fran@wubios.wustl.edu (Fran Porter) (02/07/90)
I recently saw a piece on ABC news which stated that from one-third to one-half of all sick hospitalized infants in Bucharest have AIDS. One hospital alone currently has 53 infected infants. The films of these infants were particularly graphic and gripping. Unfortunately, I did not see the entire report, but I believe it was said that this epidemic occurred because the 'leaders' believed that AIDS was an exclusively 'Western' disease. Two questions: Have eastern bloc countries now 'awakened' to the reality of AIDS and is this, at least in part, a product of recent opening of east/west communication? I assume the infants were infected in utero. What is the primary source of maternal infection?
mlight@hp-ptp.HP.COM (Mike_Light) (02/10/90)
>I recently saw a piece on ABC news which stated that from >one-third to one-half of all sick hospitalized infants in Bucharest >have AIDS. One hospital alone currently has 53 infected infants. > [...] >I assume the infants were infected in utero. What is the primary source >of maternal infection? There was some statement that it is common practice to give newborns blood transfusions, and it was the blood banks that were infected, not the mothers. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Light HP Industrial Applications Center - mlight@hpiala9.HP.COM -----------------------------------------------------------------------