December 6, 2007

Activists Slam Bush HIV Travel Plan

In 2006, President George W. Bush proposed relaxing his administration’s travel restrictions on HIV-positive foreigners wishing to enter the United States. But now, as today’s December 6 deadline for public comment on the proposal arrives, advocates are criticizing the revisions as being even more restrictive (sfgate.com, 12/5).

As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the proposed revisions would require HIV-positive foreigners to prove that they are carrying “an adequate supply of antiretroviral medicines” while traveling. Advocates fear that this stipulation may further stigmatize positive travelers, who would be forced to disclose their status to local consular offices while verifying their drug supply.

“Now we have people looking over their shoulders, not only at the diagnoses, but how they are being treated,” says Dr. Paul Volberding, chief of medicine at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco and adviser to Physicians for Human Rights. “I would say that is laughable, if it wasn’t such a serious thing.”

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Previous Comments:

Doodee, Lomg Beach, 2007-12-11 15:56:37
TIME FOR GEORGE'S PROSTATE EXAM... WITH MY FOOT!

Jim, North Ga., , 2007-12-11 13:42:35
What's next? Striped uniforms with large red ribbons and lavender triangles and train-loads of patients being shuttled to concentration camps? It is very possible with the administration we have in place. Think about it. Possibly a new Guantanemo or maybe we could have our own "colony" on a Hawaiian island. May the advocates of the AnitChrist be damned.

Vince, Billings, MT, 2007-12-11 11:32:15
This is totally obsurd !! What if the HIV+ travelers are on NO MEDS ?? What happens then? Are they allowed to enter our "fabulous" country? Makes ya wonder...I have been HIV+ for almost 24 years I know of...and am not on any medications at this point in my life, thank god. I would be shocked if I were not allowed to enter any country because I am HIV+ !!!

Fight against Fear, Australia, 2007-12-11 04:43:01
Ridiculous beyond words - even China is in the process of revising it's travel restrictions. This disease feeds off fear and stigma, and preventing positive people from visiting the US sends a clear message that "we" are not to be trusted. Oh, and I should add, has it made any difference to the growing rates of HIV in your country? It breaks my heart that we have not moved on from the 80's - it's time we pulled our heads out of the sand!!! You are all welcome to visit Oz anytime!

Benji, Oklahoma City, 2007-12-10 06:43:41
How would the government know if someone is Poz? If a person is not on medication then how would any government know if a traveler is poz? The virus is contained when you keep your legs closed or just have sex with your permanent partner. Period. Travel restrictions are ignorant.

julianna, dublin, 2007-12-08 19:14:48
why is it that hiv is fast becoming a condition that must be medicated with antivirals before it is considered 'contained'..? haart does not make a difference to infectiousness going by standard guidelines . what if a person decides that the best course of treatment for them is non pharmaceutical immune supporting? We are already seeing the most vulnerable easy targets - mothers - being accused of murder for choosing alternatives to HAART and losing their parental rights on this issue.

tolerance, , 2007-12-07 10:59:50
this is becoming the american nightmare not the dream. we would like usa go ahead on human rights not going back on it ! this is deplorable!