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Deaths from AIDS decline in Texas Posted 3-1-99 AIDS is no longer one of the top 10 leading causes of death among Texans, according to data recently compiled by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Better AIDS treatments, such as a triple-drug-combination therapies, are helping AIDS patients live longer, resulting in lower death rates, health officials say. "But this does not mean that AIDS is going away," said Sharon Melville, MD, director of HIV/STD epidemiology for the Texas Department of Health. "The number of AIDS cases has remained fairly stable. We’re seeing a decrease in AIDS deaths in Texas and nationwide due to new treatments that are available." The number of AIDS deaths in Texas dropped by 51 percent from 1996 to 1997, with 2,411 people dying of AIDS in 1996, compared with 1,309 in 1997. There were 762 Texas AIDS deaths reported in 1998, but that number is expected to rise as more reports come in, Melville said. There is usually a lag of several months before statistical data is finalized. The drop in AIDS death rates should not affect federal funding to fight the disease, Melville said, noting that federal allocations are based on the numbers of AIDS cases, not deaths. "Eventually we hope they will change the funding allocation formula to reflect the number of HIV cases, which will give a more accurate picture," Melville said. Septicemia, a bacterial infection of the bloodstream most common among people over 70, has now entered the top 10 list of killers in Texas, probably because the state’s population is aging, state officials said. Heart disease, cancer, and stroke remain the top three causes of death in the state and the nation, according to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Related Site |