AIDS and the Third World. Sex and blood: Latin America's AIDS threats
Radlett, M.
Panoscope 1988(9): 30-31
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0951-8819 PMID: 12315910 Document Number: 363550
Many Latin Americans still think of AIDS as a disease of homosexuals and intravenous drug users. In the US, however, 4% of AIDS cases are now due to heterosexual intercourse, and 5000 babies will be born this year with AIDS. In Brazil, where many married men are bisexual, an estimated 200,000-400,000 people are infected with HIV. Blood transfusions are a major source of infection in Latin America. Mexico has outlawed the use of paid blood donors, but in Brazil only 1/2 of the donated blood is screened. In the US blood screening costs $3 million a year for the kits alone. Nevertheless, the Pan American Health Organization is optimistic about the response of health authorities in the region.