European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In merely iwo or three years behind the United states on the aids curve. In Europe there were 4342 reported aids Pasesas of feb. 11, according Lolohe world  a latest figures. France reported he most cases with 1.263, followed by West Germany 875britain 638 Italy 460. Spain 242 and Belgium 207in ins United Stales Here Ware 20.536 reported eases. Britain Wilh 30,000 carriers and ene of cled aids death toll of 4,000 by 1991 began a 130 million crash program in november to warn of aids. It sent to fog  to Viry a whom . Including the use of condoms to All 23 million households. Huge billboards bearing the warning aids Don t die of ignorance were pieced at about t ,500 Sites throughout lha country. Flashy and somewhat eerie advertisements were shown on to and prior to films at cinemas. One depicted an exploding Volcano another an electric Drill causing destruction each Wilh a grave voiced warning about aids. It t very scary a teen Ager named Lucy wrote to a London newspaper about the ads. But it has t stopped any of us haying Bex. Aids does t seem real any More than death  Ireland and Austria Are patterning Thor campaigns after Britain a although the two predominantly Catholic countries Are having a difficult Lime Ullh the Issue of promoting condoms opposed by the Church As a contraceptive. The Anli aids budgets of most nations include a Large sum to promote the use of condoms. In West Berlin alone the City government spent Over $150.000 on advertising for condoms. West Germany s to ads will be aimed at those Wilh More than one sexual partner Trust is Good condoms Are  Sweden wont a step further by including three condoms in a packet of aids information mailed to about 220,000 people aged 15 to 25. Denmark is aiming its $830.000 Safe sex Campaign at Young people with ads in newspapers radio to end in educational films. On Denmark s second largest Island Funken Gay organizations Are handing out free condoms. In a bid to fight the spread of aids among drug addicts Britain in april is going to provide addicts with clean Needles in Exchange Lor used ones in three scottish cities Edinburgh Glasgow and Dundee. Holland and parts of Denmark already have Needle Exchange programs for addicts who make up about 12 percent of aids victims in Europe. Only France and Sweden ban the open Sale of hypodermic Needles. France despite its reputation Lor sexual explicitness just swept away a 20-year-old Law Banning advertising of condoms on to. It Hopes its $2 million Campaign will curb Franco s rate of 15 now aids cases ovary weak. Italy launched a $35 million Campaign that among Olhorn things will Sel up treatment centers in every Region of the country and hand out tree condoms to the 370.000 member italian army. Sweden a $30 million anti aids Campaign involved sending brochures to most of the nation s 8.3 million households tasting drug addicts in prison and providing free aids Testa to anyone who believes to May have been in Contact. Sweden is drafting a Taw that would close Gay Sauna clubs and other Public places for sex. Ii has already banned brothels and can commit to protective confinement aids carriers who refuse to Lake Normal safely precautions. Norway is also considering protective confinement. Ireland with 14 aids cases and an estimated 530 carriers found itself at Odds Wilh the roman Catholic Church Over recommending condoms. Dublin is now working on an anti aids Campaign with a monogamous theme one person one  Spain has retrained from an extensive Anli aids Campaign and came under some criticism for Only recommending not ordering Hal tests be conducted on blood used in transfusions. Austria ordered carriers to Register with the i Mulry of health promising anonymity and Greece told dentists in january to Wear gloves and masks when treating patients. An of these campaigns Hope to convince people of the seriousness of ads first thought to be a disease of homosexuals and drug addicts but now a i real to All communities and feared to be the West epidemic of modern limes. Aids spread primarily by sexual Contact or to Exchange of blood attacks the body s immune system and leaves the victim at the mercy of any in Lection the most prevalent forms of transmission Are through sexual Intercourse and blood to blood Contact such As in transfusions or Whan drug abusers share syringes and Needles. The Speed at which aids spreads is staggering. It has been reported in 127 countries and is presumed to exist in Many More. Only 39 nations have reported no cases. I Don t know of any greater killer than aids said or. Halfdan Mahler head of the Geneva based world health organization. Frightening thing about dating said Judy Ligh Lnor. A s single 29-year-old office manager at a los Angeles la firm. I think it will be a Long time Belore i get involved a intimately with  \ Lori Margreiter. A 26-year-old Houston Model said i she was just really careful now i would t go to bed i with a Guy in As much of a hurry As i used  the Prospect of aids also appears to be putting a5 Damper on extramarital affairs. A married new Orleans businessman in his 40s. Said members of his after work barroom group used to pick up women frequently at such gatherings. Now. He said i know maybe so Guys who have slopped having casual sex. They Haven t convinced me yet that condoms Are realty Safe and aids in so permanent so fatal it s just not Worth taking a Chance on it a said. I would kill i myself if i Ever got it. There s such a  Michael Kaiser a paediatrician who Heads the aids advisory committee in new Orleans said my experience tells me a lot of people Are practising the non traditional sex forms a lot More cuddling and massaging. People Are not engaging in As much