Should HIV and AIDS be removed from the Public Health Service's list of "dangerous & contaigous diseases"?

Question

Whereas, the U. S. Public Health Service (PHS) has long maintained a list of "dangerous and

contagious diseases," mostly sexually- transmitted diseases, for excluding persons for public

health reasons from the United States, and

Whereas, this list is widely regarded as obsolete by health experts, and

Whereas, in March 1990 public-health experts at the U. S. Centers for Disease Control

recommended that all diseases except active tuberculosis be removed from the list of excludable conditions; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by this Student Congress assembled that HIV and AIDS be removed from the Public 9 Health Service’s list of “dangerous and contagious diseases.”

Answer 1

Of course they shouldn't be removed from the list of dangerous and contagious diseases .. they ARE dangerous and contagious diseases!

Answer 2

I think what you and your Student Congress (and myself) have a problem with is not HIV/AIDS' inclusion on this "list," but that the list is being used as an _excuse_ to disallow people from immigrating to the U.S.

You are right to say that simply having a sexually transmitted disease should not be grounds for denying a person entrance to a country. After all, this person is most likely not going to go around having involuntary sex with everyone and spreading AIDS in the same way that a person would spread tuberculosis or SARS. It is a totally lame excuse for excluding foreigners and really should (and could) be considered discrimination. There is a law you probably know about which states that employers have no _right_ to know whether or not an employee has AIDS and cannot base a hiring decision on it. To not hire someone (except perhaps as an EMT or something) because he/she has AIDS is plain discrimination.

So you might want to clarify and revise your argument. Emphasize what your true problem is, since it's easy for people to misunderstand what you mean when you say that AIDS is "not dangerous and contagious." Obviously it is. But it is also discrimination to exclude AIDS-infected individuals from normal activities (again, except possibly from professions where blood and bleeding may be risks - surgeon, EMT, etc.). Immigrating from one country to another poses no greater risk of spreading AIDS than walking down the street.

Answer 3

Absolutely not. Not until it is obsolete in Africa. Currently, it is the fastest growing disease on the planet. Regardless of where its primarily located, it still effects us in the medical industry on a daily basis. The lack of pressure felt by CDC now should not give us exemption from further research simply because the disease is not as pronounced in the U.S. as is was in 1988.

These types of "discoveries" are appalling to me as a physician.

Answer 4

Of course not because HIV/AIDS is dangerous being it can lead to an early death, and it certainly is contagious since it is spread from one infected person to another.

When it is irradicated in the way smallpox has been, then yes. But as long as one person continues to come down with it, then absolutely not.

Answer 5

Why should it be removed?
HIV and AIDS are "dangerous and contagious".

If the list is obsolete in general, in that it's no longer referred to or has outlived its purpose then by all means get rid of it.

Answer 6

No it should not because AIDS and HIV are dangerous.If anything the list should list a heck of alot more dangerous illnesses.

Answer 7

No. AIDS is highly contagious and extremely deadly. Taking it off of the list would be like saying its safe to stick a loaded gun to your head and pull the trigger.

Answer 8

No, by your student congress. A thousand times no!

Answer 9

When the world health organizations agree to do this removal, then it will be.

You can't just decree it because you don't like it.

GOD bless us.

Answer 10

well of course since it's not dangerous or contagious

Answer 11

no