Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International - Friday, August 23, 1985
Dr. Bruce Dan, senior editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said much of the concern about the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome -- including being served food by or kissing an AIDS victim -- is unwarranted and based on misinformation.
Dan, a specialist on infectious diseases, said many people think they can catch AIDS through casual contact because it is believed caused by a virus. But, he said, "It's not even that easy to get a cold, and that's much easier to transmit."
In an issue of the journal to be published today, Dan said news that the suspected AIDS virus, HTLV-3, has been found in the tears and saliva of victims has caused undue alarm.
"The virus itself can be found in virtually any body fluid" of a victim, Dan said. "It is in your bloodstream, urine, tears, saliva, semen, because if you have it, it's there."
But, Dan said, "That's not how you get it."
Dan said it was significant that there have been no reported cases of family members or health care professionals getting the disease from being around AIDS victims.
"And these people eat, live and have daily contact with AIDS victims," he said.
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