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Marijuana effectiveness as an HIV self-care strategy

Those in the United States living with HIV/AIDS are more likely to use marijuana than those in Kenya, South Africa or Puerto Rica to alleviate their symptoms, according to a new study published in Clinical Nursing Research, published by SAGE.

31 May 2009

Researchers plan to target immune cells responsible for eluding antiretroviral treatment

Certain human immune cells known as macrophages are composed of hybrid HIV strains that elude treatment and antiretroviral drugs, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Florida and other institutions, the Gainesville Sun reports.

31 May 2009

Thai HIV/AIDS advocates urge increased treatment access for IDUs

The Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group recently called on the country to launch a comprehensive harm reduction program for injection drug users in an effort to help curb the spread of HIV, Thailand's The Nation reports.

31 May 2009

Report estimates significant impact of widespread circumcision effort in Botswana

Botswana's campaign to circumcise about 500,000 men by 2012 will prevent nearly 70,000 new HIV cases by 2025, according to a report published Thursday in the Journal of the International AIDS Society, AFP/Yahoo! News reports.

31 May 2009

HIV prevention efforts in five African countries not reaching at-risk groups, report says

National HIV prevention strategies in at least five African countries are not reaching the groups most at risk of infection, according to a report from UNAIDS and the World Bank conducted in conjunction with the national HIV/AIDS authorities of Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Uganda, IRIN/PlusNews reports.

31 May 2009

'Complacency,' 'stigma' hindering efforts to reduce HIV/AIDS in black communities, opinion piece says

"Nearly 30 years after the discovery of HIV and AIDS, the epidemic is still ravaging black neighborhoods in Baltimore and across the nation," Kevin Fenton -- director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention -- writes in a Baltimore Sun opinion piece.

28 May 2009

Fishing industry contributing to spread of HIV around Africa's Lake Victoria

The fishing industry and some cultural practices in communities living around Africa's Lake Victoria are contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections in the area, according to a panel of experts at a recent meeting in Kisumu, Kenya, The Citizen reports.

28 May 2009

About 75% of people in Rwanda who have experienced discrimination are HIV-positive, survey finds

A recently released survey on stigma in Rwanda indicates that at least 74% of people in various segments of society who have experienced discrimination are HIV-positive, the New Times/AllAfrica.com reports. The discrimination often is in the form of isolation from family and physical harassment, according to the survey.

28 May 2009

Thailand aims to halve new HIV cases by 2011, Prime Minister says

Thailand has set a goal of reducing by half the number of new HIV cases in the country by 2011, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday, TNA/MCOT English News reports.

28 May 2009

About 0.59% of Vietnamese fishery workers are HIV-positive, prevalence could rise by 2013, survey says

An estimated 33,000 of the total 5.5 million workers in Vietnam's fishery sector, or about 0.59%, were living with HIV in 2008, according to a survey released Tuesday by Vietnam's fishery program, VNA/VOV News reports (VNA/VOV News, 5/27).

28 May 2009

Second death from mosquito-borne disease prompts calls for more spraying programs

The recent death of a second person from Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) in Northern Australia has prompted calls for an increase in mosquito control spraying programs.

28 May 2009

Stranded swine flu cruise ship plays a waiting game

According to the World Health Organisation's latest update, #40, on Influenza A H1N1 (swine flu), as of the 27th May, 48 countries have officially now reported 13,398 cases of the virus, including 95 deaths.

27 May 2009

New cellular targets for HIV drug development

Focusing HIV drug development on immune cells called macrophages instead of traditionally targeted T cells could bring us closer to eradicating the disease, according to new research from University of Florida and five other institutions.

27 May 2009

Solomon Islands could see increase in HIV cases, WHO says

A recent estimate from the World Health Organization says that the number of HIV cases in the Solomon Islands could reach at least 350 by 2010, the Solomon Star News reports.

27 May 2009

Rwanda launches campaign to address cross-generational sex

The Rwanda Ministry of Youth recently launched a six-month campaign aimed at reducing the trend of cross-generational sex, which some health officials say is contributing to the spread of HIV among young people in the country, the New Times/AllAfrica.com reports.

27 May 2009

World Cup campaign to build centers to provide HIV/AIDS education, other services to ‘at-risk’ African youth

Authorities in South Africa have begun construction of one of the 20 planned Football for Hope centers in Africa -- part of a 2010 World Cup campaign called "20 Centers for 2010" aimed at reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, poverty and crime in local communities -- the AP/Google.com reports.

27 May 2009

South African Health Minister to launch ‘plan to address mother-to-child HIV transmission’

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi within the next two weeks is expected to launch a plan to address mother-to-child HIV transmission in an effort to reduce infant mortality in the country, The Times reports.

27 May 2009

Advocates at Kenyan conference explore new strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa

Nearly 30 years after the emergence of HIV/AIDS, the global health community must develop new strategies to curb the spread of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa, some experts said Tuesday ahead of the Global Citizens Summit for Social Mobilization to End AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya, AFP/Google.com reports.

27 May 2009

California Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan to reduce state spending includes cuts to HIV/AIDS services

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday sent state lawmakers a plan to reduce more than $5 billion in spending that includes cuts to HIV/AIDS services, the Los Angeles Times reports (Rothfeld/McGreevy, Los Angeles Times, 5/27).

27 May 2009

Australian swine flu toll climbs but expert says threat is over-hyped

According to the World Health Organisation's latest update, # 39, as of the 26th of May the latest figures in the influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak are 12,954 confirmed cases in 46 countries, including 92 deaths.

26 May 2009

Disease/Infection News

Marijuana effectiveness as an HIV self-care strategy

Researchers plan to target immune cells responsible for eluding antiretroviral treatment

Thai HIV/AIDS advocates urge increased treatment access for IDUs

Report estimates significant impact of widespread circumcision effort in Botswana

HIV prevention efforts in five African countries not reaching at-risk groups, report says

'Complacency,' 'stigma' hindering efforts to reduce HIV/AIDS in black communities, opinion piece says

Fishing industry contributing to spread of HIV around Africa's Lake Victoria

About 75% of people in Rwanda who have experienced discrimination are HIV-positive, survey finds

Thailand aims to halve new HIV cases by 2011, Prime Minister says

About 0.59% of Vietnamese fishery workers are HIV-positive, prevalence could rise by 2013, survey says

Second death from mosquito-borne disease prompts calls for more spraying programs

Stranded swine flu cruise ship plays a waiting game

New cellular targets for HIV drug development

Solomon Islands could see increase in HIV cases, WHO says

Rwanda launches campaign to address cross-generational sex

World Cup campaign to build centers to provide HIV/AIDS education, other services to ‘at-risk’ African youth

South African Health Minister to launch ‘plan to address mother-to-child HIV transmission’

Advocates at Kenyan conference explore new strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa

California Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan to reduce state spending includes cuts to HIV/AIDS services

Australian swine flu toll climbs but expert says threat is over-hyped

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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