Quoted Text

HIV travel ban may be lifted for infected visitors
Health officials applaud end to 22-year U.S. policy for travelers, immigrants
By JoNel Aleccia
Health writer
updated 7:00 p.m. ET, Fri., July 17, 2009

Foreigners who have HIV would be allowed to travel and immigrate to the United States under a plan by federal health officials to lift a 22-year ban on infected visitors that critics say was unnecessary from the start.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are seeking public comment through Aug. 17 on the proposal, which would remove HIV from the list of diseases that can bar entry to the country and do away with HIV testing as part of medical exams for permanent residence and, in some cases, travel visas.

“We’re trying to end the stigma and the discriminatory practice for a disease that doesn’t warrant exclusion for coming into this country,” said Dr. Martin Cetron, director of the CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. “We have to appreciate this is not a threat we face from abroad.”

The proposed rule comes more than a year after Congress voted to repeal 1987 restrictions on HIV-positive immigrants as part of a package of AIDS reforms proposed by President George W. Bush.

Although that removed the legal requirement that HIV-infected people be excluded, the Health and Human Services department has final say over whether the disease remains on the no-entry list.

“HIV is clearly a public health disease of significance,” Cetron said. “But in simply allowing in someone who’s HIV-positive, that individual doesn’t immediately pose a risk to the public.”

As it stands now, HIV is among several diseases that require exclusion, including active tuberculosis, infectious gonorrhea, syphilis and infectious leprosy. Also on the list are little-known sexually transmitted conditions such as chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum or LGV, and granuloma inguinale. CDC officials said they may consider removing those conditions in the future, but wanted to move first to align health regulations with the new HIV statute.

Foreigners also can be excluded if they have quarantinable diseases designated by a presidential executive order and if they're affected during outbreaks that are public health emergencies of international concern.
...............>>>>...........>>>>...............http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31910664/ns/health-aids/

That is too funny.......I never knew there was a ban......America certainly doesn't need help in spreading HIV......or even in
preventing it.......

the only thing America does well is in this case(which there is no cure for) is promote the condoms for the condom makers
and hope it all goes well.......