LOS ANGELES — As a punishing heat wave grips California, Los Angeles officials have issued an excessive heat warning through July 8, prompting the city to open additional cooling centers and urge residents to take precautions.

The National Weather Service warns of dangerously high temperatures across the region, with some areas expecting highs up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8 Celsius). Death Valley could see temperatures rise above 130 degrees (55 Celsius).

In response, the City of Los Angeles is opening four augmented cooling centers from July 3 to July 8, operating from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. These include the Fred Roberts Recreation Center in South Los Angeles, Mid-Valley Senior Center in Panorama City, Lake View Terrace Recreation Center, and Jim Gilliam Recreation Center in Baldwin Hills.

More than 70 Los Angeles public libraries are available as cooling spots during regular hours. Residents can find locations and hours at LAPL.org/Branches.

“We’re taking this heat wave very seriously,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “These cooling centers provide critical relief, especially for our most vulnerable residents.”

City officials advise residents to stay hydrated, limit sugary and alcoholic beverages, and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours. They also encourage checking on vulnerable neighbors and keeping pets cool and hydrated.

The heat wave coincides with heightened fire danger in Southern California. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from Thursday evening through Friday night for parts of Ventura County and the Antelope Valley, with gusty winds and low humidity creating critical fire weather conditions.

“If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property,” the National Weather Service warned.

As the state faces this prolonged period of extreme heat, authorities stress the importance of community awareness and preparedness. Residents are urged to stay informed about local conditions and follow safety guidelines to protect themselves and others from heat-related illnesses and potential fire hazards.

Where to stay cool around the City of West Hollywood: 

• 
  Plummer Park’s Senior Lounge (7377 Santa Monica Blvd)
  • The City’s Cooling Center is open during periods of extreme heat (above 90 degrees).
  • For more information regarding the City of West Hollywood’s cooling center, please call (323) 848-6530. 
• West Hollywood Library (625 N. San Vicente Blvd) – Cooling Center operated by LA County 
• Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library (7140 W. Sunset Blvd) – Cooling Center operated by LA County  
• West Hollywood Aquatics & Recreation Center (ARC) (8750 El Tovar Pl) – community members can visit the pool to get relief from the heat. For more information, please visit the ARC webpage.

The City provides free transportation to Plummer Park through its Cityline service. Cityline is a friendly and accessible alternative to the larger bus system and all shuttles are ADA-accessible. Cityline operates Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and shuttles arrive approximately every 30 minutes. For additional information and a detailed route map, visit www.weho.org/cityline.

Safety Tips For Angelenos To Avoid Heat Injury

• Seek shade and refuge from the hot sun if you must be outside.
• Stay hydrated and drink more water, especially if you drink coffee or soda.
• Check in on and prepare your household, family, friends, pets and workplace.
• Limit your exposure to direct sunlight between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• If you feel ill, tell someone immediately. Symptoms of dehydration and heat illness may include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, nausea, muscle cramps, headache and vomiting.
• Symptoms of heat stroke include:
  • High body temperature (103°F or higher)
  •  Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
  •  Fast, strong pulse
  •  Headache
  •  Dizziness
  •  Nausea
  •  Confusion
  •  Losing consciousness (passing out)
• In the event of a heat stroke:
  • Call 911 right away-heat stroke is a medical emergency
  • Move the person to a cooler place
  • Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
  • Do not give the person anything to drink
• Listen to your body, and remember that those with chronic illness such as asthma, heart disease etc., are more vulnerable to extreme heat. Please take extra precautions. 
• Click here for more safety tips from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
• Click here for safety tips in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more.

Four months after seeking asylum in the U.S., Fernando Hermida began coughing and feeling tired. He thought it was a cold. Then sores appeared in his groin and he would soak his bed with sweat. He took a test.

On New Year’s Day 2022, at age 31, Hermida learned he had HIV.

“I thought I was going to die,” he said, recalling how a chill washed over him as he reviewed his results. He struggled to navigate a new, convoluted health care system. Through an HIV organization he found online, he received a list of medical providers to call in D.C., where he was at the time, but they didn’t return his calls for weeks. Hermida, who speaks only Spanish, didn’t know where to turn.

By the time of Hermida’s diagnosis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was about three years into a federal initiative to end the nation’s HIV epidemic by pumping hundreds of millions of dollars annually into certain states, counties, and U.S. territories with the highest infection rates. The goal was to reach the estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV, including some who don’t know they have the disease.

Overall, estimated new HIV infection rates declined 23 percent from 2012 to 2022. But a KFF Health News-Associated Press analysis found the rate has not fallen for Latinos as much as it has for other racial and ethnic groups.

While African Americans continue to have the highest HIV rates in the U.S. overall, Latinos made up the largest share of new HIV diagnoses and infections among gay and bisexual men in 2022, per the most recent data available, compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Latinos, who make up about 19 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for about 33 percent of new HIV infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The analysis found Latinos are experiencing a disproportionate number of new infections and diagnoses across the U.S., with diagnosis rates highest in the Southeast. Public health officials in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and Shelby County, Tennessee, where data shows diagnosis rates have gone up among Latinos, told KFF Health News and the AP that they either don’t have specific plans to address HIV in this population or that plans are still in the works. Even in well-resourced places like San Francisco, HIV diagnosis rates grew among Latinos in the last few years while falling among other racial and ethnic groups despite the county’s goals to reduce infections among Latinos.

“HIV disparities are not inevitable,” Robyn Neblett Fanfair, director of the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, said in a statement. She noted the systemic, cultural, and economic inequities — such as racism, language differences, and medical mistrust.

And though the CDC provides some funds for minority groups, Latino health policy advocates want HHS to declare a public health emergency in hopes of directing more money to Latino communities, saying current efforts aren’t enough.

“Our invisibility is no longer tolerable,” said Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Lost without an interpreter

Hermida suspects he contracted the virus while he was in an open relationship with a male partner before he came to the U.S. In late January 2022, months after his symptoms started, he went to a clinic in New York City that a friend had helped him find to finally get treatment for HIV.

Too sick to care for himself alone, Hermida eventually moved to Charlotte to be closer to family and in hopes of receiving more consistent health care. He enrolled in an Amity Medical Group clinic that receives funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal safety-net plan that serves over half of those in the nation diagnosed with HIV, regardless of their citizenship status.

His HIV became undetectable after he was connected with case managers. But over time, communication with the clinic grew less frequent, he said, and he didn’t get regular interpretation help during visits with his English-speaking doctor. An Amity Medical Group representative confirmed Hermida was a client but didn’t answer questions about his experience at the clinic.

Hermida said he had a hard time filling out paperwork to stay enrolled in the Ryan White program, and when his eligibility expired in September 2023, he couldn’t get his medication.

He left the clinic and enrolled in a health plan through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. But Hermida didn’t realize the insurer required him to pay for a share of his HIV treatment.

In January, the Lyft driver received a $1,275 bill for his antiretroviral — the equivalent of 120 rides, he said. He paid the bill with a coupon he found online. In April, he got a second bill he couldn’t afford.

For two weeks, he stopped taking the medication that keeps the virus undetectable and intransmissible.

“Estoy que colapso,” he said. I’m falling apart. “Tengo que vivir para pagar la medicación.” I have to live to pay for my medication.

One way to prevent HIV is preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which is regularly taken to reduce the risk of getting HIV through sex or intravenous drug use. It was approved by the federal government in 2012 but the uptake has not been even across racial and ethnic groups: CDC data show much lower rates of PrEP coverage among Latinos than among white Americans.

Epidemiologists say high PrEP use and consistent access to treatment are necessary to build community-level resistance.

Carlos Saldana, an infectious disease specialist and former medical adviser for Georgia’s health department, helped identify five clusters of rapid HIV transmission involving about 40 gay Latinos and men who have sex with men from February 2021 to June 2022. Many people in the cluster told researchers they had not taken PrEP and struggled to understand the health care system.

They experienced other barriers, too, Saldana said, including lack of transportation and fear of deportation if they sought treatment.

Latino health policy advocates want the federal government to redistribute funding for HIV prevention, including testing and access to PrEP. Of the nearly $30 billion in federal money that went toward things like HIV health care services, treatment, and prevention in 2022, only 4% went to prevention, according to a KFF analysis.

They suggest more money could help reach Latino communities through efforts like faith-based outreach at churches, testing at clubs on Latin nights, and training bilingual HIV testers.

Latino rates going up

Congress has appropriated $2.3 billion over five years to the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, and jurisdictions that get the money are to invest 25 percent of it in community-based organizations. But the initiative lacks requirements to target any particular groups, including Latinos, leaving it up to the cities, counties, and states to come up with specific strategies.

In 34 of the 57 areas getting the money, cases are going the wrong way: Diagnosis rates among Latinos increased from 2019 to 2022 while declining for other racial and ethnic groups, the KFF Health News-AP analysis found.

Starting Aug. 1, state and local health departments will have to provide annual spending reports on funding in places that account for 30 percent or more of HIV diagnoses, the CDC said. Previously, it had been required for only a small number of states.

In some states and counties, initiative funding has not been enough to cover the needs of Latinos.

South Carolina, which saw rates nearly double for Latinos from 2012-2022, hasn’t expanded HIV mobile testing in rural areas, where the need is high among Latinos, said Tony Price, HIV program manager in the state health department. South Carolina can pay for only four community health workers focused on HIV outreach — and not all of them are bilingual.

In Shelby County, Tennessee, home to Memphis, the Latino HIV diagnosis rate rose 86 percent from 2012 to 2022. The health department said it got $2 million in initiative funding in 2023 and while the county plan acknowledges that Latinos are a target group, department director Michelle Taylor said: “There are no specific campaigns just among Latino people.”

Up to now, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, didn’t include specific targets to address HIV in the Latino population — where rates of new diagnoses more than doubled in a decade but fell slightly among other racial and ethnic groups. The health department has used funding for bilingual marketing campaigns and awareness about PrEP.

Moving for medicine

When it was time to pack up and move to Hermida’s third city in two years, his fiancé, who is taking PrEP, suggested seeking care in Orlando, Fla.

The couple, who were friends in high school in Venezuela, had some family and friends in Florida, and they had heard about Pineapple Healthcare, a nonprofit primary care clinic dedicated to supporting Latinos living with HIV.

The clinic is housed in a medical office south of downtown Orlando. Inside, the mostly Latino staff is dressed in pineapple-print turquoise shirts, and Spanish, not English, is most commonly heard in appointment rooms and hallways.

“At the core of it, if the organization is not led by and for people of color, then we’re just an afterthought,” said Andres Acosta Ardila, the community outreach director at Pineapple Healthcare, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2013.

“¿Te mudaste reciente, ya por fin?” asked nurse practitioner Eliza Otero. Did you finally move? She started treating Hermida while he still lived in Charlotte. “Hace un mes que no nos vemos.” It’s been a month since we last saw each other.

They still need to work on lowering his cholesterol and blood pressure, she told him. Though his viral load remains high, Otero said it should improve with regular, consistent care.

Pineapple Healthcare, which doesn’t receive initiative money, offers full-scope primary care to mostly Latino males. Hermida gets his HIV medication at no cost there because the clinic is part of a federal drug discount program.

The clinic is in many ways an oasis. The new diagnosis rate for Latinos in Orange County, Florida, which includes Orlando, rose by about a third from 2012 through 2022, while dropping by a third for others. Florida has the third-largest Latino population in the U.S., and had the seventh-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses among Latinos in the nation in 2022.

Hermida, whose asylum case is pending, never imagined getting medication would be so difficult, he said during the 500-mile drive from North Carolina to Florida. After hotel rooms, jobs lost, and family goodbyes, he is hopeful his search for consistent HIV treatment — which has come to define his life the past two years — can finally come to an end.

“Soy un nómada a la fuerza, pero bueno, como me comenta mi prometido y mis familiares, yo tengo que estar donde me den buenos servicios médicos,” he said. I’m forced to be a nomad, but like my family and my fiancé say, I have to be where I can get good medical services.

That’s the priority, he said. “Esa es la prioridad ahora.”

KFF Health News and The Associated Press analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the number of new HIV diagnoses and infections among Americans ages 13 and older at the local, state, and national levels. This story primarily uses incidence rate data — estimates of new infections — at the national level and diagnosis rate data at the state and county level.

Bose reported from Orlando, Fla.. Reese reported from Sacramento, Calif. AP video journalist Laura Bargfeld contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for all content.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

A Project of KFF Health News and the Associated Press co-published by Univision Noticias

CREDITS:

Reporters: Vanessa G. Sánchez, Devna Bose, Phillip Reese

Cinematography: Laura Bargfeld

Photography: Laura Bargfeld, Phelan M. Ebenhack

Video Editing: Federica Narancio, Kathy Young, Esther Poveda

Additional Video: Federica Narancio, Esther Poveda

Web Production: Eric Harkleroad, Lydia Zuraw

Special thanks to Lindsey Dawson

Editors: Judy Lin, Erica Hunzinger

Data Editor: Holly Hacker

Social Media: Patricia Vélez, Federica Narancio, Esther Poveda, Carolina Astuya, Natalia Bravo, Juan Pablo Vargas, Kyle Viterbo, Sophia Eppolito, Hannah Norman, Chaseedaw Giles, Tarena Lofton

Translation: Paula Andalo

Copy Editing: Gabe Brison-Trezise

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health administered Mpox vaccinations at an on-site pop-up clinic at the WeHo Pride Street Fair during WeHo Pride Weekend on Saturday June 1, 2024 and Sunday, June 2, 2024, on Santa Monica Boulevard in the City’s Rainbow District.

According to a LA County public health nurse, 200 Mpox vaccinations were administered during the weekend. She said she believed it was an even 100 for each day, which was a much larger number than expected.

Several Street Fair attendees lined up for their mpox vaccination, while others asked questions and gathered information to get their vaccine at a later date because they didn’t want to risk feeling side effects during the pride festivities.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is hitting pride events again this year and is offering the Mpox (formerly known as “monkeypox”) vaccinations for free during various pride festivals throughout LA. county. No appointment are necessary. Individuals can simply sign up and wait their turn. The LA County Public Health booth is also condoms, swag and information on COVID, STDS and more.

The mpox vaccine is currently available to anyone who requests it and individuals do not have to disclose information about personal risk. The virus spreads primarily from prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which includes hugging, sleeping in the same bed, or sexual activity, and can also be transmitted via direct contact with scabs, rashes, or respiratory secretions from a person infected with mpox.

Large gatherings can become hubs for transmission of the virus, which disproportionately affected gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in a breakout in 2022.

According to the Los Angeles County Mpox case summary updated every other Friday, data as of May 30, 2024 a total of 2,605 Mpox / orthopox confirmed cases (number also includes Long Beach and Pasadena).

LA County Public Health information on the Mpox vaccine can be found at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/monkeypox/pride.htm.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist. Murillo began his professional writing career as the author of “Love Ya, Mean It,” an irreverent and sometimes controversial West Hollywood lifestyle column for FAB! newspaper. His work has appea

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

NEW YORK – Healthcare providers should watch out for new and highly contagious forms of ringworm or jock itch, which are emerging as a potential public health threat, according to a pair of reports.

In the first of the studies, experts at NYU Langone Health who focus on the spread of contagious rashes document the first reported case in the United States of a sexually transmitted fungal infection that can take months to clear up, even with treatment. In the second report, NYU Langone physicians partnered with authorities at the New York State Department of Health to describe the largest group of patients in the country with a similar fungal strain that resists standard therapies.

Both species of fungi are among a group that causes skin rashes, or tinea, which easily spread on the face and limbs (ringworm), groin (jock itch), and feet (athlete’s foot). However, the tinea explored in the new reports can look very different from the neat, regular circles seen in most forms of ringworm. They may instead be confused for lesions caused by eczema and can therefore go without proper treatment for months.

The first report, which published online on June 5 in the journal JAMA Dermatology, describes a man in his 30s who developed tinea on his penis, buttocks, and limbs after returning home to New York City from a trip to England, Greece, and California. Genetic tests of fungal samples collected from the patient’s rashes revealed that the infection was caused by the species Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII).

This sexually transmitted form of ringworm has been increasingly diagnosed throughout Europe, with 13 instances reported in France in 2023, mostly in men who have sex with men. Notably, the man in the current study said he had sex with multiple male partners during his travels, none of whom reported similar skin issues.

“Healthcare providers should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII is the latest in a group of severe skin infections to have now reached the United States,” said study lead author and dermatologist Avrom S. Caplan, MD. Dr. Caplan is an assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

“Since patients are often reluctant to discuss genital problems, physicians need to directly ask about rashes around the groin and buttocks, especially for those who are sexually active, have recently traveled abroad, and report itchy areas elsewhere on the body,” added study senior author John G. Zampella, MD.

Dr. Zampella, an associate professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, says that while infections caused by TMVII are difficult to treat and can take months to clear up, they so far appear to respond to standard antifungal therapies, such as terbinafine.

Meanwhile, Dr. Caplan says the new skin condition explored in his other new report presents a greater challenge for dermatologists. The study results, published online in May in JAMA Dermatology, center on Trichophyton indotineae, which is widespread in India and is now reported globally. First confirmed in the United States last year, the infection causes itchy and contagious rashes similar to those of TMVII, but it often resists terbinafine treatment.

To better understand how T. indotineae can evade antifungal drugs, the researchers collected clinical and laboratory data from 11 men and women treated for ringworm in New York City hospitals between May 2022 and May 2023. Their tinea was confirmed to have been caused by T. indotineae. Seven of the patients had received standard doses of terbinafine for anywhere from 14 days (the usual duration for most forms of ringworm) to 42 days, yet their rashes did not improve.

Analyzing the fungal samples’ DNA, the team reported several variations in the genetic code (mutations) that prevent terbinafine from hooking onto fungal cells and poking holes in their protective membranes. According to the study authors, these mutations might help explain why the therapy often failed in some cases to fight the infections.

The results also showed that when seven patients were treated with another antifungal called itraconazole, three recovered entirely and two improved. The problem with this therapy, Dr. Caplan says, is that while effective, the drug can interfere with many medications and can cause nausea, diarrhea, and other side effects that make it hard to use for long periods.

“These findings offer new insight into how some of the fungal skin infections spreading from South Asia can evade our go-to therapies,” said Dr. Caplan. “Beyond learning to recognize their misleading signs, physicians will need to ensure their treatment addresses each patient’s quality of life needs.”

Dr. Caplan adds that he plans to work with leading fungi experts around the United States and internationally over the next few months to expand research efforts and track emerging cases.

The researchers caution that while dermatologists should be on the alert for signs of TMVII and T. indotineae in their patients, rates so far remain low in the United States.

Study funding was provided by NYU Langone.

By Mara Kalinoski | AURORA, Colo. –  A recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a nonpartisan health policy research organization, reveals that LGBTQ+ patients face discrimination at higher rates than non-LGBT patients.

The results of the 2023 survey conclude that despite most LGBT adults reporting having mostly positive interactions with health care providers, they’re still twice as likely to have a negative experience as a non-LGBT patient. Those surveyed reported instances of having questions ignored and pain medications denied by a doctor.

Social scientist Carey Candrian, PhD, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine focuses her research on improving the way older LGBT people are cared for during serious illnesses, especially during end of life care.

She says the results of the survey emphasize the need for more work and research to prevent further discrimination. She explains there are many obstacles and barriers in preventing proper care, and she hopes to create a more inclusive and safe health care landscape for people of all backgrounds and orientations.

Accessibility difficulties

A significant amount of LGBT older adults live at or below the poverty line, making financial insecurity and lack of proper health care one of the biggest barriers to accessing quality care.

“Lack of affirming or safe clinicians is a huge factor, which results in a lot of people not going to get routine care, because they’re fearful that they have to be silent about who they are or hide their identity to actually get the care they need,” Candrian says. “This is particularly true for the trans community. Because of this, they end up not going.”

LGBT adults who are disabled, impoverished, non-white, or dealing with mental health issues or addiction are even more likely to face discrimination when seeking health care. Of the adults surveyed by KFF, those who are Black or Hispanic, under the age of 30, and identify as women were more likely to experience discrimination than their non-LGBT counterparts.

“The fear mixed with a health care system that historically has not been inclusive and is not really designed for anyone who’s not straight, white, and cisgendered makes it extremely hard to speak up,” Candrian explains. “Then there’s the issue of refusal of care. There is still no protection that prevents people from denying care based on a variety of personal reasons.”

Risks of improper care

The prevalence of osteoporosis, various cancers (including colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, and cervical), obesity, and mental health disorders are higher in LGBTQ populations. Suicide rates are also high, especially among trans people.

“In general, LGBT people are more likely to have estranged relationships with their family,” Candrian says. “They’re less likely to be married, less likely to have kids. They are at a disadvantage insofar as they don’t have a lot of people to help advocate on their behalf. That combines with an undercurrent of discrimination that we know is happening all around the health ecosystem.”

Beyond the mental health impact and the risk of medical issues going untreated, there are also underlying health issues that can be caused or exacerbated by the stress of experiencing discrimination. This stress can manifest in physical symptoms and can take a severe toll on cardiovascular health.

“Dealing with diseases like cancer or dementia are recognized as some of the hardest things you can go through. And if you are worrying about whether you’re going to be accepted, or going to have a trusting relationship with your caregivers, it adds to the burden in extraordinary ways,” Candrian says.

Patients are not required to disclose their identities or orientations during doctor’s visits – which can provide a layer of safety, but also reinforces a culture of silence. Because doctors do not regularly ask for information on gender and sexuality, they are working with limited information and potentially missing key details that could inform care.

The opportunity for growth

Candrian suggests that providers routinely ask about sexual orientation and gender identity the same way they ask for other pieces of information, such as race and ethnicity. Coupled with strong non-discrimination policies, this normalization can lead to deeper understanding and decrease discrimination.

“Asking for this data needs to be rolled out with training and education,” Candrian explains. “This is still very dangerous information, and learning how to ask these questions in a way that doesn’t perpetuate discrimination lets people know that this is being asked to provide better care.”

Resources are available for the LGBTQ community on the CU Anschutz Campus, including the the LGBTQ+ Hub, campus mental health resources, and the UCHealth Integrated Transgender Program.

“When people are talking to patients, coworkers, family members, and friends, I would encourage them to ask themselves, ‘Does the way I ask this question give space for lots of different types of answers? What if they are trans? What if they are estranged from their family? What if they just lost a spouse? What if they have a partner of 33 years but are not legally married?’” Candrian says. “Does the way you frame your question shut them out, or invite them in?”

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Mara Kalinosk is a Communications Coordinator for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

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The preceding article was previously published by the University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus and was republished with permission.

By Paulo Murillo || LOS ANGELES – Health officials report that over 570 cases of mpox have been detected in the U.S. so far in 2024, marking a significant increase compared to this time last year.

While this year’s infection rate remains lower than the peak observed during the mpox outbreak in early August 2022, when the country witnessed an average of about 470 new cases per week, the latest data underscore that mpox continues to circulate. Health authorities stress the importance of vaccination, particularly for individuals at risk of infection.

Los Angeles County of Public health reports a total of 2,591 of mpox cases (includes Long Beach and Pasadena) since it began tracking infections. Two people have died in LA County.

The primary mpox vaccine used in the U.S., known as JYNNEOS, is administered in two doses, spaced a month apart. Full vaccination is achieved two weeks after the second dose, with no current recommendations for booster shots. Eligibility and vaccine distribution locations can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, as well as through various local health departments, including those of New York City and San Francisco.

Vaccination is not universally recommended; specific groups, such as gay and bisexual men with recent sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses, are identified as at-risk populations eligible for vaccination.

Dr. Jenni McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC’s High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology division, emphasized that most reported cases are among individuals who are either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, reports Live Science.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus related to the variola virus, which causes smallpox. There are two main types of mpox viruses: clade I and clade II. Clade I is associated with more severe and fatal disease outcomes. While clade I has not been detected in the U.S. to date, there remains a risk of introduction through travelers from regions like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Symptoms of mpox can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes, with characteristic pox rashes that progress from discolored patches to raised bumps, blisters, and scabbing. Individuals with weakened immune systems, infants, those with a history of eczema, and pregnant individuals face a higher risk of severe disease.

Since the onset of the mpox outbreak in May 2022, the U.S. has reported over 30,000 cases, with the majority occurring in 2022. Although infection rates slowed by early 2023, recent data indicate a resurgence, with 576 cases reported between January 1 and March 23, 2024, according to provisional CDC figures.

Notable concentrations of cases in 2024 include over 110 in New York City, 64 in California, and 50 in Florida.

While mpox can affect anyone, certain groups, including gender-diverse and transgender individuals, as well as men who have sex with men, are disproportionately impacted. Efforts to increase vaccination rates among these populations are ongoing, as data suggest that many at-risk individuals have not received the recommended doses.

Dr. Brandy Darby, director of the Division of Surveillance and Investigation at the Virginia Department of Health, emphasized the continued risk posed by mpox and stressed the importance of public awareness and vaccination efforts. Virginia has already noted a significant increase in mpox cases in 2024 compared to the previous year.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

By Brittinae Phillips | LOS ANGELES -Through leading and delivering education programs for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’s Black Health Initiative for the past four years, I have had hundreds of in-person conversations with thousands of youth and young adults about sexual health, sexuality, and relationship values.

What I’ve learned over and over from these experiences is that vast misinformation, confusion, and stigma about sexuality and sexual health remain pervasive in the minds of our young people, and the resources they have on these topics simply aren’t enough.

With content from the internet perpetually at our fingertips, it’s easy to have the misperception that today’s emerging adults are savvier when it comes to sexual health and education. But in my work, I see wide gaps in knowledge and understanding. In my sessions, I hear the same questions about basic body anatomy, the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, and, what’s more, bewilderment about hurtful sexual stereotypes, particularly those aimed at Black men and women. 

It’s important to remember that outside of family, our youth’s primary resource for sexual education is school, and we know there are limitations on what schools can provide. Consider that as of September 2023, only 38 states, along with the District of Columbia, mandate sex or HIV education. Within this group, a mere 20 states insist on including contraception education, and just 18 of these states mandate that the information provided be medically accurate.

Even here in California, health advocates report that the implementation of existing laws, limited funding to support training for educators, and the lack of broad health education requirements all continue to create barriers to sex education for young people in the state.

For youth who may have questions about LGBTQ+ topics, resources are even more scant. Only 10 states and DC require inclusive content about sexual orientation, and four states require only negative information to be provided on homosexuality and a positive emphasis on heterosexuality. California is unfortunately not immune to gaps in this area either.

A 2022 report developed by Equality California revealed that only 52% of districts have adopted LGBTQAI+ inclusive social science textbooks at the high school level. Advocates also report a significant rise in opposition at the local school board level to implement sex education, particularly to LGBTQAI+-inclusive or historically accurate content.

Our teachers are doing all they can to give their students accurate knowledge and helpful tools. But we must acknowledge that this patchwork of requirements and varying standards means that a comprehensive understanding of sex education eludes many young people, leading to a concerning lack of knowledge.

The exclusion of LGBTQ+ topics not only deprives students of vital health information but also misses the opportunity to answer questions from students of any orientation that could help foster compassion and understanding, leaving intact all-too often discriminatory environments for young people who identify as LGBTQ+.

For many, I know this feels both familiar and “bigger than just me.” But I encourage readers to remember how they felt as young people, the questions they had, and the confusion they may have endured. Are we content to hope that today’s young adults just figure it out? My experience shows me they are looking for more than that. 

I can say with certainty our young people want to talk – they are looking for trustworthy adults to ask questions and express their concerns. Whether as a parent, family member or friend, I know it can be challenging to broach these conversations. Starting them can feel awkward, and young people may posture they’re “in the know,” but they need to discuss these topics. Below are some of the principles I follow in my classes to spark these conversations.

• Check your surprise. Most of the anonymous questions I receive from young adults are about anatomy and basic human biology. Let them know it’s okay to ask these questions – they need to understand their bodies to care for themselves.

• Words do matter. There are a lot of terms available today that people can use to describe their sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s important for adults to understand these terms so that they can have better conversations with youth.   

• Talk about consent. Consent is a critically important topic to learn about – it is everyone’s responsibility to learn how to both say no to situations that aren’t right for them and listen when someone says no, and act appropriately.  This includes asking for a yes, rather than waiting for a no.

• It’s essential to really listen. If they feel like you are really listening, they will feel better

about talking with you. Listening without judgment will help young adults figure out what’s best for them and live by those values.

• Be a role model. Young adults want to talk about these topics and seek support and guidance. You can be honest about information while still underscoring the benefits of healthy behaviors and decisions.

• You don’t have to have all the answers. If you can’t answer a question, work together to find the answer. Giving wrong information or not answering the question does not help someone make healthy choices.

We can overcome inaccurate information and damaging stereotypes through more of what my team and I do daily – giving young people a safe place to have honest, attentive conversations. Even more reassuring is that we all have the opportunity and ability to make a positive difference in a young person’s life by intentionally making space for them to address sensitive topics. I hope to inspire proactive action.

To get information or resources, please visit: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/parents.  

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Brittinae Phillips, Sr. Education Manager for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’s Black Health Initiative manages community outreach and education for parents, college students, and youth in diverse communities throughout the county

BARCELONA, Spain – Researchers from the Amsterdam University Medical Center made a groundbreaking announcement this week of the results of a major study to be presented at the 2024 European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, which will be held April 27-30 in Barcelona.

A team led by Dr. Elena Herrera-Carrillo using a gene-editing tool known as Crispr-Cas, were able to eliminate HIV DNA, removing all traces of the virus from infected cells. In the press release Tuesday, Dr. Herrera-Carrillo alongside team members Yuanling Bao, Zhenghao Yu and Pascal Kroon, said that utilizing the gene-editing tool they focused on parts of the virus that stay the same across all known HIV strains.

“These findings represent a pivotal advancement towards designing a cure strategy,” the team said.

Herrera-Carrillo’s team works in developing a cure for HIV infection based on novel CRISPR-Cas methods.  CRISPR-Cas is a powerful gene editing tool working like genetic scissors but can also be used to selectively attack and inactivate integrated HIV DNA genomes in infected cells.

Herrera-Carrillo’s team eliminated HIV from cells in a laboratory, raising hopes of a cure, but cautioned that for now their work represents proof of concept, and will not become a cure for HIV tomorrow. According to the researchers the next steps involve optimizing the delivery route to target the majority of the HIV reservoir cells within the body.

The hope the research team points out, is to devise a strategy to make this system as safe as possible for future clinical applications, and achieve the right balance between efficacy and safety. “Only then can we consider clinical trials of ‘cure’ in humans to disable the HIV reservoir,” they stated adding, “While these preliminary findings are very encouraging, it is premature to declare that there is a functional HIV cure on the horizon.”

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The silent epidemic of methamphetamine addiction in the LGBTQ+ community has reached a breaking point, leaving countless lives shattered in its wake. In response to this growing crisis, Breathe Life Healing Center is set to host the ChemSex Crisis Summit on March 14-15 in West Hollywood.

The event aims to bring together professionals to confront uncomfortable truths about addiction and exploitation, and to develop effective strategies for prevention, treatment and recovery.

The stories of those impacted by meth addiction paint a harrowing picture of the depths of this crisis:

Dr. J, a once-prominent epidemiologist, found himself on the wrong side of the statistics he knew so well. 

“I knew the data inside and out — I just never thought I’d become one of those grim statistics myself,” he recounts ruefully.

His journey from a rising star in the world of public health to a homeless addict on the streets of LA is a testament to the insidious power of meth addiction. After earning his PhD and advising on policies at a prestigious government agency, Dr. J’s groundbreaking insights into the LGBTQ community’s health disparities propelled him to a renowned university to lead cutting-edge research initiatives. With a generous salary and a beautiful home in the Hollywood Hills, Dr. J felt like he had it all.

But beneath the veneer of success, he was struggling with his own demons. “At first, meth was just a way to let loose and have fun,” he admits. “But then it became a way to cope with stress, a way to make sex hotter, a way to make myself feel more confident.”

As his addiction spiraled out of control, Dr. J found himself slipping further and further away from the life he had built. Within two years, he had lost everything: His job, his home, his relationships. He found himself living under an overpass, his once-brilliant mind consumed by the never-ending cycle of addiction.

It was only when he hit rock bottom, facing the grim reality that more than 1,900 people died from meth in LA in 2021 alone, that Dr. J found the strength to seek help. Medically-assisted treatment and LGBTQ+-affirmative rehab became his lifeline, helping him to slowly rebuild his shattered life.

Filling the emptiness 

Peter’s story is a cautionary tale of privilege and addiction. 

Born into wealth, his trust fund enabled a bohemian lifestyle that quickly descended into meth addiction. “I became idle and depressed,” he recalls. “That’s when meth lit me up like never before.” His recreational usage quickly spiraled out of control, leading him to burn through his allowance and pawn valuables to feed his habit.

“I sold a Warhol for a fraction of its value and it’s now worth many times more than it was then,” he laments, shaking his head at the memory. It was only through the intervention of friends who urged his family to cut him off financially and force him to return home, that Peter was able to break free from the grip of addiction.

“Those first sober years were just brutal,” he admits. “I resented everyone and everything. I was HIV-positive in a tiny, conservative rural town and my health was in the gutter.” 

Slowly, with the support of his loved ones, Peter began to reassemble the pieces of his life. He found solace in caring for his aging mother and threw himself into his recovery with the same intensity he once devoted to chasing his next high.

Today, 20 years sober, Peter is grateful for the second chance he’s been given. “I still think about meth sometimes, and the life I had in Hollywood,” he confesses. “But I know I’d be dead without the people who saved me.”

Trafficked

Perhaps most chilling is the story of Carlos, a young Colombian man who found himself trapped in a nightmarish cycle of exploitation and addiction after being lured to the U.S. with the promise of a better life. Upon arrival, he was taken to a lavish house party that quickly revealed itself to be a facade for a dark world of abuse.

“The gringos that arrived later were wealthy looking people and I was told some of them were politicians, businessmen, married men with families,” he recounts with a shudder. Behind their masks of respectability, these men had paid the house and the young men were on the menu.

Drugged with meth and then exploited by powerful men, Carlos found himself trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction and sexual slavery. Even after a daring escape, fleeing into the unfamiliar streets wearing nothing but torn underwear, he found himself pulled back into the clutches of the trafficking ring, his hopes for a better life shattered.

It was only when a stroke nearly claimed his life that he found the courage to seek help, but even then, the path to recovery was fraught with obstacles. As an undocumented immigrant, Carlos faced countless barriers to accessing the support and treatment he so desperately needed. 

Fear of deportation and a lack of information about resources available to trafficking victims kept him silent, even as he struggled with the trauma of his experiences and the grip of addiction.

“I’m pretty sure the LGBTQ community isn’t aware of the grip the sex-trafficking network has on people like me,” Carlos says, his voice heavy with emotion. “I’m also sad about that because I know for sure concern is silenced and that people just look the other way. I guess it’s too messy to care about, but people are dying and being addicted and their lives ruined. Some people are even disappeared.”

Even when Carlos finally found the courage to seek help, he discovered that the path to justice was far from equal. As an undocumented immigrant, he faced countless barriers to accessing the legal protections and support services that could have helped him break free from the trafficking ring and rebuild his life.

Feeling hopeless and alone, Carlos made the difficult decision to return to Colombia, but even there, the shadow of the trafficking network loomed large, threatening him and his family. Today, he continues to grapple with the trauma of his experiences and the grip of addiction, a stark reminder of the urgent need for better protections and support for trafficking victims, regardless of their immigration status.

Examining the truth

These stories are just a few examples of the countless lives impacted by the meth crisis in the LGBTQ community. The ChemSex Crisis Summit aims to bring attention to this silent epidemic and work towards developing effective strategies for prevention, treatment and recovery.

“The ChemSex crisis is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach,” says Brad Lamm, founder of Breathe Life Healing Centers and co-author of “Crystal Clear + Sexually Recovered” with Kathleen Murphy, executive clinical director of Breathe Life Healing Centers. “As these stories illustrate, meth addiction affects the entire LGBTQ spectrum, from the privileged to the marginalized. It’s one of the most urgent issues our community faces, and we must address it on every level — from the biological to the psychological to the societal.”

Murphy agrees. “We must address not only the biochemical effects of meth addiction but also the underlying traumas and social factors that contribute to it,” she explains. “Underlying childhood wounds from families and cultural institutions, from internalized homophobia — these are the roots that have to be healed.”

Melissa McCracken, a leading expert on substance abuse in the LGBTQ community, notes that many ChemSex users turn to substances, specifically meth, as a means to overcome fear and shame and to “hot wire” intimacy and connection. 

“Queer sex education is lacking, and many folks do not learn courtship or intimacy skills in their formative years, resorting to drugs to engage with others,” she explains. “Meth also eradicates emotional consciousness, so the allure of a shame-free sexual experience is very enticing to many users who may not have the means or resources to seek out professional help to resolve shame, trauma, or internalized homophobia.”

McCracken also warns that the meth of today is not the same as it was 10-20 years ago, before the rise of cartel-produced “P2P meth.” “Not only is it more potent, but it is also manufactured differently, using different chemicals,” she explains. “The adverse effects of meth are more prevalent in P2P meth users, with upwards of 90 percent of those seeking treatment reporting psychosis, paranoia, anhedonia, isolation and ongoing mental health issues well into recovery.”

“We are seeing the effects of P2P meth in treatment that resembles long-term chronic use in folks who use the drug one or two times a month.”

The summit will feature a range of speakers and panel discussions, covering topics such as the role of trauma in substance abuse, best practices for LGBTQ-affirmative treatment, and strategies for supporting long-term recovery. Attendees will learn from leading experts in the field and connect with others working to address the crisis in their own communities.

But the work does not end with the summit. Organizers hope that the event will serve as a catalyst for ongoing action and advocacy, both within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

“We must come together as a community to demand change and to support those who have been marginalized and left behind,” says Murphy. “It is only by confronting the uncomfortable truths about addiction, exploitation, and inequality that we can begin to create a society where everyone has the opportunity to heal and thrive.”

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Gilead Sciences this week announced it has given $4 million in grants to 35 organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean that fight HIV/AIDS.

A press release notes Asociación Panamericana de Mercadeo Social (Pan-American Association of Social Marketing) in Nicaragua, Fundación Genesis (Genesis Foundation) in Panama, Fundación por una Sociedad Empoderada (Foundation for an Empowered Society) in Argentina, Associação Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais (National Association of Travestis and Transsexuals) in Brazil and Caribbean Vulnerable Communities are among the groups that received grants. Gilead notes this funding through its Zeroing In: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean will “improve access to care, increase health equity and reduce HIV-related stigma for populations most affected by HIV.”

“The HIV prevention and care needs of people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean are incredibly diverse, and each of these programs addresses a unique community challenge,” said Gilead Vice President of Corporate Giving Carmen Villar. “Our grantees are deeply embedded in their communities and best positioned to provide needed HIV care and support services.” 

“Their expertise will be essential to achieve the Zeroing In program’s goals of improving access to comprehensive care among priority populations, decreasing HIV-related stigma and reducing HIV and broader health inequities,” she added.

The pandemic disproportionately affects Transgender people and sex workers, among other groups, in the region. Activists and HIV/AIDS service providers in the region with whom the Washington Blade has previously spoken say discrimination, stigma, poverty, a lack of access to health care and criminalization laws are among the myriad challenges they face.

First Lady Jill Biden in 2022 during a trip to Panama announced the U.S. will provide an additional $80.9 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Latin America through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. 

Cuba in 2015 became the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The Cuban government until 1993 forcibly quarantined people with HIV/AIDS in state-run sanitaria.

Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in recent years have decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. 

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2021 ruled Jamaica must repeal its colonial-era sodomy law. The country’s Supreme Court last year ruled against a gay man who challenged it.