November 28, 2007

•  LIVING WITH HIV

An Unlikely Father-Daughter Duo Grows Up With HIV
It sounds like something out of a cable TV script: Michael Kearns is a white, middle-aged, gay, HIV-positive activist; his daughter, Tia, is an African-American he adopted when she was just a baby. But this story is far from fiction; it's about how the power of love can overcome any obstacle, be it race, sexual orientation or HIV status. "As offbeat as we are -- unorthodox, unconventional, whatever -- we love each other," Kearns says. (Web highlight from the Los Angeles Times; free registration required)


HIV, Hep C Me: A Coinfected Man's Story
Hepatitis C treatment was not easy on Donald Lynch. Looking back, he says, "This is what kept me going -- the knowledge that I could and would beat this virus." A recovering drug addict who turned his life around after his HIV diagnosis in 1996, hep C treatment proved to be a huge challenge for Lynch. But despite sometimes-debilitating side effects and his concerns, as a former injection-drug user, about injecting hep C meds, he rose to the occasion -- and ultimately won his battle against hep C. "The fact that I might be able to beat hep C just overruled whatever side effects the meds had in store for me," Lynch says.

•  HIV IN THE NEWS

In-Depth Info on Where U.S. Presidential Candidates Stand on HIV-Related Issues (PDF)
Where do the candidates for the upcoming U.S. presidential election stand on HIV? This comprehensive, issue-by-issue report from Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) has all the answers. The report includes a quick reference chart on key HIV-related issues, as well as a detailed breakdown of what the top eight Republican and Democratic presidential candidates have proposed and stated.


Proposal on HIV and Immigration Is a Disappointment, HIV Activists Say
New HIV immigration rules proposed by the U.S. government are actually *more restrictive* than the current rules, many activists say. A year after President Bush promised to make it easier for people with HIV to visit the United States, the government finally proposed the new regulations. However, under the proposed new rules, foreign visitors with HIV would still be banned and need a special waiver to enter the country; the waiver process would just be more efficient. In addition, several HIV organizations say the new rules may make it harder for some HIVers to enter the United States, especially if they hope to live in the United States permanently. (Web highlight from the Washington Blade)

Among the many people seething over the proposed regulations is outspoken journalist Doug Ireland, who posted this entry to his blog on the issue.

The Department of Homeland Security is inviting public comments on the proposed regulations until Dec. 6. To read the full proposal and submit your opinion, click here.


As HIV Meds Fight the Virus, Drug Companies Duel Over Profits
The truth about HIV treatment is that, although most of us view HIV meds as lifesavers, on Wall Street most people see them as dollar signs. HIV meds are a multibillion-dollar business -- and that business is in the early stages of a massive power shift, as drug companies emerge with cutting-edge meds and patents expire on old stalwarts. Which companies stand to win or lose the most in the fight over profits from these miraculous little pills? In this article, experts gaze into the financial crystal ball. (Web highlight from CNNMoney.com)

•  HIV TRANSMISSION TESTING

Washington, D.C.: One in 20 is HIV Positive
One in 20 residents in Washington, D.C., is HIV positive, according to the city's top HIV official -- the same HIV rate as in all of sub-Saharan Africa. A new report from the Washington, D.C., health department provides an array of bleak statistics, including the fact that 80 percent of all recent HIV diagnoses have been among African Americans. The report also drives home just how little HIV remains a "gay disease": 37 percent of all newly diagnosed HIVers in the United States' capital city got the virus through heterosexual sex, compared to 25 percent through sex between men.

After the report's release, the mayor of Washington, D.C., and the new director of the city's HIV/AIDS administration pledged to reinvigorate the fight against HIV. At this point, their plan mainly consists of increasing the number of free condoms and working with the district's hospitals to get rapid HIV testing into every emergency department.

To read a PDF of the complete Washington, D.C., HIV/AIDS report, click here.


Florida: Land of Sun, Fun and ... HIV?
Many people might think of Florida as a nice vacation spot, but underneath its sunny exterior, the state has a raging HIV epidemic. Florida is home to the third-highest number of HIVers of any state in the country, and the second-highest number of HIV-positive children. Leaders in Florida have been accused of failing to respond to the urgency of the epidemic. Bishop Lewis White of United Deliverance Church is one of a precious few who have spoken out about the need for education and prevention. When he hands out free condoms, he says, "I'm promoting life. I'm here for a purpose, not to judge you on who you have sex with."


More than Half of U.S. OB/GYNs Still Use Opt-In HIV Testing for Pregnant Women, Survey Says
Although federal recommendations urge U.S. doctors to provide opt-out HIV testing to pregnant women, more than half of U.S. OB/GYN doctors still use an opt-in approach, according to a new survey. Opt-in testing means that the pregnant woman must request a test (and sometimes sign a consent form), whereas opt-out testing means that the woman has to say something only if she does not want an HIV test. Most OB/GYNs do recommend HIV testing to all their pregnant patients, the survey found, but some are unclear about state requirements for recommending tests, which may differ from federal recommendations.

Many U.S. state laws for HIV testing run counter to new federal recommendations by requiring things like pretest counseling and informed consent. States have made little progress in changing their laws to allow for routine testing, according this recent report published in the online journal PLoS One.

•  HIV OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

The New UNAIDS Report: Where Did 6 Million HIV Cases Go?
In its latest report, UNAIDS' estimate of the number of people living with HIV declined by 6.3 million. Is that huge drop a sign that the epidemic is finally receding, or a hint that there's something funny about the numbers UNAIDS is giving us? This analysis by the International AIDS Society explains the reasons behind the dip in HIV cases worldwide and surveys the state of HIV in 2007.

To read the full UNAIDS report, which details HIV/AIDS figures globally and in specific regions, click here.


In Kenya, HIV Positive and Still Sexy
"You can have your sexuality ... you don't have to lose it because you have HIV; you just have to be responsible," says 28-year-old Florence Anam, an HIV-positive advocate in Kenya. When Florence tested positive, she says she stopped dressing attractively and lost interest in sex. Back then, she says, she was just waiting to die. But Florence emerged from that difficult time and rediscovered her sexuality -- and now she's one of many HIV-positive Kenyans speaking out. HIV advocates met recently in Mombasa to discuss how rethinking sexuality, sexual violence, stigma and self-esteem can help fight Africa's HIV pandemic. (Web highlight from PlusNews)


New HIV Cases in Europe Up Dramatically Since 1999
A new report shows that HIV rates are rapidly increasing not just in many developing countries, but in the developed nations of Europe as well: In European Union (EU) countries, the reported number of new HIV infections has doubled since 1999, according to a report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In non-EU areas of Europe, the situation is even worse. According to the ECDC director, these numbers probably only show the tip of the iceberg: Estimates suggest that almost one-third of people living with HIV in Europe are unaware of their status.


The C-Word Finally Comes to Italian TV
An HIV awareness ad filmed last week will be the first advertisement shown on Italian TV to include the word "condom." In the past, pictures of condoms or vague slogans were used, but the word itself was never seen or heard. The taboo on saying "condom" seems odd in a country that shows scantily clad women in TV ads, but Italy, home of the Vatican, is still under the sway of the Roman Catholic Church, which condemns the use of condoms. (Web highlight from Reuters)