Medical Test Manufacturer Donates 4,500 HIV Test Kits

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a NY-based company that develops, manufactures, licenses and markets proprietary rapid diagnostic tests, is donating more than 4,500 rapid HIV test kits to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s 2009 Testing Millions Global Campaign, based in Los Angeles, to commemorate World AIDS Day 2009 on December 1st. Full story here.

HIV care providers applaud Congress' extension of Ryan White program

Medical providers on the front lines of HIV care applaud the U.S. Congress for extending the Ryan White Care Act, helping to ensure that more than half a million low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS have access to lifesaving care. The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) and the Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition (RWMPC) are pleased with Congress' four-year extension of this critical safety net and urge President Obama to quickly sign this important legislation. Full story here.

Today Is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

Now in its seventh year, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, held each October 15, encourages public officials and religious leaders to promote HIV testing and education among Latinos in the United States, a group that represents about 15 percent of the population but accounts for 18 percent of new infections.

H1N1 Flu, And HIV....What You Need To Know

I recently attended a webinar with officials from the CDC, National Institute of Health, and the Department of Health And Human Sevices that discussed H1N1 and HIV. I will outline the basics things you need to know about the H1N1 flu virus, if you have HIV. You can download the full audio recording of the webinar in mp3 format HERE. This full audio version has information for health care providers as well. I will just be making this post for patients though.

Research has shown that people living with HIV are not at a greater risk to contract influenza than adults without HIV. But, people with HIV can experience more severe complications of the flu if they do get the virus. Here are some ways to reduce the risks of contracting the H1N1 flu virus. Make sure you wash your hands often. Adoid close contact with anyone who is sick. Close contact would be 6 feet or closer to anyone who is sick. Advoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, and advoid stress. Do not miss any medications prescribed to you by your doctor. This would be your antiretrovirals, and any antibiotics that you may be taking. All these actions can help you advoid getting the H1N1 flu virus, and the regular flu.

There is treatment available for people who may have contracted the influenza virus. These treatments are to take antivirals. This is different then your antiretrovirals you may take. The CDC recommends treatment using either oseltamivir or zanamivir. A health care professional will determine the best treatment for you.

Symptoms of the flu can be but not limited to, cough, fever, running nose, aches, pains, nausea, and vomiting. If you are diagnosed with H1N1 you should stay home 24 hours after your fever has broken. Also if you have family, let them know you have the flu, so they can help you with maybe getting out and getting food for you, making sure your bills get paid, while you stay home and recover. Also make sure you have a 2week supply of any medications you maybe taking. Also being stocked up with chicken noodle soup and other comforting items is recommended.

For more information please visit:
http://www.flu.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
http://www.AIDS.gov/

No Disparities by Race/Ethnicity in Risk of AIDS and Death Among HIV-Infected Patients

Kaiser Permanente researchers found no disparities by race or ethnicity in risk of AIDS and death among HIV-infected patients in a setting of similar access to care. This is despite lower Anti-Retroviral Therapy adherence among Hispanics and African-Americans compared to whites. Researchers also saw a trend toward better outcomes for Hispanics.

The study, which appears online in The Journal of General Internal Medicine, is one of the largest to date to evaluate racial and ethnic differences in clinical outcomes among HIV-infected patients. Full story here.