Re: Re:Update from the US Consulate on entry to the US for people...

[Guest guest]

From a recent post:

There was a law specifically targeting people with AIDS or HIV whichwas eliminated with the PEPFAR reauthorization. However, HIV/AIDS isstill on the list of excluded diseases that CDC or whichever govtentity keeps. That list has things like malaria, stds, cancer...etc. Hell will freeze over before hiv is removed from that list, so ineffect striking down that other hiv-specific law will have limitedeffect. That law excluded all hiv poz people regardless whether theyhave health insurance or not. So for example if you were a Frenchcitizen with the best health care in the world, with all yourmedicines and health care paid by the state, you were still prohibitedfrom coming to the US because you had hiv. If they somehow discoveredthat fact they could just deny entry. The CDC list prevents all theworld's sick and poor coming to the US and overloading the healthcaresystem. While many dont give much credit to W, he is probably smartenough to realize this.

From me: There is no sound public health reason for trying to keep poz people from entering the US. If not a single poz person came to the US from this point forward we would still have to deal with a growing and overwhelming epidemic of new infections, especially among younger people and US citizens on the DL who are difficult to reach with information, much less treatment. The CDC estimates that a third of all poz guys THING that they are negative. (One more reason why "UB2" is a useless and dangerous mantra.)

Unlike TB and other diseases that are easily spread, HIV is no threat to anyone unless there are specific unsafe activities -- sharing of needles and unprotected anal intercourse (BB) being the leading causes of transmission. The threat from non-US citizens pales next to the domestic threat of our expanding HIV infections.

As for the argument about millions of people coming to the US for free medical care -- we don't HAVE free medical care. There are emergency rooms, but they are unable to provide health and medical care that are relevant to dealing with HIV or other serious chronic diseases. We already have some 40 million CITIZENS without access to health and medical care. That lack of health insurance and access to care is the core dilemma. People from the developing world are much better off if they can get to an EU country, where they can get real medical care at little or no cost. The US is not a desirable destination in that regard.

I have traveled to countries that officially ban entry by people with HIV. I somehow have neglected to mention my status to anyone. My meds are in ziplock bags labeled as multivitamins, and those two bags (for my two combo meds) are two among over a dozen (supplements, vitamins, OTC meds for allergies, diarrhea, etc.). No one has ever questioned this, even when my carryon bags have been carefully scrutinized, as when traveling through Hong Kong airport on connecting flights. they won't ask if you don't tell.

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