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|  5/12/2014 | National News  | U.S. Syphilis Rates on the Rise Among Men UNITED STATES :: STDs
Nature World News (05.08.2014) :: By Brian Stallard | | | Nature World News reported that US cases of syphilis have increased twofold in the last two decades, and men account for 91 percent of reported cases, according to CDC’s recent “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.” The 2013 rate of infection, which was 5.3 diagnoses per 100,000 individuals, was more than double the 2.1 diagnoses per 100,000 individuals in 2000, the year the country recorded its lowest ever rate. That low rate more than 10 years ago prompted health officials to declare the near elimination of syphilis.
Syphilis, a possibly fatal STD, hit an all-time high in 2006 with more than 36,000 diagnosed cases. CDC reported that rates started to fall again after 2006 but a new sharp increase began in 2011. CDC recorded 16,663 reported cases in 2013. The infection often goes unnoticed and if left untreated, can cause devastating health problems like blindness, brain damage, or even death.
Most cases occur in men who have sex with men, prompting CDC to urge doctors and health clinics to increase syphilis screenings, especially in this population. Additional recommendations include public outreach and partner-notification programs in the gay community.
The full report, “Primary and Secondary Syphilis—United States, 2005–2013,” was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2014; 63(18):402–406).
|  Read Full Article | Share this Article     | | Back to Top  |  | | International News  | Hepatitis B - A Silent Emergency in Senegal SENEGAL :: Viral Hepatitis
IRIN Humanitarian News and Analysis (05.08.2014) | | | IRIN reported that more than 2 million people in Senegal (approximately 15 percent of the population) have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This number includes 350,000 chronic carriers. The high number of infections is attributed to ill-timed vaccinations, expensive medication, and lack of universal screening. Although a cheap HBV vaccine exists, the disease causes approximately 600,000 deaths a year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
An HBV cure does not exist, but treatment is available. Ibrahima Gueye, founder and president of the Association Saafara Hépatite Sénégalaise, which focuses on hepatitis awareness and patient support, noted that chronic HBV patients have many difficulties, especially treatment cost. A one-year supply of HBV antiretrovirals costs approximately $4,000, but more than half of the population lives on less than $2 a day. The generic form of HBV medication costs less than $100 a year, but it is not available in Senegal and the government does not subsidize the cost of medication. Patients receive free HBV treatment only if also coinfected with HIV.
In 1999, the Ministry of Health created a national program against hepatitis (PNLH) to reduce the HBV infection rate and improve care and treatment. So far, doctors, patients, and HBV activists acknowledge the improvements in HBV vaccination campaigns have reduced infection in young people, but nothing was done for chronic HBV patients. Without universal screening, many do not know they are infected until it is too late. Screening also is very important for pregnant mothers who may transmit the disease to their babies. WHO recommends that babies receive HBV vaccine within 24 hours of birth, yet Senegal does not administer the vaccine until at least six weeks after birth along with other routine immunizations. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, HBV affects more people than HIV and TB, but receives low priority in many countries. | | Read Full Article | Share this Article | | Back to Top | | | Medical News  | HIV Tied to Almost Tripled Fracture Risk in Nationwide Denmark Study DENMARK :: HIV/AIDS
International AIDS Society (05.08.2014) :: By Mark Mascolini | | | The International AIDS Society reported on a study investigating the association between HIV diagnosis and fracture risk. In this case-control study, the researchers used data from Danish National Health Service registries to compare 124,655 persons who had fractures and 373,962 age-and gender-matched controls who did not have fractures.
Of the participants who had fractures, 50 were HIV-positive for a rate of 0.40 per 1,000, and 52 from the no-fractures control group were HIV-positive for a rate of 0.14 per 1,000. After adjusting for other risk factors, findings indicate that HIV-positive individuals had approximately three times the risk of fracture than HIV-negative individuals. The researchers also determined fracture risk at specific sites. HIV-positive individuals had a nine times higher risk of hip and spine fractures and three and a half times higher risk of forearm fracture.
The full report, “HIV Infection and Its Association with an Excess Risk of Clinical Fractures: A Nationwide Case–Control Study,” was published online in the Journal of AIDS (2014; 66(1):90–95). | | Read Full Article | Share this Article | | Back to Top | | | Local and Community News  | UCLA Dentistry Receives $2.36 Million to Provide Dental Care to Patients with HIV/AIDS CALIFORNIA :: HIV/AIDS
UCLA Newsroom (05.07.2014) :: By Brianna Aldrich | | | UCLA Newsroom reported that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry recently received a two-year grant of $2.36 million from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, to provide dental treatment to persons with HIV, a population that has had difficulty obtaining oral hygiene and treatment. The funds originated through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides monies to programs nationwide to help persons with HIV and AIDS who lack healthcare or financial resources.
Approximately 50,000–60,000 HIV-infected individuals reside in Los Angeles County. "With this funding, we are going to be able to provide quality dental care and oral health specialty services to thousands of HIV and AIDS patients," said Fariba Younai, a professor of clinical dentistry at UCLA.
The school will be able to provide dental services to more than 1,000 patients and will include cleanings, exams, X-rays, fillings, extractions, crowns, and periodontal surgery. Care will focus on prevention and proper oral home care. "The dental needs of HIV-positive and AIDS patients can be extensive and complex," said Dr. Paulo Camargo, the associate dean of clinical dental sciences at UCLA. "This contract allows the delivery of comprehensive dental treatment to a large patient population that would otherwise not have access to this type of care." | | Read Full Article | Share this Article | | Back to Top | | | | News Briefs | | | St. Louis Area Gets Increase in HIV/AIDS Funding MISSOURI :: HIV/AIDS
St. Louis American (05.05.2014) | | | The St. Louis American reported that funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services for HIV/AIDS medical care services in the St. Louis metropolitan area will increase from $5.7 million to $6.2 million—an 8.6-percent increase from last year’s totals. The counties covered by the metropolitan area will use the funds, which it received from the Ryan White program, to pay for medications, insurance, and support services for individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Pamela Walker, health director for the City of St. Louis, said the region was lucky to have the support of Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-Mo.) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), both vocal advocates on issues related to HIV/AIDS. Seven counties in Missouri and five counties in Illinois will benefit directly from the allotted funds. According to the health department, more than 4,100 individuals in the area received support from the Ryan White funds last year. For further information, contact the St. Louis HIV Health Planning Council at (314) 657–1551. | | Read Full Article | Share this Article | | Back to Top | | | | |
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