HIVer Charged with Bio-Terrorism

[tednlou2]

I'm not sure if anyone has addressed this already.  I was just reading about the man in Michigan charged with Bio-terrorism after biting someone.  I've been reading about several HIVers lately being charged with crimes related to HIV.

Where does this end?  I don't know the situation in this case.  If someone grabbed me, I'd probably try to bite them to get them off me.  What if you throw a kleenex in the trash, but someone walks in front of it and gets hit by it?  Dr. Henry on thebody.com recently said it was possible to transmit HIV via tears.  Do we have to be careful where we cry? 

What about H1N1 or seasona flu.  Those are viruses that kill thousands every year.  Will people infected with the flu be charged with bio-terrorism?  Will school-age kids with the flu who get into fights at school be thrown in jail?  I think this is a huge slippery slope.  I've noticed blood in my kleenex--due to being very cold and then the heat on in house.  If I don't dispose of that tissue in a bio-hazard bin, can I be charged with a crime?  Sounds silly but not really after reading about these stories.

[GSOgymrat]

Bio-terrorism? That's a new one. Do you have a link to the story?

[tednlou2]

http://michiganmessenger.com/29816/state-lawmakers-question-terrorism-charges-for-hiv-positive-man

I tried to get this so you could just click on the link, but don't know what it isn't working.  It is on thebody.com website.  It is under "What's Hot in HIV/AIDS" under "Arrest of HIV-Positive People Continue; CDC must Act".  In that article is the link about the Michigan case.

[Inchlingblue]

 Dr. Henry on thebody.com recently said it was possible to transmit HIV via tears.  

Do you have a link for this by any chance? (I'm referring to what you're saying Dr. Henry said). It doesn't sound right.

[RapidRod]

http://www.poz.com/articles/hiv_weapon_michigan_1_17511.shtml

[sensual1973]

only in america !

[john33]

i don't think it's only america, but the american media does have a talent for reporting the rediculous

[newt]

Dr. Henry on thebody.com recently said it was possible to transmit HIV via tears

Dr Henry is plain wrong then

The CDC says:

"HIV has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities from some AIDS patients. It is important to understand that finding a small amount of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that HIV can be transmitted by that body fluid. HIV has not been recovered from the sweat of HIV-infected persons. Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV."

Edwin Bernard reports the Michagan case at length here:

http://criminalhivtransmission.blogspot.com/2009/11/us-michigan-bite-man-charged-under-anti.html

[jinghua]

Wow...what a world??!!

Jing Hua

[tednlou2]

QUESTION TO DR. HENRY.  I DIDN'T THINK HIV WAS IN TEARS.  IF IT IS CONSIDERED NOT ENOUGH TO INFECT SOMEONE, THEN I KINDA THINK WHAT HE SAID COULD SCARE A LOT OF PEOPLE. 

Eye Exam
Dec 11, 2009

Why does my optometrist ask/need to know my HIV status or if I am taking any meds or HAART?

 
 
 
Advertisement    Response from Dr. Henry

There is still a possibility that your tears could contain HIV virus. All health care offices should be practicing universal precaution which should diminish any chance for infection but it's still considered appropriate to inform all health care workers about HIV status. Also, HIV+ patients can have some eye conditions that occur more often in the setting of HIV infection than in the general population so it is helpful in making a proper diagnosis (such as forms of viral retinitis or conjunctivitis). KH