ALAMEDA COUNTY CITES AN AIDS EMERGENCY

Stunned by local statistics that blacks are five times more likely than
whites to be infected by HIV/AIDS,the Alameda County Board of Supervisors
declared an official state of emergency Thursday.

Alameda County public health statistics reveal that the HIV/AIDS infection
rate for blacks is 62 per 100,000 population, while the rate for whites is
12 per 100,000.

The vote came partly at the urging of Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, a member
of the Black Congressional Caucus, which has asked that a national state of
emergency be declared over the AIDS crisis among blacks.

>From Register News Services

Checked-by: Don Beck