Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune (CT) - WEDNESDAY July 6, 1988 Edition: SPORTS FINAL Section: EDITORIAL Page: 16 Word Count: 319
Now, the American Medical Association is taking a reluctant but necessary step toward protecting potential victims from AIDS by urging state governments to begin tracing the sexual contacts of people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The AMA says doctors first should try to persuade an infected individual to tell his sexual partners about their risks. If the patient refuses to cooperate, the AMA wants physicians to be able to report the case to local health officials who will then trace and notify the contacts.
Such contact tracing is credited with helping to reduce the incidence of other sexually transmitted diseases, particularly syphilis and gonorrhea. Unfortunately, differences between these infections and AIDS may make the strategy less successful with AIDS.
AIDS contact tracing relies on the patient to be honest and accurate about his relationships over many months; it can take that long after exposure for an HIV test to be positive. Homosexuals and intravenous drug abusers in the high-risk groups may not be able to identity all their contacts and may be unwilling because of fears of discrimination. Though treatment is available for syphilis and gonorrhea, AIDS contacts can be offered only testing, counseling-and worry.
Public health officials count on counseling to persuade those infected with HIV and their contacts to stop their dangerous behavior. Some studies show many do; others suggest it has little effect.
But the AMA is right. Contact tracing has to be done, whatever its limitations, even if it impinges on doctor-patient confidentiality. AIDS is a fatal disease without a cure or a vaccine. Until those are found, it can be stopped only by preventing its spread.
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