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Possible HIV victims tested by health department 


By Megan Doyle
Daily News staff writer 

The 20-minute, noninvasive HIV test the North Central Health District of
Idaho provides is not just a quick fix in response to the arrest of an
HIV-infected Moscow resident. It’s quick, it’s effective and it’s a new
technology health district officials say they’re lucky to have. 
About a dozen people related to the case have been tested for HIV, said
Carol Moehrle, district director. She declined to comment on the results of
those tests, citing patient confidentiality. Those individuals will be
tested again. 
It takes a body a bit of time to show signs of the virus, Moehrle said. 
Kanay A. Mubita has been charged with transferring body fluids infected with
HIV. Mubita, who holds a Zambian passport, has been in the Latah County Jail
since Dec. 7 on a total bond of $20,000. 
Mubita tested positive for the virus in December 2001 in a health
district-administered test and again in January 2002, according to Latah
County court records. Six victims, whose names are not documented in the
records, were allegedly not told by Mubita of his HIV status before engaging
in sexual intercourse. 
He has waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing and will be in court
again at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 12 for the continuation of his preliminary hearing,
which began Tuesday. 
Local law enforcement and the health district urge anyone who may have had
sexual contact with Mubita to get tested. The health district is offering
counseling and testing. 
The test used, the OraQuick Advanced Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test, involves
swabbing a check for oral fluid, not saliva. The swab is then placed into a
solution to test for antibodies of HIV type 1 and type 2, said Donna
Anderson, a registered nurse and the epidemiologist with the North Central
Idaho Health District. 
Center for Disease Control information states HIV type 2 appears to be less
easily transmitted and the period between initial infection and illness is
longer than with HIV type 1. The test is 99.3 percent accurate for both
types, Anderson said. 
“With any test there is that risk of having a false positive,” she added.
Because of that risk, the CDC recommends a positive OraQuick test be follow
up with a blood test. 
“The risk of that happening is not great, but that is just the standard
protocol,” Anderson said. There may come a time when the CDC will not
require a second test because of the accuracy of the first test. 
Health district employees welcome questions about the test or concerns of
those who have had contact with Mubita or anyone else HIV-positive. 
“That’s our job,” she said. 
“I think that if people feel they are at risk, nothing calms the nerves like
having the results.” 
The North Central Health District in Moscow is located at 333 E. Palouse
River Drive and can be reached at (208) 882-7506. 
* Megan Doyle can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 237, or by e-mail at mdoyle at dnews.com. 
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