Title
Subject: Declaration of a Local Emergency due to AIDS epidemic
From: Office of the City Attorney
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution renewing and continuing the City Council's Declaration of a Local Emergency due to the existence of a critical public health crisis with regard to the AIDS epidemic
Body
WHEREAS, nationally, thirty-two percent (32%) of all adult / adolescent
Al DS cases are related to intravenous ("IV") drug use and seventy-one percent (71 %) of female AIDS cases are linked directly or indirectly to IV drug use; and
WHEREAS, of all the pediatric AIDS cases related to a mother with or at
risk for HIV infection, seventy percent (70%) of such cases are directly related to
maternal exposure to HIV through IV drug use or sex with an IV drug user; and
WHEREAS, according to the HIV / AIDS Epidemiology Report for
Alameda County dated June 2000, fifty-eight percent (58%) of the 5,725 persons who
have been diagnosed with AIDS in Alameda County reside in the City of Oakland; and
WHEREAS, as of June 2000 there were 1,291 people living with AIDS in
the City of Oakland; and
WHEREAS, according to the HIV / AIDS Epidemiology Report for
Alameda County dated June 2000, twenty percent (20%) of the males living with AIDS
are IV drug users and forty-six percent (46%) of the females are IV drug users; and
WHEREAS, the twin epidemic of IV drug use and AIDS / HIV are
overwhelming our help care systems are having a devastating impact upon the public
health and safety of our citizenry; and
WHEREAS, the high rate of HIV infection among IV drug users threatens
to increase the number of HIV-infected persons unless steps are taken to stem the
spread of the disease; and
WHEREAS, a high rate of HIV infection among IV drug users causes the
spread of AIDS among peoplewho are the sex partners of IV drug users; and
WHEREAS, the September 1993 report entitled "The Public Health
Impact of Needle Exchange Programs in the United States an...
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