[Vision2020] HIV/AIDS

[Art Deco]

Without pointing fingers, there has been some misinformation posted on this forum concerning the seriousness of being HIV positive.  Here is some information:

General information:

http://globalhealth.org/view_top.php3?id=227

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts.htm


Effect on life expectancy:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,751317,00.html

http://www.globalhealth.org/sources/view.php3?id=668

 www.un.org/esa/population/publications/adultmort/Vidaurre_paper7.pdf


I think that we should not attempt to minimize the effect on the lives of those who become HIV positive.  They face a number of serious outcomes:  For almost all people all of these consequences are quite unpleasant, expensive to themselves and others, and life shortening -- for some victims, very life shortening.  Those who are HIV positive in our culture are much less attractive as life's partners.  If you have read the above, you know that the HIV virus can be passed on to a baby during prenatal times and birthing contact from the mother.  It does not take much imagination/reading to see other far reaching, egregiously personal, social, and economic harmful effects of being HIV positive.

In general, I find it criminally immoral for someone to knowingly and to intentionally act in such a way that there is a likelihood that that person is going to be a disease vector.  The more serious the disease, the greater the immorality.  That is why there are stringent laws against knowingly being a HIV vector.

>From my point of view it is not the sexual acts of people that lead to HIV/AIDS that are immoral.  I could care less who, what, and/or how, with the below caveats, people consensually express their sexuality.  However, for their own sakes and the sakes of their sexual partners, prudential precautions ought be taken.  

People who are sexually active with various partners should be tested on a regular basis to determine if they have any STDs so they can inform potential partners of their condition before having sex and so that they can seek medical assistance for their condition.  

The worst crime is for someone to knowingly and to intentionally, and without their partner's(s') knowledge, act in such a way that some probability of passing on the infection is present.  It those cases where the victim's(s') lives are shortened, acting in such a way is nothing short of murder.  Where the act results in causing the victim and society in general to expend huge amounts of resources on drugs is nothing short of large scale theft.


It is true that not absolutely everybody that has sexual conduct with an HIV positive person will become HIV positive.  It is the kind of contact, the number of times of contact, and the individual physiological makeup of the individuals involved that determines whether the virus will be transmitted.

HIV is primarily transmitted through certain bodily fluids especially blood sera. The Moscow case that has engendered this discussion has its roots apparently in heterosexual conduct.  For example, during vaginal or anal intercourse, particularly rigorous intercourse, vaginal or anal capillaries can be ruptured.  Hence ejaculata can be absorbed through these ruptures.  The same absorption principle is true, though much less likely, of the penis head, tongue, or other delicate participating structures.  When there are sores, either open or likely to become open during intercourse, etc, the risk is greatly heightened.  Some of these sores may be the result of a herpes infection, the presence of which increases the probability of HIV transmission and then of later contracting AIDS.


I congratulate the MPD for acting in this matter.  HIV is serious business and knowing acting in such a manner that the probability that it will be transmitted to others without their knowledge is a very serious business.  If nothing else, this Moscow incident reveals that we need to take a much more proactive approach.  I very much doubt that the defendant in this case is the only HIV positive person in the Moscow/Pullman area.  I very much doubt that he is the only HIV positive person that is continuing to have sexual relations without informing their partners of their condition.  There is much work to do in this area.

Besides the comments I have already made about the ridiculously low bail in the Moscow case, there is another entity that needs to be shaped up, although if the past is any indication, this will be a Herculean task.  I am speaking of the Daily News.

At least the article in the Lewiston Morning Tribune gave some of the details of the arrest and case such as the confirming blood tests and the outré behavior of the defendant.  The Daily News article was a bare-bones account.

This is a serious incident and one whose consequences could be catastrophic for many people in this area.  This is what educators call "a teachable moment."  Hence, one would hope that a responsible, community minded newspaper would do two things:

1.    Write extensive, factual news articles about the incident so as to warn the community and to warn as many potential victims as possible, many who are leaving this week, some for good.  Those victims should immediately be tested so that they do not become vectors themselves and so that they can seek immediate, relevant, non-judgmental medical advice.

2.    Solicit and encourage columns giving public health information about HIV/AIDS.

Instead, the duty of the Daily News is being performed by bar owners Phil and Shelly Roderick who correctly see this egregious problem as a public health problem and who graciously arranged for dissemination of information and for testing potential victims.  Congratulations to them.  A slimy ton of coal for the Daily News!


Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

(208) 882-7975
waf at moscow.com
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