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High rates of HIV infection reported in New York city
Newsdesk High rates of HIV infection reported in New York city Nearly 4% of all men in New York city aged 40–49 years and 2·8% of all men living in Manhattan are either infected with HIV or have full-blown AIDS, according to data presented at the 11th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (Feb 8–11; San Francisco, CA, USA). In December 2001, an estimated 75 550 New York residents, or 1% of the city’s population, were diagnosed and living with HIV/AIDS. “If you compare the prevalence of certain age groups here to the prevalence in some of the developing nations then the same percentage of the population is infected and diagnosed with HIV”, says lead author Denis Nash (Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, The New York Academy of Medicine, NY, USA).
However, Nash points out that one reason for New York’s rising prevalence is the availability of treatment. As a result, people are surviving longer, and the death rate has dropped. “In developing countries where treatment is scarce, the prevalence is being driven by transmission”, he says. “Whereas in New York City and other regions where treatment is available, prevalence is driven by both treatment and transmission.” New York city accounted for more than 15% of all US AIDS cases and 18% of HIV-related deaths in 2001, even though it comprises only 3% of the entire population. Nash and colleagues also looked at the characteristics of the 6662 New Yorkers diagnosed with HIV infection during 2001. Men accounted for 65% of cases, women for 35%. They also found
significant racial and ethnic differences; HIV infection rates were five times higher among non-Hispanic blacks and 2·5 times higher among Hispanics. A significant proportion (27%) of individuals were also diagnosed in the late stages of HIV infection, with men, non-Hispanic blacks, and residents of boroughs outside of Manhattan more likely to be late presenters. “The minorities and the disadvantaged people in our society bear the burden of poor access to health care, lower quality education, and very low income”, comments Ruth Berggren (Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, US). “We should target our interventions among these groups in a non-stigmatising manner. Otherwise, we will continue to see these disparities in health.” Roxanne Nelson
In the run-up to World TB day on March 24, the Stop TB Partnership announced its first global ambassador, A R Rahman, the musical composer of scores of hit Bollywood films, also dubbed the “Mozart of Madras”. Marcos Espinall (Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership) told TLID, “our global target in 2005 is to detect 70% of tuberculosis cases and to cure 85% of them. We are already in 2004 and falling short of that target. By bringing in an icon such AR Rahman, we will help raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. Rahman will be an effective spokesperson to spread the message that tuberculosis is curable and can be conquered”. Rahman will address the second Stop TB Partners’ forum in New Delhi, India (March 24-25), a major international gathering of donors, technical agencies, non-governmental organisations, and ministerial delegations from 22 high-tuberculosis-burden countries. The meeting will highlight progress at country level, and the importance of private and civil sector involvement. Elsewhere in the world, tuberculosis is also taking its toll. A worrying WHO
188
Media Moguls
Global spotlight falls on tuberculosis
A R Rahman’s hit musical Bombay Dreams
report on global tuberculosis drug resistance in more than 100 countries has found that the prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), is the highest in the former Soviet Union as well as some parts of China. Kazakhstan, parts of Siberia, Uzbekistan, and the Baltics are the real hot spots of MDR-TB. The report also highlights that drug
resistance is not only to isoniazid and rifampicin, but that four out of five cases are also resistant to at least a third drug. Mario Raviglione (director of Stop TB) said, “we are very concerned, the former Soviet Union is also where the HIV epidemic is penetrating rapidly, so if we don’t intervene quickly, we will have a terrible situation on our hands. We need to expand the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS)strategy and invest into DOTS-plus”. With many of these affected countries soon to be part of the European Union in May, Paul Sommerfield (Chair of TB alert, UK) doesn’t think there will be a sudden increase of MDR-TB in the UK. “Our tuberculosis services are not bad, but the cost of MDR-TB to the health service is high. The government needs to publish its National Action plan for tuberculosis which we have been promised since 2002. Without publication and political pressure it means tuberculosis will not get the level of priority it needs when it comes to decison-making in primary care.” Pam Das
THE LANCET Infectious Diseases Vol 4 April 2004
http://infection.thelancet.com
For personal use. Only reproduce with permission from The Lancet.
However, Nash points out that one reason for New York’s rising prevalence is the availability of treatment. As a result, people are surviving longer, and the death rate has dropped. “In developing countries where treatment is scarce, the prevalence is being driven by transmission”, he says. “Whereas in New York City and other regions where treatment is available, prevalence is driven by both treatment and transmission.” New York city accounted for more than 15% of all US AIDS cases and 18% of HIV-related deaths in 2001, even though it comprises only 3% of the entire population. Nash and colleagues also looked at the characteristics of the 6662 New Yorkers diagnosed with HIV infection during 2001. Men accounted for 65% of cases, women for 35%. They also found
significant racial and ethnic differences; HIV infection rates were five times higher among non-Hispanic blacks and 2·5 times higher among Hispanics. A significant proportion (27%) of individuals were also diagnosed in the late stages of HIV infection, with men, non-Hispanic blacks, and residents of boroughs outside of Manhattan more likely to be late presenters. “The minorities and the disadvantaged people in our society bear the burden of poor access to health care, lower quality education, and very low income”, comments Ruth Berggren (Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, US). “We should target our interventions among these groups in a non-stigmatising manner. Otherwise, we will continue to see these disparities in health.” Roxanne Nelson
In the run-up to World TB day on March 24, the Stop TB Partnership announced its first global ambassador, A R Rahman, the musical composer of scores of hit Bollywood films, also dubbed the “Mozart of Madras”. Marcos Espinall (Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership) told TLID, “our global target in 2005 is to detect 70% of tuberculosis cases and to cure 85% of them. We are already in 2004 and falling short of that target. By bringing in an icon such AR Rahman, we will help raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. Rahman will be an effective spokesperson to spread the message that tuberculosis is curable and can be conquered”. Rahman will address the second Stop TB Partners’ forum in New Delhi, India (March 24-25), a major international gathering of donors, technical agencies, non-governmental organisations, and ministerial delegations from 22 high-tuberculosis-burden countries. The meeting will highlight progress at country level, and the importance of private and civil sector involvement. Elsewhere in the world, tuberculosis is also taking its toll. A worrying WHO
188
Media Moguls
Global spotlight falls on tuberculosis
A R Rahman’s hit musical Bombay Dreams
report on global tuberculosis drug resistance in more than 100 countries has found that the prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), is the highest in the former Soviet Union as well as some parts of China. Kazakhstan, parts of Siberia, Uzbekistan, and the Baltics are the real hot spots of MDR-TB. The report also highlights that drug
resistance is not only to isoniazid and rifampicin, but that four out of five cases are also resistant to at least a third drug. Mario Raviglione (director of Stop TB) said, “we are very concerned, the former Soviet Union is also where the HIV epidemic is penetrating rapidly, so if we don’t intervene quickly, we will have a terrible situation on our hands. We need to expand the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS)strategy and invest into DOTS-plus”. With many of these affected countries soon to be part of the European Union in May, Paul Sommerfield (Chair of TB alert, UK) doesn’t think there will be a sudden increase of MDR-TB in the UK. “Our tuberculosis services are not bad, but the cost of MDR-TB to the health service is high. The government needs to publish its National Action plan for tuberculosis which we have been promised since 2002. Without publication and political pressure it means tuberculosis will not get the level of priority it needs when it comes to decison-making in primary care.” Pam Das
THE LANCET Infectious Diseases Vol 4 April 2004
http://infection.thelancet.com
For personal use. Only reproduce with permission from The Lancet.