Three HIV-positive people have been detained in Victoria during the past two years after repeatedly ignoring warnings to change behaviour that was putting others at risk. Figures made available by Victoria's Department of Health to the Melbourne Age newspaper show one person was detained during the twelve months to September 2009, and two in the year ending September 2008. The Department says detention was a last resort for those who posed a serious and urgent threat to other people's health. A spokesperson says 73 HIV-positive people who were putting others at risk in the past two years had been dealt with. Counseling and education was delivered to people on 44 occasions, but in many cases it was deemed ineffective. Victoria's Chief Health Officer has issued nineteen legally binding orders, restricting where people could go because there were concerns about their behaviour. In New Zealand only one person is known for sure to have ever been been formally detained. Christopher Truscott, who has ongoing limited awareness of his infection or its consequences, was placed in secure care a decade ago. More recently, Auckland train driver Glenn Mills was arrested and charged with knowingly exposing fourteen young men and women to the virus, he was found dead in his remand prison cell a month ago whilst awaiting trial.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 28th December 2009 - 11:14am