United Kingdom: Trust Criticized Over HIV Warning

An AIDS advocacy group is criticizing the West Cornwall Primary Care Trust for overreacting to 10 new HIV cases in the seaside resort of St. Ives. PCT publicly urged screening anyone who has had unprotected sex over the last eight years. Targeting heterosexuals ages 20-50, PCT told a press conference it had launched a confidential helpline and testing clinic to accommodate the screenings.

The National AIDS Trust accused PCT of creating a panic, "encouraging rumor, unfounded speculation, and attempts to identify individuals as HIV-positive." Through its "overreaction," said NAT, PCT has undercut proven strategies for preventing HIV's spread including voluntary tracing of sexual partners and absolute confidentiality.

"Voluntary 'contact tracing' is a well-established process with those diagnosed with HIV and other [STDs], aiming to identify past sexual partners who may have been exposed to the risk of infection," said NAT. "This response has put at risk the confidentiality of one or more individuals living with HIV in their area and the resulting discriminatory climate will in the long-term only discourage others from coming forward for testing."

PCT defended using the media to alert people to the need for testing. "By talking to the press at one time we're able to get a consistent message across," said Dr. David Miles, PCT's director of public health. "I don't think we could have phoned everybody up."

Special clinics were created for the screening program, and "we will keep the additional clinics open as long as there is a demand," said Miles. More than 200 people called the telephone helpline during the campaign's first week.

Back to other news for May 18, 2006