News in brief - Aug. 11, 2003

HIV diagnoses rise - Teens find ways around anti-smoking laws

HIV diagnoses rise

New HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in some states increased for the third consecutive year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced July 28. The CDC also released preliminary 2002 data showing a slight increase in AIDS incidence, although AIDS deaths continued to decline.

Data from 25 states with long-standing HIV reporting show the number of new HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men increased by 7.1%, from 2001 to 2002. This supports recent findings that this population remains at high, and perhaps increasing, risk for HIV infection.

The CDC also introduced a new system that will be used to track HIV infections nationwide. Using a testing technology known as STARHS, or serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion, public health officials in 35 locations around the country should be able to more accurately monitor the number of HIV infections that occur each year in the United States.

Teens find ways around anti-smoking laws

Laws that limit tobacco sales to minors might boost the number of retailers who won't sell to teens, but they have had minimal effect on youth smoking, according to a study in the July Nicotine & Tobacco Research. When blocked from buying cigarettes over the counter, teen smokers turn to friends and family members to obtain cigarettes, according to the study, which examined ninth-graders in Erie County, N.Y.

In addition, the improved retailer compliance occurred because of efforts made to educate them and not necessarily because they were targeted by enforcement actions, said K. Michael Cummings, PhD, MPH, and colleagues from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.