Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia, Inc. - 13 Dec 1995
Specialist Kevin Barrows of the 41st Engineer Battalion at Ft. Drum, New York, violated a Defense Department safe sex policy for those who test positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, army spokesman Maj. Rudy Cohen said.
The Defense Department policy requires all military members who know they are HIV positive -- which Barrows did -- to refrain from sexual intercourse unless they use a condom and inform their partners of their status.
Cohen said it was unclear whether the woman was infected during the incident. Medical personnel are also investigating whether any one else has been exposed.
Although Barrows may face a court-martial, Cohen said the exact charge and potential punishment are unclear until he is put before the military equivalent of a grand jury.
The Army currently has about 434 HIV-infected soldiers. Recruits must take an HIV test and are not allowed to join if it is positive. Active duty soldiers must take a test every six months, a spokesman said.
If soldiers test positive they are retained on active duty as long as they are physically fit but, along with those who have certain cancers, diabetes or heart or kidney conditions, they are not deployed for combat, said Cynthia Vaughan, spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Medical Command.
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