Charlotte Medica ‘ r- T-1 Not Standing “Idly oy In AIDS Research < ByCeutoWetfdm Special To The Post ...What Is AIDS? How is AIDS transmitted? Who is most likely to get AIDS? . These are some of the questions ; still being asked by the American people. Charlotte is no exception Other questions being asked by 1 Chariottoans and others are where can I go to get help or be tested? Will anyone know that I have the virus? Will I die? How long do I have if my test is positive far die antibodies and the virus? Where did I get it? Can I give it to someone else? Can I lose my job? Can I be asked to leave my 'apartment? Do I have any legal rights? As new information is dis covered, new questions are being asked. AIDS is the abbreviation for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syn , drome. Scientists have identified that AIDS is caused by a re to virus. This virus is not transmitted by . casual contact. Persons having the virus have a reduced ability to fight infection. They may experience swollen lymph nodes lasting more than one month, -unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fever greater than 99 r degrees F. for more than 10 days, , persistent coughing and shortness of ■ breath, persistent diarrhea, and - Thrush (whitish spots in the , mouth). The Center for Disease - Control in Atlanta reported cases of Kaposi’s scarcoma which is usually , seen in older men of Mediterranean • or Eastern European Jewish des . cent, but these cases reported were all young men. Another rare disease occurrence was the sighting of Pneymocystis carinii pneumonia, a lung infection caused by a parasite. This disease was usually seen only in persons with cancer or transplant patients, yet all reported cases to the CDC were young, gay men. Kaposi’s sarcoma can explain the sympton of blue spots on the skin or under the skin and mucous membranes, since ' this disease affects the blood vessel wall resulting in erruption of the vessel. These atypical cases helped researchers to define what is com monly known as the High Risk Group. The High Risk Groups are homo sexual or bisexual men, which makes up 73 percent of the cases reported to the CDC. Intravenous • drug users make up 17 percent of ! reported cases. Hemophiliacs make up less than one percent of report ;• ed cases to the CDC since the first ►* case was reported in 1981. Before that time there had been no reports of AIDS antibodies or AIDS virus. Researchers recommend that any nude having had sex with another since 1979, prostitues - male and ~ female - and any sexual partners of persons in the above group are also considered IJigh Risk Class. Nearly 75 percent of those who have died had been diagnosed before 1983 as reported by the CDC. Two out of three of the children diagnosed and reported to the CDC have died. Since the first reported case in 1981 there have been 10,533 new cases reported to the CDC. One hundred and twenty of these were children, who had contracted the virus from their parents. About 5,000 Americans AIDS victims have died. Most of them from diseases like Kaposi’s scarcoma and pneumocys tis carinll pneumonia. 11)6 CDC predicts reported cases to them will be 20,000 in a year. They also predict that 300,000 Americans will be ex posed to the virus. Researchers have found that AIDS virus in blood, semen, and saliva. The incubation period for the virus can range up to six years and in some cases even be longer. If a person was infected two years ago, symptoms may not yet be pre senting themselves Charlotte medical community is not standing idly by and allowing the rest of the scientific community to do all the work on this dreaded virus Dr. Joseph Jemsek with the Nalle Clinic with six years’ experience in infectious diseases said, "Due to the nature of the AIDS problem there is a gravitation to this field.’’ Re commended by other doctors in the Dr. Steven Keener .Health Department director Charlotte area were asked about the virus in general and its affect on Charlotte. Dr. Jemsek said that there was research being done in Charlotte before the first case pre sented itself 16 months ago. Char lotte is tied into the CDC, added Dr. Jemsek. He also stated, “Charlotte’s medical community is using recom mendations from the CDC and other research agencies.” Dr. Jemsek feels that the scientific community was now slow in its response to the AIDS research but when it was seen as a “national threat," that appre ciation was given. Dr. Jemsek expressed confidence in the facts that the medical community is not behind and there is a good supply of research ability and equipment available. Dr. Jemsek said, when asked what is AIDS, “AIDS is a new disease. When we look at infectious diseases, we have to decide if this is a new disease or a variation of an old disease.” He continued, "There is a great deal that we don’t know yet.” When asked about the HTLV III which is the abbreviation for Hu man T-cell Lymphotopic Virus, type III, a test for the antibodies, Dr. Jemsek said, “There are false posi tives, which is a positive test when in fact none exist.” When a person is infected by an infectious dfeease the body uses its built in ability to fight this infec tion - white blood cells usually begin the fight. This process produces substances called antibodies. These antibodies can therefore be used to indicate whether or not a person has been infected by a certain disease. In the case of the AIDS virus, once a person is infected by the virus, the body begins to produce antibodies to the HTLV III virus test. A nega tive antibody test does not gua rantee that a person is free of the virus, especially if he or she is a member of a group which is con sidered high risk for AIDS. Positive tests in blood and plasma may be caused by other things and that is why a followup medical exam is needed to insure a better inter pretation of test results. One’s doc tor is in the best position to decide what additional tests, if any, should be done. It is important that one have as open and frank a discussion as possible regarding any possible exposures that you may have had to the virus. This will help one’s physician to make the best evaluation possible. It is recom mended by health officials that until one’s doctor has completed a medi cal evaluation, that one practice caution and good Judgment with sexual activity and IV drug users Health officials also recommend that persons who think that they have been infected or who have had a positive HTLV III, not- donate blood or plasma, sperm, body organs, or other tissues, limit sexual activity to one partner, no “french” kissing and oral sex, do not use other person’s toothbrushes, razers or other implements that could become contaminated with blood, do not let others use needles that one has used if one is an IV drug user, and women with a positive antibody test or the virus would be advised to avoid pregnancy or to postpone pregnancy until more is learned or recom mended by one’s own doctor. Some infants have developed AIDS from their infected mothers. Until recently, the antibody test was limited to use in research to gain a better understanding of AIDS as an infectious disease. During the past year, commercially available tests were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It must be stressed that the HTLV III is used for the identifica tion of the antibodies only, not for AIDS itself. The test is usually confidential because of the serious consequenc es of persons having to move out of their apartments or being fired off their jobs. In a recent interview with Charlotte’s City Attorney Underhill, he said, “There are no laws that I know about to prevent an employer or a landlord from firing you or insisting that you move out of their apartment complex.” Attorney Underhill did not express high op timism about any up and coming laws from North Carolina legisla Auto Body Repair Is the fender of your pick-up still dented from an unexpected meeting at a traffic light? Have you come back to your car in the shopping center parking lot to discover some one has made off with some of the paint off your door? You can make these repairs to your vehicle as part of a course in Minor Auto Body Repair begin ning in January at Central Pied mont Community College (CPCC). Registration for new students will be December 9-12. Classes meet beginning Saturday, January 11, from 8:30 a m. - 12:20 pm., for 11 weeks. For more information, call 373-6850 or 373-6938 Of the 1,219 community colleges in the U.S. CPCC recently won recog nition as one of the top five com munity colleges in the nation for teaching excellence and student success. ' IS YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER? Read The Charlotte Post To Find Out! Call Us at 376-0496 and Start Your Subscription Today! SWEET & SASSY BOUTIQUE Ladies Accessories Ladies Blouses Lades Pants Sweaters Jewelry, etc. I^x LOCATION xv. <****»*»» flf^r Qiariotte, North Carolina 28215 (704) 968-8147 V* AV - Vickie Lackey Owner *" I CASH OR CHECK - LAY-A-WAY Henry Underhill .City attorney tors. Attorney Underhill did say "that if the need arose which war ranted legislation on the AIDS issue, Charlotte would send a dele gation to Raleigh and request action.” Dr. Steven Keener, director of the Charlotte Health Department, said, “There are not any well documented remissions or cures as of yet." The United States Public Health Service has a toll-free hotline at 1-800 342-AIDS. The Health Department suggests that persons concerned about AIDS learn the facts about AIDS and actively seek new and correct information. They also say that not only the persons in the high risk group should take steps to prevent the spread of this virus, but every person has this responsibility also. Educate your family and friends by discussing new found facts with them is also a positive suggestion. Since 1981 there have been overl2,000 reported cases to the Health Department. Dr. Keener said, “Those persons who have already been tested for the HTLV III and are found to be positive should come to the Health De partment for treatment. They need to contact their doctors for a com plete evaluation. “We at the Health Department are i very interested in AIDS cases but | Christmas Craft Fair The North Mecklenburg Farmer’s Market and the Agricul tural Extension Service will spon sor their Annual Christmas Craft Fair at the Cornelius Elementary School in Cornelius, NC, on Friday, November 15, 6-9 p.m. - Saturday, November 16, 9 a m. - 2 p.m. Admission is free. All items sold will be handmade or home-baked. Follow 1-77 to the Cornelius-Lake Norman Exit 28. The school is located on N.C. No. 73 West (Ca tawba Ave.i. r Then take time to read f The Post not those persons with a positive HTLV III. We would prefer that the only persons who should be re ported to the Health Department are those with confirmed diagnoses. There are counseling sessions before the test is conducted and counseling once the test is HTLV III positive by the Health Department. Any persons wanting the test can get it done at the Health Department,” said Dr. Keener. There are designated alternate testing sites all over North Carolina and the country which offer this free testing for the HTLV III Persons are free to go to their own doctors for this testing and do not have to come to the Health Department. The testing at the Health Department is done without the use of the person’s name. The persons entering the Health Department are given a number after the test is explained The results are only given back to the persons with corresponding numbers. Dr. Keener said, “The numbers are not reused; 399-2501 can be called to make an appoint ment for the test,” he added “There have been 58 tests done by the Charlotte Health Department, seven positive tests have been re ported to the Charlotte Health partment. ” He added, "North Carolina had 54 confirmed AIDS cases by__ CDC and in Mecklenburg County nine confirmed cases. There have been six deaths reported in Meck lenburg County. The true deterrant. of the spread of the AIDS virus will * be in the cures, vaccine, respon sible behavior on the part of every one, which will cause a change in the trend of AIDS phenomena.” To Subscribe To The Charlotte Post Call ,'7*>-0496 Coming Next Week \ Special Supplement NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY The Nation’s Largest Black - Owned Insurance Company with professionally installed Insula tion. Attic or side wall application. Savings vary. Find out why In seller's fact sheet on R-values. High R values mean great Insulating power. • Ask about Sears credit plans • Installation by Sears authorized Installers • Free Estimates You can count on Sears for home Improvement value ^ALL: Eastlond Mall | *an QpqfcI count on OCdl b MUl aOCAOCl AMO CO Soti«foct»on guoronlnd or your money bock 368-9100 SouthPark 364-7550 SPECTACULAR ~ 2 DAY FUR TRUNK SHOWING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15th SATURDAY, NOVEMBER lfth Our Inventory will be complemented by many other ferments from our manufacturer In New York for this special event. Compare quality then compare our prices. • r*Tvwi