AIDS Deaths Fall by 19% in United States

WASHINGTON--The number of deaths from AIDS has fallen 19%, from 37,900in the first nine months of 1995 to 30,700 for the same time period in1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced.And, for the first time, the number of AIDS-related deaths has droppedamong women, albeit by only 7%, as compared to 22% among men.

The heartening news appears to be due primarily to new drug therapiesdeveloped to combat the virus and to treat AIDS-related complications,as well as improved access to medical care.

The greatest decrease was among white patients (28%), compared with16% for Hispanics and 10% for blacks.