Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site sphinx.UChicago.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!beth From: beth@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (JB) Newsgroups: net.med,net.women,net.motss,net.jokes Subject: Re: AIDS and RE: The worst (hist.) surgical proc. Message-ID: <1725@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> Date: Mon, 24-Feb-86 18:47:09 EST Article-I.D.: sphinx.1725 Posted: Mon Feb 24 18:47:09 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 01:20:20 EST References: <290@hropus.UUCP> <1715@bbncca.ARPA> Reply-To: Beth Christy <..!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!beth> Distribution: net Organization: Wits' End Lines: 47 Xref: watmath net.med:3424 net.women:9281 net.motss:2567 net.jokes:16750 In article <1715@bbncca.ARPA> rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo) writes: >Sounds like anthropologist Uli's search for the missing link >(to connect weird AIDS with normal heterosexuality) has taken >refuge in "spurious correlation." The geography of African >AIDS is probably coterminous with other blood vectors as well, >ie, presence of human blood in indigenous religious rites, etc. >Medical opinion considers that these vectors may enhance the >epidemic but believes, on the basis of the evidence so far in >hand, that the primary vector for African AIDS has been vaginal >intercourse between female prostitutes and their itinerant male >clients. Anal intercourse is apparently fairly rare in such >encounters (they've interviewed prostitutes and clients). >Recently, some US doctors announced the first corroborated >case of vaginal transmission of AIDS in this country. I quote below an excerpt from an article entitled "Prostitutes: victims or scapegoats of the AIDS crisis?" which appeared in the February 20, 1985 issue of _Windy_City_Times_-_Chicago's_Gay_And_Lesbian_Newsweekly_ (reprinted without permission): Male to male transmission of AIDS is well documented and because of this male prostitutes are a proven high-risk group. However, the jury is still out on female prostitutes. Female to male transmission of AIDS is not so well documented. A recent medical study reported in the _American_Journal_of_Medicine_ said female to male transmission of the disease is unlikely and not much of a risk. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta said of approxi- mately 16,000 AIDS cases, only one percent are heterosexual. That amounts to about 160 people. The CDC also said that of the 160 cases, 90 percent are women who have contracted AIDS from men. Only 20 men, said the CDC, have contracted AIDS from women, and of these 20 cases only one case is thought to have been from a female prostitute to a client. Out of 16 *thousand* cases of AIDS in America, only *20* are confirmed transmissions from female to male. If experts in Africa have good reason to believe "that the primary vector for African AIDS has been vaginal intercourse between female prostitutes and their itinerant male clients", then clearly something is seriously different between there and here. And the various mutilation practices and bloody religious ceremonies sound worth investigating. -- --JB ((Just) Beth Christy, U. of Chicago, ..!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!beth) Sylvia says `A real lady never asks: "Was *what* good for me?". ("I'm sorry - I wasn't paying attention.")'