                     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
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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.
      
