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Prevention News Archives
Following are links to the Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report (and occasionally
other sources) and summaries from the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention
News Update.
March 2008 News
FDA approves new HIV diagnostic test
FDA Release 3/28/08
On March 27, 2008, FDA approved a new HIV diagnostic test, the VITROS
Anti-HIV 1+2 Reagent Pack and VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 Calibrator, manufactured by
Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. The VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 Reagent Pack and VITROS
Anti-HIV 1+2 Calibrator is an in vitro chemiluminescent immunoassay intended for
the in vitro qualitative detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus
types 1 and 2 in human serum and plasma using the VITROS ECi/ECiQ
Immunodiagnostic System.
The results of the VITROS Anti-HIV 1+2 assay, in conjunction with other
serological evidence and clinical information may be used as an aid in the
diagnosis of infection with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 in persons with signs or symptoms
of, or at risk for, HIV infection.
The assay is highly sensitive and specific for the detection of anti-HIV types 1
and 2 antibody. The VITROS ECi/ECiQ Immunodiagnostic System is fully automated,
reducing the potential for operator errors, with redundant checks to ensure
integrity of the system. This automation allows for increased efficiency and
convenience.
FDA-approved assays for diagnosis and donor screening for HIV are listed at
http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/testkits.htm.
CDC Data Show 80 Percent Increase in HIV among Young
African American Men Who Have Sex with Men
Advocates for Youth Press Release (3/28/08)
WASHINGTON, DC (March 13, 2008) – Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention finally released data it had long held internally that demonstrate an
alarming increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases among African American young
men who have sex with men (YMSM). See Advocates for Youth Press
Release
CDC Data Show 80 Percent Increase In HIV Among Young African American Men Who
Have Sex With Men
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/100743.php
Pennsylvania HIV/AIDS Advocacy Group Targets Prevention, Treatment Programs
Toward Older Adults
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51008
CALIFORNIA:
"Anti-Meth Campaign Aimed at Gay Men"
Los Angeles Times , (03.14.2008) Mary Engel
California drug officials on Thursday unveiled a new $11 million campaign to
discourage gay men from using crystal methamphetamine, the illegal stimulant
linked to risky sexual behavior. Campaign messages, information, and referrals
will be displayed on billboards and bus wraps and broadcast on cable. A Web site
featuring video testimonials allows people to upload their own stories and
refers crystal users to places where they can get help. CDC
Summary
"Sex Diseases in Many Gay Men Go Unfound, Experts Say"
New York Times , (03.13.2008) Lawrence K. Altman
STD screening is a critical part of health care for sexually active gay men, but
few present annually for testing as CDC recommends. In addition, when gay men do
present, many doctors fail to screen them for STDs, researchers reported
Wednesday at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference in Chicago.
CDC Summary in Medical (STD) News.
"Group to Test Merck AIDS Drug in Gel"
Reuters , (03.11.2008) Maggie Fox
On Tuesday, the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) announced it
has received permission to use Merck and Co.’s experimental HIV drug L’644 in
testing as a potential vaginal microbicide. L’644 is a gp41 inhibitor that would
block HIV from attaching to immune cells. See
Microbicide News.
"1 in 4 US Teen Girls Has Sexually Transmitted Disease"
Associated Press , (03.11.2008) Lindsey Tanner
Slightly more than one in four US females ages 14-19 has an STD, according to a
survey CDC researchers presented Tuesday at the 2008 National STD Prevention
Conference in Chicago. The findings are based on 838 females who participated in
the nationally representative 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey. The first-of-its-kind study screened the teens for chlamydia, human
papillomavirus (HPV), trichomoniasis, and herpes. CDC
Summary
"Partner Treatment Eyed for STDs"
Washington Times , (03.12.2008) Cheryl Wetzstein
Speaking Tuesday at CDC’s 2008 National STD Prevention Conference, the director
of the agency’s Division of STD Prevention called expedited partner therapy, in
which women with curable STDs are given drugs to treat their male partners, a
“promising approach.”
In addition, CDC recommends “routine HIV testing for all individuals, male
and female, ages 13 to 64, regardless of perceived risk,” Douglas said. “HIV
remains an incurable disease, and infection with an [STD] can significantly
facilitate HIV transmission and acquisition.” CDC Summary
Summaries
CALIFORNIA:
"Anti-Meth Campaign Aimed at Gay Men"
Los Angeles Times , (03.14.2008) Mary Engel
California drug officials on Thursday unveiled a new $11 million campaign to
discourage gay men from using crystal methamphetamine, the illegal stimulant
linked to risky sexual behavior. Campaign messages, information, and referrals
will be displayed on billboards and bus wraps and broadcast on cable. A Web site
featuring video testimonials allows people to upload their own stories and
refers crystal users to places where they can get help.
A statewide survey released during the launch found crystal use among gay men is
11 times that of the overall population. Among 549 gay and bisexual men
surveyed, 55 percent had used crystal, compared with 5 percent of the general
population.
The campaign, especially the Web site, will appeal to young people, said Mike
Rizzo, manager of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center (LAGLC). The Web videos
portray meth use in a way that “is real and relatable and not easily dismissed
as being overly alarmist,” he added.
The campaign “is about loss, really - of family, friends, their looks, jobs, who
they are,” said Renee Zito, director of the California Department of Alcohol and
Drug Programs. “It essentially gets down to ‘I lost myself.’”
In 2006, LAGLC and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation supported legislative
efforts to fund the campaign. In 2004, one in three MSM testing positive for HIV
in LAGLC’s screening program used crystal meth, a threefold increase over 2001.
In the state-funded survey, gay men were the only group to mention sexual
arousal as a benefit from using the drug.
“Not only can it increase the likelihood of having unprotected sex, but people
are also having more sex with more partners and having sex for a longer period
of time, increasing the likelihood of infection,” said Dr. Michelle Roland,
chief of the AIDS office at the state Department of Public Health.
For more information, visit www.menotmeth.org
.
"1 in 4 US Teen Girls Has Sexually
Transmitted Disease"
Associated Press , (03.11.2008) Lindsey Tanner
Slightly more than one in four US females ages 14-19 has an STD, according to a
survey CDC researchers presented Tuesday at the 2008 National STD Prevention
Conference in Chicago. The findings are based on 838 females who participated in
the nationally representative 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey. The first-of-its-kind study screened the teens for chlamydia, human
papillomavirus (HPV), trichomoniasis, and herpes.
The STD rate for all those surveyed was 26 percent, which by extrapolation would
be more than 3 million girls nationwide, CDC said. Nearly half the African
Americans surveyed had at least one STD, compared to 20 percent each for whites
and Mexican Americans.
Just half those surveyed reported having sex; among them, the STD rate was 40
percent, reported lead investigator Dr. Sara Forhan.
Among the teens, 18 percent were infected with HPV, which can cause cervical
cancer; 4 percent had chlamydia infection, which can lead to infertility; 2.5
percent had trichomoniasis; and 2 percent had genital herpes.
The data likely reflect current prevalence, said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr.,
director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. STD screening is under-utilized,
and many young girls do not think they are at risk, Douglas said. In addition,
he said, some doctors erroneously believe: “Sexually transmitted diseases don’t
happen to the kinds of patients I see.”
Given the potential consequences of STDs, “screening, vaccination, and other
prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public
health priorities,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for
HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under
age 25, HPV vaccination for girls ages 11-12, and catch-up HPV shots for females
ages 13-26.
"Partner Treatment Eyed for STDs"
Washington Times , (03.12.2008) Cheryl Wetzstein
Speaking Tuesday at CDC’s 2008 National STD Prevention Conference, the director
of the agency’s Division of STD Prevention called expedited partner therapy, in
which women with curable STDs are given drugs to treat their male partners, a
“promising approach.”
“In this way, men who may not have a physician, or who may be reluctant to seek
health care because they themselves don’t have symptoms, can get treated without
having to visit a doctor themselves,” said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr. The female
patients should be retested in about three months, he added, to check for
reinfection.
In addition, CDC recommends “routine HIV testing for all individuals, male and
female, ages 13 to 64, regardless of perceived risk,” Douglas said. “HIV remains
an incurable disease, and infection with an [STD] can significantly facilitate
HIV transmission and acquisition.”
Faith-Based Organizations Express Support for Needle-Exchange Programs
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=50759
See February Archives
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