Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ucla-cs!bob@ozdaltx.UUCP
From: bob@ozdaltx.UUCP (Bob Culmer)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: (2569) [SMA 2552] Re: (2524) Re: I CONFESS MY IGNORANCE...
Summary: Paranoia
Message-ID: <39810@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 4 Oct 90 18:03:38 GMT
References: <39720@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU
Organization: AIDS INFO EXCG/OZ BBS - Dallas, TX
Lines: 42
Approved: phil@wubios.wustl.edu
Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
Note:	non-commercial reproduction.
Archive-number: 2592

In article <39720@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>, IABF%SNYCENVM.BITNET@oac.ucla.edu (Amy Francis) writes:
> 
> prelude: I know that the eye and the fluid therein is one of the most
>          direct pathways to the blood stream.

I don't think that this is necessarily a true statement.

> Question: If, during the course of conversation, someone who is HIV+
>           ejects some saliva from their mouth and it happens to land
>           in another's eye, should that person be tested? 

This question/scenario has been going around for years. I most often
hear it in connection with people who are looking for some excuse to
propose a quarantine, or other measures.  You see they have to get the
idea across that you can be infected in casual contact in order to win
over those who oppose such draconian actions.  This is the difference
between the "Typhoid Mary" business and AIDS.

>           What do you think about this? Is that paranoia? 

Yes, that's what I think.  Theoretical possibilities for anything can
be found.  Instead of asking for the impossible, i.e. the absolute
certainty of knowledge and the elimination of any even theoretical
risk - look at this.  The virus has been around for a while now.  If
it were that easy to spread, it would have spread much wider much
faster back in the 70's when people were getting infected and didn't
even know it.  Then when the cases showed up in the early 80's we
would have seen a mix of people who had no intimate contact with each
other.

BTW did you know that an accidental needle stick (from someone with
AIDS to someone HIV-) has only a 1 in 200 chance of passing the
disease?  This is based on following the health care workers who have
had needle sticks.  That doesn't mean it's safe or ok to get a needle
stick, but good God, a needle stick has got to be several orders of 
magnitude more risky than the potential saliva drop in the eye scenario. 

-- 
Bob Culmer - Dallas        | "Hearts will never be practical until 
Somewhere over the rainbow |  they can be made unbreakable." - Wizard
...in the Land of OZ       | "But I still want one." - Tin Man
            {mic,void,egsner}!ozdaltx!bob