Local News in Brief : New AIDS Cases Fall in September
The number of new AIDS cases reported in Los Angeles County dropped sharply in September from the previous month, but the infection rate among intravenous drug users has climbed, according to county health officials.
Last month, 109 new cases were reported, 111 fewer than in August. The August number was a record one-month high. It was attributed to improved data-gathering.
The Department of Health Services reported a total of 5,744 confirmed cases of AIDS, including 3,585 deaths from the disease since 1981. Despite the September drop, the percentage of AIDS victims who are intravenous drug users edged upward from 3% last month to 4%, health officials said.
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