. Pavarotti said
"When a voice given by God can be an instrument to help some great
cause like yours, I think a man must be privileged." The
foundation, which aims to accelerate research and increase
prevention worldwide, says its first project is a three-year, $1
million program in Uganda where it is providing clothing and food
to children who have lost their parents to AIDS.


The AIDS Commission's Final Plea *
Washington Post (09/03/93) P. A24

Four years ago, the AIDS Commission was established to advise
Congress and the president on the development of a national policy
concerning HIV. Today, it is no more. The final report details the

disappointment of members, who feel that the AIDS epidemic has not
been taken seriously, and neither have their recommendations. The
editors of the Washington Post, however, feel that the commission
has provided an important voice in research, education, and
prevention. According to the editors, by prodding, goading,
criticizing, and demanding action, the commission has had a
significant impact. The Post urges that leaders heed the
commission's last request for compassion for victims, a commitment
of resources, and clear national leadership.


Spiritual Duty Seen in AIDS Work *
Chicago Tribune (09/02/93) P. 1-7
Griffin, Jean Latz

The religious community is putting aside moral judgment and
condemnation to help in the struggle against a disease that is
primarily transmitted through sexual activity and drug use. Groups
are providing health care, shelter, food, friendship, and spiritual
guidance to people with AIDS. Experts say that, while this concern
and cooperation is praiseworthy, more needs to be done to eliminate
the stigma associated with the virus, so that HIV-infected people
might receive the spiritual help they need. Ken South, executive
director of the AIDS National Interfaith Network, said that the
primary problem is the attitude of the religious community about
homosexuality. These feelings have been worsened by attempts of
right-wing religious sects to use homosexuality and AIDS as
political tools.


Heterosexual Women Facing Increase in AIDS *
Baltimore Sun (09/03/93) P. 1B

The number of women acquiring the AIDS virus through heterosexual
contact is increasing, according to a state study. Although this
figure still remains small, Dr. Joseph Horman of the Maryland AIDS

Administration says that the numbers indicate a trend. AIDS-
infected females in Maryland have doubled since the early 1980s,
rising from about 10 to 20 percent. So far, male homosexuality and
intravenous drug use remain the leading causes of infection. David
Vlahov, an AIDS researcher at the Johns Hopkins School of Public
Health, said that although more women are contracting the disease,
the proportion of females with AIDS increases as other segments
shrink.


September 8, 1993


Key to AIDS: Science Steps a Little Closer *
Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/08/93) P. A2
Garrett, Laurie

Recent discoveries in past weeks about how the HIV virus catapults
the immune system into chaos offers new evidence that perhaps the
actual damage is caused not by the virus, but the system itself,
report scientists. Previous research has focused on the ability of
HIV to harm CD4 cells in the immune system; however, the latest
consensus is that the virus tricks the immune system into attacking
itself and other parts of the body. This self-destruction, say
some scientists, cannot be reversed later even if the virus is
eliminated. If this is true, they theorize, a jolt to the system
early in HIV infection may set the system back on proper course
before opportunistic infections occur. The issue is being both
supported and disputed, and in the coming months, many tests will
be conducted to test this new theory of immune system chaos.


HIV Infects 1M Women This Year *
Financial Times (Great Britain) (09/08/93) P. 4
Cookson, Clive

More than 1 million women worldwide will be infected by HIV this
year, and by the year 2000, 13 million women will be HIV-positive
and 4 million will have died from the virus, according to the head
of the World Health Organization's global program on AIDS. Dr.
Michael Merson reported that females becoming infected with the
virus now outnumber males by six to five in sub-Saharan Africa. As
more women are infected, their infants are often infected as well.
Dr. Merson suggests several avenues of action to protect women,
including research to develop a virus-deadly chemical that would
prevent HIV infection during sex.


AIDS Epidemic Seen to Burden Asian Economies *
Reuters (09/08/93)

Manila, Philippines--Experts report that, by the year 2000, Asia
may surpass Africa in the number of new cases of AIDS, and the
epidemic may pose a risk not only to the health of the region, but
the economy as well. The issue was discussed at a recent workshop
in Manila on the impact of AIDS in Asian countries. United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) figures predict that 1 million Asians
will be infected annually by 2000. UNDP representative Kevin
McGrath urged Asia to practice prevention, and warned that failure
to do so could reverse the economic gains achieved by the region.
In 1992, there were nearly 2 million cases of HIV-infection in
Asia, while Africa reported 7 million.


Elders Wins Confirmation in Senate by Vote of 65-34 *
Richmond Times-Dispatch (09/08/93) P. A2

Dr. Joycelyn Elders, confirmed yesterday in the Senate by a vote of
65-34, will succeed Dr. Antonia C. Novello as the U.S. Surgeon
General. Elders, who is known for her outspokenness, identified
AIDS prevention as one of her priorities. She is the first black,
and second woman to hold the position.


Indian Soldiers Returning From U.N.
Duty in Cambodia Test HIV Positive *
United Press International (09/05/93)

New Delhi--HIV infection has been detected in as many as 45 Indian
army soldiers returning from peacekeeping duties in Cambodia, said
a report in the Times of India newspaper Sunday. According to the
paper, the virus was diagnosed by army medical officers during
routine checkups of the soldiers after their return from U.N.
operations in Cambodia. Indian army regulations dictate that
soldiers may not be discharged after contracting a sexually
transmitted disease, but may be disciplined if they refuse to
reveal an infection. Authorities are still uncertain about the
course of action to be taken against the soldiers.


Economic Cost of AIDS Huge and Growing *
United Press International (09/08/93)

Manila, Philippines--The AIDS epidemic is a serious economic
problem, as well as a staggering health dilemma, with developing
countries suffering most, according to the Asian Development Bank
(ADB). About one in every 250 adults in the world is HIV-infected,
and most of these individuals live in non-industrialized countries.
With 2,000 people infected each day, Asia is quickly becoming the

fastest-growing HIV area, reported a 1992 study by the United
Nations Development Program. Vice president of the ADB, Gunther
Schulz, said that a shortage of money for expensive treatment
programs and medical systems plus a lack of preventative education
has hampered the region's battle against AIDS.


One Kind of AIDS Virus May Be Main Type Transmitted *
Chemical & Engineering News (08/30/93) Vol. 71, No. 35, P. 20

In a finding that is significant in the search for an AIDS vaccine,
researchers believe that a particular phenotype of HIV may be the
primary one that transmits the virus from person to person. David
D. Ho and his colleagues at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Res genotypes of
HIV found in recently infected individuals. The sample group
included three homosexual men, and two married couples in which the
husbands had infected their wives. The researchers found that HIV
in these individuals invaded macrophages instead of T-lymphocytes,
and did not produce what is called syncytia. Most vaccine
theories, however, focus on HIV strains that invade T-cells and do
produce syncytia. The implication is that because these strains
are not the ones being spread, vaccines that concentrate on them
may be ineffective.


Prions, Viruses, and Antiviral Drugs *
Lancet (Great Britain) (08/28/93) Vol. 342, No. 8870, P. 545
Amor, Sandra and Mehta, Surekha

HIV was among the viruses discussed at the 9th International
Congress of Virology. At the conference, two groups revealed
research on the ability of protease inhibitors to decrease
productive infectious virus. Dr. F. Wong-Staal provided information
on the most promising aspect for the development of anti-viral
treatment for AIDS.


Does Zidovudine Delay Development of AIDS? *
Lancet (08/28/93) Vol. 342, No. 8870, P. 558
Holmberg, Scott D. and Byers, Robert H.

Several cohorts examined HIV-infected men and determined, by
tracking incubation time, whether the drug zidovudine delayed the
progression to AIDS. Scott D. Holmberg and Robert H. Byers of the
HIV/AIDS division of the Centers for Disease Control found a trend
for longer incubation periods in all of their analyses. The term
from definable HIV infection to AIDS diagnosis was always longer
for patients taking zidovudine than for patients who were not
taking the drug. The difference in incubation time, however, was
not statistically significant. Therefore, the cohorts may not claim
that zidovudine deters the development of AIDS, but their analysis
is consistent with the Concorde study, which reported the drug as
having modest effectiveness in the prevention of AIDS.


September 9, 1993


HBO Film on AIDS Premieres *
Washington Post (09/09/93) P. D1
Roberts, Roxanne

The Kennedy Center last night was the setting for the Washington,
D.C., premiere of "And the Band Played On," HBO's docudrama about
AIDS. The film portrays the medical mystery about the origins of
the disease, and stars Matthew Modine as Don Francis, one of the
early researchers at the Centers for Disease Control. The AIDS
community hopes that the movie will stir audiences to action with
its criticism of the Bush and Reagan administrations' inaction
concerning AIDS, and indictments of corporate greed and homophobia.
Discussions that occurred after the screening indicated that the
pressure was on the president to do something. The invitation-only
guest list included more than 800 activists, Capitol Hill staffers,
and media representatives, but important names in Congress and the

administration failed to attend. "And the Band Played On," based on
the 1987 bestseller by journalist Randy Shilts, is scheduled to
debut Saturday on HBO.


Still Alive: Defying an Epidemic $
Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (09/08/93) P. A1
Stolberg, Sheryl

As the AIDS epidemic continues into its second decade, experts are
beginning to focus on a small group of people who are infected
with HIV, but are remaining healthy. These "healthy positives"
have lived with the virus for 10 or more years without taking
antivirals; their immune systems appear to effectively resist HIV.
Some researchers are investigating the existence of key proteins
which shift the balance of the immune system, and genes which
enable cells to fight off HIV or other infection, or a combination
of these possibilities. Others feel that healthy positives are
simply at the end of a very long bell curve, and will eventually
succumb to AIDS. Because the virus can incubate for 10 years or
more without exhibiting symptoms, only time will tell. Currently,
however, the blood of healthy positives is a hot commodity for
those who want to discover the secret of what protects this group,
and to develop that knowledge into a vaccine which will create the
same effect in others.


Economic Cost of AIDS in India Enormous--Official *
Reuters (09/09/93)

Manila, Philippines--More than 1 million people in India are
infected with HIV, and the virus is spreading at an alarming rate,
reported Kusum Sahgal, a physician with the National AIDS Control
Organization of India. Kusum said that situations in other
countries indicate that the cost of taking care of people with AIDS
in India will be tremendous. He predicted that India would soon be
like some areas in Africa, where 70 percent of hospital beds are
occupied by AIDS patients. Given the large population and complex
nature of the society, Kusum urged the country to act now--with sex
education for young people and more effort on the part of
government--or suffer devastating effects. "We have the advantage
of lessons learned from other parts of the world.... We have no
excuses," he said.


Lawsuit Alleges Priest Infected Man With AIDS Virus *
Philadelphia Inquirer (09/08/93) P. A3

Denver--In what is the first case of its kind, a Denver man filed
suit against a priest who allegedly infected him with HIV.
Thomas Perea, 36, claims that Rev. Delbert Blong of the Diocese
of Pueblo began sexually abusing him in 1971, and continued to do
so until 1992. Perea, who is gay, believes Father Blong infected
him because the sex acts with him were unprotected. The priest
also allegedly admitted to Perea in February that he was
HIV-positive, that two of his male partners were also infected,
and that two others had died of AIDS. Perea, who tested positive
for HIV in March, said that he had protected sex with other
partners, all of whom tested negative. Perea filed the lawsuit
in Boulder County District Court against Blong and the diocese,
and is seeking jury trial and unspecified monetary damages.


AIDS Family *
Associated Press (09/07/93)
Armour, Nancy

Indianapolis--Mark Ellis is the last of three hemophiliac
brothers to contract AIDS; the other two have already died,
leaving him to wonder when the disease will claim his life, too.
The Ellis brothers, like thousands of others suffering from
hemophilia, were introduced to the Factor 8 clotting agent in the
late 1970s. Factor 8 allowed hemophiliacs to inject themselves
with the product, manufactured from donated blood, to stop the
bleeding without need of a transfusion. However, this was before
blood banks were alerted to the danger of AIDS and developed
tests to screen for the disease. According to the National
Hemophilia Foundation, half of the country's 20,000 hemophiliacs
are HIV-positive, or have developed AIDS.


Steppin' Out Announces Week of Events in Downtown
Royal Oak to Raise Funds for Those With AIDS and HIV *
PR Newswire (09/08/93)

Royal Oak, Mich.--Steppin' Out, a nonprofit organization that
raises funds for caregivers to people with AIDS and HIV, will
host a week of charity events Sept. 12-19 to raise money for its
cause. Scheduled events included a shoe auction of footwear *
donated by Madonna, Bette Midler, Anita Baker, Willie Nelson, Ted
ugent, and many other celebrities; a children's celebration,
arts, crafts, music, and entertainment; and a 10k walkathon
with an anticipated 4,000 participants. Last year's walk alone
raised nearly $100,000.


AIDS Front: Who's Minding the Store? *
Advocate (09/21/93) No. 638, P. 35
Delaney, Martin

The problem with AIDS research is that it lacks direction and
control, according to one AIDS expert. No one is in charge, says
Martin Delaney, the founding director of Project Inform, which
distributes AIDS treatment information around the world. The
result, attests Delaney, is that key research questions remain
unanswered for years because they are not being studied in a
systematic manner. Everyone is choosing their own work, setting
their own goals, and failing to coordinate anything. Delaney
contends that researchers and scientists must focus less on the
old maxims of science and more on goal-oriented, team-directed,
problem-solving approaches in order to make some progress. He
insists, however, that change cannot be accomplished without
public demand for it, and urges people to write to White House
AIDS policy coordinator Kristine Gebbie. Martin Delaney is the
co-author of "Strategies for Survival: The Gay Men's Health
Manual for the Age of AIDS."


HemaCare Plans National Clinical Trials of Immupath *
Business Wire (09/07/93)

Los Angeles--At a recent pre-investigational new drug (IND)
meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
representatives of HemaCare Corp. announced plans to conduct
national trials of a bio-pharmaceutical product, Immupath, as a
potential treatment for AIDS. Discussion at the meeting included
clinical trial design, plasma processing facility design, and
validation and licensure of plasma donation centers. HemaCare
completed a Phase II study of Immupath in July. The results were
encouraging, and the company is awaiting approval for a Phase III
study. HemaCare is currently preparing a formal IND application
for submission to the FDA as a result of that meeting.


Sheffield Forms Agreement With CBR Laboratories, Scales Up
Production of AIDS Compound for Phase II Clinical Trials *
Business Wire (09/07/93)

Houston--Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. announced an
agreement with CBR Laboratories to produce the company's red
blood cell (RBC)-CD4 Complex for use in Phase II clinical trials
in patients infected with HIV. The contract provides for CBRL to
scale up and deliver the electroinsertion equipment to Sheffield.
CBRL will also do the actual electroinsertion of CD4 into the red
blood cells, thus forming RBC-CD4. RBC-CD4 acts like a sponge to
HIV-infected cells floating in the bloodstream. Once
internalized in the CD4, HIV disintegrates and is no longer
infective. Sheffield President Douglas R. Eger said that the
trials, scheduled for the end of 1993, will demonstrate the
importance of RBC-CD4 in the battle against AIDS.


September 10, 1993


Gene Therapy--AIDS *
Associated Press (09/10/93)
Recer, Paul

Bethesda, Md.--The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, a panel
which evaluates human gene therapy techniques, will vote Friday
on a proposal to insert a genetic trap into the CD4 cells of AIDS
patients. The experiment, designed by Drs. Flossie Wong-Staal,
Eric Poeschla, and David Looney of the University of California
in San Diego, proposes the removal of CD4 lymphocyte cells from
HIV-infected patients. The cells, which are primary targets of
the AIDS virus, would then be altered by the insertion of a
ribozyme that can slice up RNA. Because HIV uses RNA to
reproduce itself in CD4 cells, the injected ribozyme prevents HIV
from replicating or from infecting new cells. If enough cells
carried the altered gene, the amount of HIV in the patients would
be reduced; therefore, about 10 billion new cells would be
cultured before the cells are infused back into the patients.
Wong-Staal said that her group wants to experiment with six human
patients, and if successful, expand the therapy to more
patients.


Cesareans May Reduce Spread of AIDS to Babies *
Reuters (09/09/93)

London--Performing cesareans during childbirth may lower the
chances of women transmitting HIV to their unborn infants,
according to a report by pediatricians at the Italian university
of Turin. One study indicated that babies delivered by C-section
had a 14-percent risk of being born with the AIDS virus, while
those born via vaginal delivery had a 20-percent risk, the report
said. Although scientists have not yet determined exactly how
and when HIV is passed from mother to fetus, one pediatrician
wrote that Cesarean babies were less exposed to infected blood
and vaginal fluid. The mixing of blood between mother and child
peaks during labor, the report explained. The pediatricians
called for more research concerning the benefits of early
surgical delivery for HIV-infected women, although this could
raise ethical issues since the operation may be dangerous for
some women and their babies.


Red Cross Agrees to Aid Blood Victims *
Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (09/09/93) P. A5
Mickleburgh, Rod

The Canadian Red Cross, which faces more than 120 lawsuits for
spreading the AIDS virus through contaminated blood, will finally
offer financial assistance to people who were infected with HIV.
In the early years of the disease, before safeguards were
established for the blood supply, the Canadian Red Cross passed
along tainted blood to more than 1,000 hemophiliacs and
transfusion patients. Doug Lindores, secretary-general of the
Canadian Red Cross Society, said that the organization denies any
liability, but that the money being spent on legal costs could be
redirected to HIV-infected individuals. Recipients, however,
must sign a waiver obliging them to drop any legal action against
the Red Cross. Lindores said that the contribution would be
small, but would be part of a larger, more extensive aid package
being assembled by most Canadian provinces.


Diana Calls for Understanding Towards AIDS Mothers *
Reuters (09/08/93)
Forrester, James

Edinburgh--In her address to 500 delegates meeting at Heriot Watt
University in Scotland, Princess Diana of Great Britain pleaded
for compassion towards HIV-infected mothers. She said that these
women suffer from the "grief and guilt" of knowing that they
probably will not see their children through to independence.
Princess Diana first became alerted to the plight of such women
while in Zimbabwe, where she witnessed first-hand how the tragedy
affects the entire family. During her speech, the princess also
cautioned against believing that "AIDS is someone else's
problem."


Germany Pledges Money to HIV-Infected Haemophiliacs *
Reuters (09/09/93)

Bonn--After pledging $1.25 million to hemophiliacs who were
infected with HIV through blood transfusions, German Health
Minister Horst Seehofer urged other organizations to do the same.
About 400 hemophiliacs who received tainted blood between 1982
and 1985 have already died from AIDS. Of the country's 6,000
hemophiliacs, at least 1,500 are HIV-infected. Seehofer said
that the government's donation is not an admission of
responsibility. He called on the Red Cross, the pharmaceutical
industry, insurers, and the federal states to contribute to the
fund in order to reach an amount of $6.25 million. The fund
would then allow monthly payments of $1,250 to hemophiliacs who
were infected.


Jamaica *
Associated Press (09/08/93)

Kingston, Jamaica--Hospital employees have been cleared of
negligence after their hospital accidentally gave patients blood
tainted with HIV. The University Hospital of the West Indies
said that two patients, one of whom has since died of terminal
lung cancer, were given the contaminated blood on March 30. The
mistake of an employee in reading the serial number led to the
contaminated unit being retained, rather than discarded. Dr.
Grace Haynes, director of the ministry's Blood Transfusion
Service, said that the HIV-infected blood was permitted to leave
the blood bank due to clerical error as well. The hospital has
accepted full responsibility for the other patient, though no
further details on the patient's condition were given.


Seven Bulgarian U.N. Peacekeepers Catch AIDS *
Reuters (09/09/93)

Sofia--Several Bulgarian soldiers contracted the AIDS virus while
performing U.N. peacekeeping duties in Cambodia, reported the
state news agency BTA. Quoting a colonel of the Bulgarian army,
BTA said that, of the 1,244 Bulgarians who had returned from
Cambodia, seven were infected with HIV. Of a population of 8.5
million, there are slightly less than 200 cases of HIV in
Bulgaria.


Wellcome Defends Patent for AIDS Medication AZT *
Pharmaceutical Representative (09/93) Vol. 23, No. 9, P. 2

After a two-year legal battle, a U.S. District Court in New Bern,
N.C., upheld the claim of Burroughs Wellcome as the sole
inventors of AZT, a treatment for HIV. The case began in 1991
when Barr Laboratories and Novopharm Inc., in separate
incidences, submitted applications to the FDA to manufacture the
drug. Burroughs Wellcome filed suit for patent infringement, and
the lawsuit ensued. The defendants contended that Wellcome's
patents for AZT were invalid because they failed to credit two
NIH scientists as co-inventors after they tested the drug on
human cells infected with HIV. The court, however, upheld
Wellcome's claim that its own scientists decided to use the drug
to treat AIDS weeks before they asked the agency to test it.
Wellcome began marketing AZT in 1987, and has been criticized for
the high price of the drug.


Priorities for HIV Testing in Developing Countries? *
Lancet (09/04/93) Vol. 342, No. 8871, P. 601
Colebunders, Robert and Ndumbe, Peter

HIV testing in developing countries is not always feasible
because of lack of equipment, high cost, or both. Cheaper tests
are more feasible, but less reliable. According to Robert
Colebunders of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and
Peter Ndumbe of the Virus Immunology Unit at the University of
Yaounde in Cameroon, HIV testing should be made more widely
available in developing countries, but only for specific
purposes. They suggest that each country establish guidelines
and priorities for HIV testing. Aside from maintaining a safe
blood supply, there is no evidence that HIV testing reduces the
spread of the virus. The focus, therefore, should not be on
actual testing, but on counseling people with high-risk behavior,
say Colebunders and Ndumbe. Until health care in developing
countries improves, HIV testing merely for diagnostic purposes is

inappropriate, they conclude.



NOTE: Compilation by Michael Tidmus : AIDSwire. All rights
reserved. Permission is granted to republish on electronic media
for which no fee is charged, provided the complete text of this
notice is attached to any republished portion or portions.

* From the AIDS Daily Summary. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse has made this
information available 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.

-----===[[[ A I D S w i r e D I G E S T 09.06.93 ]]]===-----
.