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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-12-11, Page 9AIDS is a major health issue The person at greatest risk is the AIDS victim by SHARON DIETZ AIDS is quickly becoming a major public health issue in this province, ac- cording to Ontario's health minister, Murray Elston. While there is considerable public con- cern about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) thee is no reason to isolate or avoid AIDS patients, said the minister in an interview recently. 'The person at greatist risk in the com- munity is the person with AIDS,' said Elston. Because of the nature of the disease, the person with AIDS is vulnerable to a wide range oflife- threatening diseases and a variety of unusual infections. Compassion Elston said it is important to provide quality care and compassionate support to people with AIDS, just as care is pro- vided for victims of other diseases. Elston said he is satisfied the reporting mechanism is in place. It is compulsory for physicians, other health professionals and'laboratories report incidences of the disease to their local medical officers of health. 'I'm satisfied that it is in place and that in a case where a personal physician has made a daignosis of AIDS, it is reported as required.' A total of 147 AIDS cases have been reported in Ontario since 1982 and 75 of those patients have died. All but one of the 147 cases involved men and nobody under 20 years of age in this province has had the disease. This year, 84 new cases have been reported. Elston saiu he has confidence in the professional medical assessment that AIDS patients pose no threat to the com- FEATURE REPORT munity. The disease is principally transmitted through sexual contact, with homosexual and bisexual men particular- ly at risk. AIDS can also be transmitted through intimate contact with blood or blood products. In the case of a Toronto teacher suspected of dying of AIDS in September, Elston said he is confident the teacher posed no threat to his students. A profes- sional assessment determined there was no danger in the teacher returning to the classroom. Elston said he looked into the matter and was satisfied the Toronto health department had handled it properly. Phil Shaw of tt1IIDS Committee of Toronto said there was no reason anybody other than the doctor and pa- tient should be informed. Quality care 'It's nobody else's business' he said. The disease posed no public health threat. Elston agreed that a patient with •AIDS need inform no one but his doctor. Dr. William MacPherson, acting medical officer of health for Bruce Coun- ty, said there is a greater risk of contac- ting rabies than AIDS, if you live in Huron and Bruce Counties. The two coun- ties lead the province in the number of reported cases of rabies. He said he is more concerned about rabies than AIDS. There have been no reported cases of AIDS in eithtr county and the public health units are not receiving inquiries about the disease, said MacPherson. He is surprised that people are afraid to give blood at blood donor clinis because they they will contact AIDS. People are more at risk receiving blood whcih has not been rpoperly screened, but mandatory testing of blood dontlors AIDS began November 1, he said. Fatal illness According to the medical officer of health for Huron County, Dr. Harry Cieslar. there have been no reported cases of AIDS in the county. Dr. Cieslar said it could be expected that people in the high risk groups, who originally came from the county, might return here to die. Cieslar agreed with Dr. MacPherson that the chances of being exposed to rabies are higher than contacting AIDS. MacPherson said AIDS is a hetersexual disease as well as a disease which can be transmitted by homosexuals. AIDS is not a gay disease, he said. While there is evidence the AIDS virus is present in saliva and tears, as is the case with tuberculosis, MacPherson said AIDS is spread through intimate contact. 'Like venereal disease, if someone is not promiscuous, they are not at risk,' he said. The concern for people with AIDS is not their threat to the community, said MacPherson. The concern is the same as for anyone with a fatal illness. CHRISTMAS STORE HOURS: STARTING THURSDAY, DEC. 12 OPEN DAILY 9 AM to 9 PM Except Saturday 9 am to 6 pm Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm TUESDAY, DEC. 24 8 AM to 6 PM Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day Dec. 25, 26 IE Pharmacy 14 SHOPPERS SQUARE GODERICH 524.7241 Your Friendly Neighbourhood Drugstore GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DEC MBER 11,19 5 --PAGE 9 Women and children open to the risk of AIDS The first case of AIDS in Goderich could well be a wife or child of a homosexual who has not declared his homosexuality, says the leader of a Goderich support group for parents of homosexuals. According to Anne Rutledge there are many closet gays who cannot take the. risk of telling their wife that they are homosexual. They could transmit the disease to their wife who would then transmit it to an unborn child she is car- rying. While a man would not necessarily put his wife at risk, he could transmit the disease before he knows he has it. Many gay men cannot tell their wives of their homosexuality because means they will lose their wife and family. How do they explain why they suddenly want to use a condom during sexual relations with their wife, asks Rutledge, unless they admit their bisexualty. Many homosexuals from this area go to Kitchener and ,� ':on for their casual sex with other °" ' thinking they will not come in contact with AIDS because it is only prevalent in the Toronto gay com- munity, she says. The loneliest person in the world is a man who is dying of AIDS but cannot reveal the true nature of his illness to his family, says Rutledge. ft's a "double wammie". Just when parents of sons who are homosexual are coming to terms with their child's sexual orientation, they sover he is dying of AIDS. Rutledge says men with suppotive lovers, family and friends who have AIDS are living longer. Those who are re- jected by everybody because of their il- ess wither up. Those without the sup- port system, shrivel up and die. Parental support could make a dif- ference in the outcome of their child's il- lness, says Rutledge. The parent of a homosexual son, Rutledge points out that society cannot expect to lock away the people in the high risk groups, because they can be most dangerous to society when they are not even aware they have the disease. The person really at risk, she says, is the person with AIDS who is suseptible to infection in the world around him. Women who are wives of gay or bisexual men and drug users are also in a high risk groups as well as those who are ex- posed to blood tranfusions and blood pro- ducts which have not been screened for AIDS. Money available for research The ministry has made more than $700,000 available for AIDS research. A comprehensive epidemiological study is now under way at the University of Toronto and smaller research projects have been funded at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and University of Western Ontario in London. The Ontario government has also established a public education advisory panel to support and counsel people who have the disease. The panel will produce information materials, including pam- phlets and videotapes for distribution to health professionals and public groups and will make speakers knowledgeable about the disease available to groups such as school boards and parent -teacher associations. The Ontario govenment has also directed funds to the AIDS Committee of Toronto for support and counselling of people with AIDS. The money will go to the cost of maintaining a community education officer and two volunteer pro - grain coordinators. AIDS was made a reportable disease in Ontario in August, 1983. The Ministry of Health established a provincial advisory committee on AIDS to monitor patients, provide advice to health professionals and advise the ministry on research priorities. Reportable diseases are designated as such under the Public Health Act. Physicians, other than health profes- sionals and laboratories are obliged under the act to report incidence of the disease to their local medical officers of health. JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS FROM DIXIE'S Come in and Hug our wide selection of GUND STUFFED ANIMALS AND COLLECTIBLES. Safe, washable and cuddly toys for little kids and big kids! After all, Christmas is for kids. CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS AND PACKAGE TOPPERS !�1 - VISA WE FEATURE A WIDE VARIETY OF CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS AVAILABLE BY ORDER Poinsettias, Azaleas, Cyclamen, Begonias, Mixed Pots and Mums plus many, many more. GIVE SANTA A ,._ BREAK! Let us deliver a CHRISTMAS GIFT BOUQUET Across the Corner or Around the World. Just Whistle Dixie! FLOWERS FOR TODAY GIFTS FOREVER 166 The Square, Goderich, 524-8761 Evenings and Sundays...529-7233 WIRE Sf RVICfS AVAIL API5 TOWN AND COUNTRY DELIVERY We offer free delivery in and around the Town of Goderich, plus for a small charge we offer daily delivery to such places as Bayfield, Dungannon, Port Albert and the Lucknow Area. I..cirio.V ora