CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update (120209)

The CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs and Tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC NCHHSTP Daily News Summary should be cited as the source of the information. Copyright © 2012, Information Inc., Bethesda, MD.

NATIONAL NEWS

TENNESSEE: Planned Parenthood Sues Tennessee over Cuts to STD Program

The Tennessean (Nashville) (02.03.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

Two Planned Parenthood groups are suing Tennessee for denying them grants to participate in CDC-funded HIV and syphilis prevention programs. The suit, filed Feb. 2 by Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee (PPMET) and Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, asks a federal judge to intervene and grant an injunction against the state.

According to the suit, the two groups have participated in HIV and syphilis prevention programs for more than a decade, largely with CDC funding. Last year they received nearly $150,000 and provided more than 15,000 people with prevention, testing, and education services.

Planned Parenthood applied last year for 2012 program funding, which it was awarded in August, the suit says. However, in December the state notified the group it would not be allowed to participate. A state Health Department official also said Planned Parenthood "would not be approved for other grant funding for which it might apply in the future."

In the suit, Planned Parenthood says the state arbitrarily denied it funding in December and January, without providing a reason, after approving it in August. The organization also accuses the state of violating its First Amendment rights, as well as patients' rights, by restricting access to such services based solely on an aversion to abortion, a service associated with the group.

While the state did not provide a reason for denying the grants, Gov. Bill Haslam and his political allies have openly expressed their opposition to government funding for Planned Parenthood. The Tennessee Department of Health declined comment on the suit and the defunding.

UNITED STATES: HIV Advocacy Organizations Launch Online Resource: HIVHealthReform.org

Windy City Times (Chicago) (01.18.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

Funded by a MAC AIDS Fund grant, the site is a collaborative effort by AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), Project Inform, the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School/Treatment Access Expansion Project, the HIV Medicine Association, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

"Though there's been plenty of media focus on the Affordable Care Act, it's been hard to find the facts about what it will really mean on the ground for those living with HIV," said John Peller, AFC's vice president of policy. "People with HIV stand to benefit tremendously from health reform, and they also face unique challenges in the upcoming transition, and this website will help them learn more about it."

The portal also has state-specific blogs that detail progress on the implementation of HIV-related efforts under the law. In addition, it serves as an advocacy resource for activists seeking to educate key decision-makers on policy implications for people with HIV/AIDS.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

CANADA: HIV-Positive People Should Always Tell Partner, Supreme Court Told

Edmonton Journal (02.09.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

The Supreme Court is reviewing disclosure laws following cases in Quebec and Manitoba where two people with HIV were acquitted of criminal charges for not revealing their serostatus. A 1998 Supreme Court case ruled that those who hide their infection do not allow partners informed consent and expose them to "significant risk of serious bodily harm," even if no transmission occurs. As a result, people with HIV who do not disclose their serostatus can be criminally liable.

Advocates argue that the risk of transmission is significantly lower when a condom is used and the viral load is suppressed through treatment. The Crown in Manitoba, Quebec, and Alberta jointly asked the Supreme Court to make full disclosure mandatory, since HIV is incurable and potentially fatal.

The criminal law is meant to protect the uninfected public at large, even it means singling out people with HIV, said Caroline Fontaine, Quebec's Crown attorney. "An HIV-infected person's sex life cannot be like everyone else's," she said. Basing the law on "moving targets" such as viral loads would be "dangerous," she said.

The laws have made people with HIV hesitant to disclose their status due to unfair prosecutions and even dissuade some from testing, Jonathan Shime, of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, told the court. The laws should only apply when transmission or recklessness can be proven, he said.

MEDICAL NEWS

GLOBAL: Surveillance of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World: An Updated Analysis, 2007-2010

Matteo Zignol; Wayne van Gemert; Dennis Falzon; Charalambos Sismanidis; Philippe Glaziou; Katherine Floyd; Mario Raviglione

Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 90; No. 2: doi: 10.2471/BLT.11.092585 (02..12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

In order to present a global update on drug-resistant TB and explore trends in 1994-2010, the researchers analyzed data on drug resistance among new and previously treated TB patients, as reported by countries to the World Health Organization. These data are collected through surveys of a representative sample of TB patients or surveillance systems based upon routine drug susceptibility testing. Logistic regression was used to explore associations between multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) and HIV infection and sex.

Eighty nations and eight territories reported surveillance data in 2007-2010. MDR TB among new and previously treated patients was highest in the Russian Federation (Murmansk oblast, 28.9 percent) and the Republic of Moldova (65.1 percent), respectively. More than 10 percent of MDR TB cases were extensively drug-resistant in three former Soviet Union countries and South Africa.

Globally from 1994 to 2010, multidrug resistance was seen in 3.4 percent of all new TB cases (95 percent confidence interval: 1.9-5.0) and 19.8 percent of previously treated TB cases (95 percent CI: 14.4-25.1). No overall associations were found between MDR TB and HIV (odds ratio: 1.4; 95 percent CI: 0.7-3.0) or sex (OR: 1.1; 95 percent CI 0.8-1.4). During 1994-2010, MDR TB rates among the general population increased in Botswana, Peru, and the Republic of Korea; they declined in Estonia, Latvia, and the United States.

"The highest global rates of MDR TB ever reported were documented in 2009 and 2010," the authors concluded. "Trends in MDR TB are still unclear in most settings. Better surveillance or survey data are required, especially from Africa and India."

LOCAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS

TENNESSEE: Mother Reaches Out to Others with HIV

The Tennessean (Nashville) (02.07.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

The nonprofit W.O.M.E.N. supports women coping with HIV and other diseases by providing food, clothing, shelter, and additional services. The acronym stands for Women on Maintaining Education and Nutrition; Catherine Wyatt-Morley, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1994, is its founder.

Wyatt-Morley said that at the time of her diagnosis, very little information about the disease addressed her circumstances - namely, a married professional African-American woman with three young children. "I didn't fit into the criteria of what we Americans thought was HIV," she said. Lacking support, she went into a spiral: Her church abandoned her, her friends alienated her, and she and her husband split up. "Everything that was precious to me was no longer part of my life except my three children," she said. "All of my friends, all my hopes, aspirations, everything. Gone."

This need for support drove Wyatt-Morley to start W.O.M.E.N. She has since traveled extensively: At a meeting in Switzerland, she shared her organization's story with representatives from 68 nations. "To be able to travel the world and give my opinion and recommendation and suggestions, not only regarding HIV, but women's health and women's rights, that's huge for me," she said.

Later this year, Wyatt-Morley will open W.O.M.E.N.'s House, a residential facility that will offer a holistic approach to care and services by using a behavioral research model. She hopes the facility, which is outside Davidson County, can house up to 18 women, with twice that number being assisted on a day-to-day basis.

ILLINOIS: AIDS 'Life Skills' Intervention May Reduce HIV Risk

Windy City Times (Chicago) (02.01.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

"Life Skills" is designed primarily to address stigma, marginalization, and participation in risky sexual behaviors. "This pilot project was unique in targeting the HIV-risk behaviors of adolescent and young adult transgender women, a very at-risk group and one that has been woefully absent from the scientific literature," said Garofalo.

The Life Skills curriculum includes information on sexual health, basic HIV facts, safer-sex techniques, healthy communication, partner negotiation, and available community-based services. Individual sessions with Chicago-area transgenders ages 16-24 resulted in tailored risk reduction plans.

The study demonstrated that small, group-based HIV prevention programs targeting young transgender women are both feasible and acceptable. Those who participated in the Life Skills pilot decreased their frequency of unprotected sex with casual partners and their number of main partners.

Garofalo said the study's success has resulted in a five-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. "In conjunction with the Fenway Institute and Harvard University, we at Children's will now conduct the first-ever efficacy trial of an HIV prevention intervention for young transgender women in the US."

NEWS BRIEFS

UGANDA: Uganda Government Distances Itself from Anti-Gay Bill

Associated Press (02.09.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

In a statement released Wednesday, Uganda's government said it does not support a reintroduced bill whose original version would have imposed the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. "As a parliamentary democracy the process of debate will continue. Whilst the government of Uganda does not support this bill, it is required under our constitution to facilitate this debate," the statement said. "The facilitation of this debate should not be confused for the government's support for this bill." Legislator David Bahati, who first introduced the measure in 2009, did so again Tuesday. As revised, it removes the capital punishment provision but retains life imprisonment for "aggravated homosexuality." Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda. Analysts say the bill would likely pass immediately but has not been put to a vote because President Yoweri Museveni believes it would undermine his foreign policy agenda. President Barack Obama has condemned the bill, as have leaders in Europe, where some countries have threatened to cut aid to Uganda if measure becomes law.

VIRGINIA: Majorities in Virginia Support Drug Tests for Welfare, Repeal of HPV Mandate

Washington Post (02.09.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

A slim majority of Virginians favor ending the state's requirement that sixth-grade girls be vaccinated against human papillomavirus, according to a new Quinnipiac University survey. Overall, 50 percent of respondents favor repealing the mandate; 42 percent oppose doing so. Women back the repeal by a 54 percent to 40 percent margin; men endorse the repeal by a 46 percent to 44 percent margin. While 59 percent of Republicans would end the requirement, 54 percent of Democrats would keep it. "On most issues, women are more in sync with Democrats, but on the HPV vaccine question they are more in tune with the views of Republicans," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. The Virginia House has approved a bill to end the HPV vaccine requirement, which became law in 2007. By a 76 percent to 21 percent margin, respondents also strongly endorsed subjecting welfare recipients to drug testing.

IOWA: Does Iowa Need an HPV Program? Senate Subcommittee Says Yes

Des Moines Register (02.08.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

A Senate Human Resources subcommittee has voted in favor of a measure that would allocate $250,000 for the state health department to launch a public awareness program about vaccination against human papillomavirus. Senate Study Bill 3097 also includes vaccinations for low-income women ages 19-26 without health coverage. The bill now advances to the full committee.

LOUISIANA: Foundation, Church Sponsor Community Health Event

Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (02.09.12) - Thursday, February 09, 2012

"If You Care, Beware: Know Your Status" is the theme of a community health event being held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday at Little Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2200 Kenner Ave. in Kenner. In addition to HIV testing, blood pressure, glucose, and other health screenings will be offered at the free event, which is sponsored by the church and the A.P. Clay Foundation. Other groups scheduled to take part include the NO/AIDS Task Force and the St. Charles Community Health Clinic. For more information, contact Kywanda Clay at 504-223-3587 or arthurpclayfoundation@yahoo.com.

CDC HIV/AIDS/Viral Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update

For Thursday, February 09, 2012