CDC: U.S. HIV Rates Higher Than Previously Thought
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to announce that the HIV infection rate in the United States is as much as 40% higher than previously reported. The announcement will come on Sunday at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.
Bush Signs Bill to Triple AIDS Funding, Repeal HIV Travel Ban
President Bush signed legislation Wednesday that repeals the law barring HIV-positive visitors and immigrants and triples U.S. funding to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis around the world. The five-year, $48 billion plan renews a program credited with saving millions of lives in Africa alone and is widely seen as one of the major achievements of the Bush presidency.
U.N.: AIDS Epidemic Stable But Prevention Still Lags
Fewer people are dying of AIDS, more patients are on HIV medication, and the global AIDS epidemic is stable after peaking in the late 1990s. But the United Nations AIDS agency warned in its yearly report Tuesday that governments will need to continue setting aside millions of dollars for AIDS treatment and prevention during the coming decades as patients live longer on AIDS medications.
Black U.S. AIDS Rates Rival Those of Some African Nations
A new report published by the Black AIDS Institute is intended to raise awareness and remind the public that the "AIDS epidemic is not over in America, especially not in Black America," reports CNN.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield to Cover Same-Sex Couples
Less than three weeks after a legally married New York lesbian couple filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Western New York for denying them spousal health care benefits, the health insurance company has announced it will begin covering married same-sex couples, according to OutcomeBuffalo.com.
Officials: Search for HIV Vaccine Needs Overhaul
Scientists will have to take "enormous intellectual leaps" to develop an AIDS vaccine in the coming years, say researchers clearly frustrated by the failure of a once-promising shot.
Mass. Legislature Wants Medicaid for Gay Couples
The Massachusetts state senate passed a bill that would grant married same-sex couples the same access to Medicaid benefits as heterosexual couples, according to gay rights group MassEquality. It is expected to then be signed into law.
Texas County Debates Use of Needle Exchanges
Bill Day is a familiar face out under the San Antonio viaducts, where skinny addicts shoot drugs into their bruised arms. Day, 73, is the source of something many of them desperately need: clean syringes, the distribution of which Day sees as his calling from God to prevent the spread of disease.
Plans for Large-Scale AIDS Vaccine Trial Dropped
Plans for a large-scale trial of a potential AIDS vaccine are being dropped in favor of a smaller, more focused study, the National Institutes of Health said Thursday.
Senate Nears Vote to Triple Anti-AIDS Funding
The Senate on Wednesday diverted $2 billion from a $50 billion global AIDS bill to improve the lives of American Indians. The agreement set the stage for passage of the AIDS bill as early as Wednesday evening. With that, the House and Senate would work out a final version to send to President Bush.









