US Scientists May Boycott AIDS Congress

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

US Scientists May Boycott AIDS Congress

Science (12/10/98) Vol. 396, No.6711, P. 504
Cherry, Michael

Several U.S. researchers reportedly may boycott the World AIDS Conference in Durban in 2000 in response to the cancellation by the South African health minister of a pilot program designed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV. The canceled program distributed AZT to HIV-infected pregnant women. In a move that further angered researchers, South Africa also recently announced that it will spend $5 billion to upgrade its defense force. While no decision has been made on the conference, one researcher said, "it might be necessary to get a boycott organized." The pilot program cut appears not to have been based on cost, because the French-based International Solidarity Fund has since offered to pay for it. The decision may have been based on the fear that HIV-infected pregnant women would believe they had a right to the drug; a spokesman for the ministry said that there is little point in implementing a pilot program if the country cannot execute the findings. The spokesman also said that the decision could change next year, depending on the cost at which South Africa can obtain the drug.

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