                     AIDS Daily Summary 
                     September 20, 1996
     
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 National AIDS 
Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this 
text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC 
National AIDS Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this 
information. Copyright 1996, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD
     
     
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"Confidential AIDS Data Given to Paper"
"Health Officials Are Urging a Focus on AIDS in Prisons" 
"Morrison Plans One More Fight Despite H.I.V.-Positive Status" 
"Rare, Deadly Germs Discovered Globally"
"The Trades of the Tricks"
"Disease Threat Arriving via Foreign Ships"
"Tennessee Court Rules for Insurer in Failure to Disclose Case 
Involving HIV-Positive Male"
"Occupational Risks Associated With Tuberculosis Listed" 
"Duration of the Survival Benefit of Zidovudine Therapy in HIV 
Infection"
"HIV Patient Denied Hospital Admission" 
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"Confidential AIDS Data Given to Paper" 
Washington Post (09/20/96) P. A7
     The Tampa Tribune was anonymously sent a copy of a
confidential computer disk containing the names of 4,000 AIDS 
patients.  The disk was mailed to the newspaper with a letter 
which said the disk was dropped outside a bar by a drunken public 
health worker who had showed the list to friends on a laptop 
computer.  The writer also claimed to have made a copy of the 
disk.  The newspaper reports that it gave a copy of the disk and 
letter to the Florida. Department of Health and Rehabilitative 
Services, which is investigating the incident.  The public health 
worker, one of three people with access to the information, has 
been placed on paid administrative leave.  A state health 
department representative called the incident "probably about the 
worst thing that could happen in the AIDS program."
     
"Health Officials Are Urging a Focus on AIDS in Prisons" 
Philadelphia Inquirer (09/20/96) P. A25; Vedantam, Shankar
     The rate of AIDS in U.S. prisons is six times greater than
the national average, federal researchers report, adding that 
about 22 million Americans enter and leave jails and prisons each 
year.  Unsafe sex practices and needle sharing put inmates at 
high risk, and increase the chance that they will carry the virus 
with them when released.  Researchers at the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention reported their findings Thursday in the 
American Journal of Public Health.  They are supporting AIDS 
education for prisoners, and the distribution of condoms and 
clean needles in jails and prisons.  Most correctional facilities 
are reluctant to provide prisoners with condoms and needles, 
however, because they see such practices as condoning activity 
they do not allow.  Researchers and prison advocates say this 
position is unrealistic, and increases the risk of spreading HIV.
     
"Morrison Plans One More Fight Despite H.I.V.-Positive Status" 
New York Times (09/20/96) P. B8; Roberts, Selena
     Although boxer Tommy Morrison announced in February, after 
learning that he is infected with HIV, that he would "absolutely" 
not box again, he said Thursday that he wants to fight "one last 
time."  Morrison was suspended from the sport in Nevada because 
he tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, but some 
states do not screen boxers for HIV.  If he can find an opponent, 
Morrison said he wants to schedule a fight to benefit his 
foundation, Knockout AIDS.  He says he has been convinced by 
medical evidence that HIV cannot be spread in the ring.  His 
promoter, Tony Holden, is not yet convinced of this, however, and 
says that, until he is, he will not promote such a match.  Boxer 
Ross Puritty said that he is willing to fight Morrison "if the 
money is right."
     
"Rare, Deadly Germs Discovered Globally" 
USA Today (09/20/96) P. 12D; Manning, Anita
     New germs, some deadly, are emerging all over the world, 
researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
report.  Among the new microbes discussed at a meeting of the 
American Society for Microbiology, was hepatitis G, a new form of 
the virus. that appears to be transmitted in the blood but has not 
been linked to disease.  The researchers also pointed to 
bartonella, discovered in 1990, as the cause of various illnesses 
in healthy people, but which can be fatal to people with 
compromised immunity.  In AIDS patients, it causes an illness that 
mimics Kaposi's sarcoma.  Dr. Jane E. Koehler says it is critical 
for doctors to recognize the difference, because the treatment is 
completely different.
     
"The Trades of the Tricks"
Washington Post (09/19/96) P. C1; Bowles, Scott
     Police say that escort services have become popular among 
white-collar johns in the Washington, D.C., area.  Using cellular 
phones, voice mail systems, and computers to process credit-card 
payments, call girls in the region often operate as professionals 
through agencies that often escape prosecution.  However, these 
women note that they still fear contracting HIV.  While they 
usually demand that a condom be worn, they "still live scared 
that the next guy has AIDS.  You just have to weigh the risk 
against how much money you make," said one call girl.
     
"Disease Threat Arriving via Foreign Ships" 
USA Today (09/19/96) P. 3A; Tyson, Rae
     Foreign ships coming to the United States are carrying
bacteria that cause cholera and other deadly diseases thought to 
have been eradicated here.  More than 21 billion gallons of 
ballast water, carrying cholera, E. coli, botulism, salmonella, 
cryptosporidium, and hepatitis A, are dumped by the ships that 
enter U.S. waters each year.  The bacteria infect shellfish which, 
when eaten raw, can infect humans.  Congress is now considering 
implementing new ballast water regulations.
     
"Tennessee Court Rules for Insurer in Failure to Disclose Case 
Involving HIV-Positive Male"
Reuters (09/19/96)
     A life insurance company's decision that a man who did not 
reveal that he had HIV was not eligible for disability benefits 
was upheld by a Tennessee Court of Appeals.  Krystof Krakowiak 
filed a lawsuit against the Paul Revere Life Insurance, claiming 
that his condition should not have been covered under the 
company's pre-existing conditions clause.  The company held that 
AIDS is not a pre-existing condition, but rather an illness, and 
that the policy did not cover pre-existing illnesses.
     
"Occupational Risks Associated With Tuberculosis Listed" 
Reuters (09/19/96)
     Inhalation therapists, lower-paid health care workers, and 
funeral directors are at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) 
than the general population, federal researchers report.  
Matthew T. McKenna and colleagues at the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention say that people with the "most intensive 
interaction with patients with pulmonary disease" are at high 
risk for contracting TB.  They suggest that the risk of TB in 
the community should be considered when implementing worksite TB 
control measures.
     
"Duration of the Survival Benefit of Zidovudine Therapy in HIV 
Infection"
Journal of the American Medical Association (09/11/96) Vol. 276, 
No. 10, P. 762; Moore, Richard D.
     While zidovudine is known to provide a survival benefit for 
advanced AIDS patients, the length of time of this benefit is not 
known.  However, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University 
School of Medicine now report in the Archives of Internal 
Medicine that the survival advantage lasts between one and two 
years.  They made the estimate based on data from nearly 400 
HIV-infected patients who were followed for three years.  
Compared to no treatment, a significant benefit from zidovudine 
was found during the first year of therapy.  A diminishing 
benefit was found, however, at one to two years.
     
"HIV Patient Denied Hospital Admission"
American Medical News (09/09/96) Vol. 39, No. 34, P. 30
     A federal trial court ruled that an Ohio hospital violated
the Americans with Disabilities Act when it refused to admit an 
HIV-positive patient.  The patient was taken to the emergency 
room after having an adverse reaction to a new medication.  The 
attending physician determined that the patient had to be 
admitted, but the hospital's admitting physician denied the 
patient's admission.  The patient was transferred to a medical 
college hospital, where the staff determined that he was having a 
simple, but severe, allergic reaction to his medication.  The 
patient sued the first hospital and the admitting physician for 
violating the ADA, the Federal Rehabilitation Act, and the 
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.  The trial 
court ruled against the hospital and the physician on the ADA 
claim only.  The patient was not entitled to damages, but the 
hospital was enjoined from further violations of the ADA and 
ordered to post signs to inform HIV-infected patients of their 
protection from discrimination under the ADA.
     
     
