COUNTY'S AIDS CRISIS OVER, SPECIALIST SAYS.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer Los Angeles County's top AIDS epidemiologist declared Thursday that the epidemic appears to be over countywide, following a 56 percent drop in deaths during the first half of this year as compared with the same period last year. Dr. Peter Kerndt's announcement came as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. said Thursday that accidents have replaced AIDS as the leading cause of death among the nation's young to middle-age adults because the rate of AIDS deaths dropped by 26 percent between 1995 and 1996. ``The AIDS epidemic as we knew it is over, and we're entering a new era, an era where treatment is effective,'' said Kerndt, director of the HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. epidemiology program for the county Health Services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract Department. ``The difference is before, we couldn't do anything for people. All we could do was hold their hands and watch them die,'' he said. ``Now treatment matters. Treatment equals life.'' HIV rate unknown Clouding the good news is that no one knows for sure how many people are infected with the virus that causes AIDS, which Kerndt said could mean that the death rate might rebound in years to come. Although all new AIDS cases must be reported, there is no such provision for new infections from the human immunodeficiency virus human immunodeficiency virus n. HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A transmissible retrovirus that causes AIDS in humans. . ``We need to move from AIDS surveillance to HIV surveillance HIV surveillance Epidemiology The identification and monitoring of HIV-infected persons through a regional or national database. See HIV reporting. ,'' he said. Kerndt estimated about 40,000 people have HIV in Los Angeles County and about 150,000 statewide. Health officials credited new anti-AIDS drugs and other efforts with causing the dramatic decline in HIV infections that progress to AIDS cases and AIDS cases that end in death. By combining older medications with potent new drugs called protease inhibitors Protease Inhibitors Definition A protease inhibitor is a type of drug that cripples the enzyme protease. An enzyme is a substance that triggers chemical reactions in the body. , scientists can prevent HIV from reproducing in some patients to the point where the virus no longer can be detected. Despite these advances, there still is no cure for AIDS, Kerndt said. ``Our therapy is able to extend length and quality of life for anyone who is HIV-infected,'' he said. Also unclear is to what extent the virus will mutate mu·tate intr. & tr.v. mu·tat·ed, mu·tat·ing, mu·tates To undergo or cause to undergo mutation. [Latin m and develop enough resistance to overpower o·ver·pow·er tr.v. o·ver·pow·ered, o·ver·pow·er·ing, o·ver·pow·ers 1. To overcome or vanquish by superior force; subdue. 2. To affect so strongly as to make helpless or ineffective; overwhelm. 3. these new combinations of drugs. Activists cautious The CDC's announcement and Kerndt's conclusion drew mixed reactions from AIDS activists who were elated by the mortality drop but fearful that people would stop protecting themselves - and stop donating to health care organizations. ``If Dr. Kerndt thinks the epidemic is over, that's an extraordinarily insensitive comment and astounding a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, given his position,'' said Mark Senak, director of public policy for AIDS Project Los Angeles AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by HIV disease, reducing the incidence of HIV infection, and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy. . ``It leads people to believe they don't have to contribute to organizations when people still need access to food and to the drugs (that fight AIDS).'' Los Angeles city AIDS coordinator Ferd Eggan said he believes the disease continues to spread among gay and bisexual men, minorities and women. ``Hundreds of people are getting infected every day,'' said Eggan, who has AIDS. ``I fear the announcement by the CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation and Peter Kerndt may prevent them from taking seriously the real threat to their lives.'' National campaign succeeds However, federal health officials defended the CDC's report as evidence that their campaign against the disease is working. ``I'm particularly encouraged by the progress we are making against AIDS,'' said Donna Shalala, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS . ``In 1993, this administration began a sustained prevention, treatment and research effort that continues to pay off today in ways we scarcely dared to hope.'' Nationwide, AIDS had been the leading cause of death among adults ages 25 to 44. Now such unintentional causes as auto accidents are the No. 1 killer of young adults, the CDC said. Cancer is No. 3. There was no ranking available for Los Angeles in 1997, but AIDS was the leading cause of death, followed by accidents and homicides, in 1995. Deaths due to AIDS in the United States fell 26 percent from 1995 to 1996, from 15.6 deaths per 100,000 in 1995 to 11.6 deaths in 1996. In Los Angeles, the number of AIDS deaths declined 56 percent, from 1,337 in the first six months of 1996 to 586 deaths for the same period in 1997, Kerndt said. The AIDS epidemic peaked for Los Angeles in 1992, with about 4,000 reported cases, but Kerndt said he believes the number will level off at 2,400 by the end of this year. CAPTION(S): chart chart: AIDS in decline |
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