JAMA Survey of Disease Trends Shows No Reported AIDs Cases

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports on the Haiti launch of a National Surveillance system for illnesses after the Jan. earthquake.

"The objectives were to monitor disease trends, detect outbreaks, and characterize the affected population to target relief efforts. Fifty-one hospital and clinic surveillance sites affiliated with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) were selected to report daily counts by e-mail or telephone for 25 specified reportable conditions."

According to the report, after the earthquake the predominantly reported illnesses (in descending order) were Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), Malaria, Acute Watery Diarrhea, Fever of unknown cause and injuries.

Given that the U.S. participants were affiliated with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), it is significant that AIDs did not make the survey and was not one of the predominantly reported illnesses.

The aids rate in Haiti is not the highest in this hemisphere. The AIDs rate in Haiti is 2.2%, less than Washington, DC's rate, which stands at 3.0%.