A.I.D.S. Coming, Say Experts (Press, 26 November 1983)

On 26 November 1983, a seminar in Dunedin highlighted the impending threat of A.I.D.S. (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) possibly entering New Zealand. Professor D. C. G. Skegg, head of the department of preventive and social medicine at the Otago Medical School, noted during the annual clinical and scientific meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians that while A.I.D.S. might eventually reach New Zealand, its spread would likely be slow due to the characteristics of the local homosexual community. A.I.D.S. was first identified in the United States two years prior, and as of September 1983, there were 2,259 reported cases in the U.S., with 917 fatalities. The disease primarily affects homosexual or bisexual men, alongside individuals who have used intravenous drugs, with smaller percentages of cases among haemophiliacs, partners of infected individuals, and some individuals of Haitian descent. Professor Skegg indicated that the high number of sexual partners among A.I.D.S. patients in America, some with over 1,000 partners, contributed to localized outbreaks in cities like San Francisco and New York. In Australia and Britain, A.I.D.S. cases had mainly arisen through contact with Americans, but it was not spreading extensively. Professor Skegg emphasised that limiting sexual partners was the most effective way to prevent the disease. The New Zealand Health Department was taking A.I.D.S. seriously, establishing guidelines for medical professionals, and classifying it as a notifiable disease. Associate Professor P. J. McDonald, a clinical microbiologist from Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, noted the significant impact of A.I.D.S. on homosexual communities, including declining business in homosexual bars and the closure of bathhouses used for group sex. He mentioned responsible behaviours in some communities, such as hiring experts to provide education about A.I.D.S. Dr. McDonald discussed the human T-cell leukemia virus as a likely contributor to A.I.D.S., which belongs to the retrovirus group capable of integrating into the genetic material of cells. However, whether this virus is the causative agent or a consequence of A.I.D.S. remains uncertain. He highlighted the need to identify the exact cause to better understand transmission and treatment. Recent studies suggested that individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B exhibit a significantly lower risk of developing A.I.D.S. Hepatitis B is prevalent in the same demographic groups that are at higher risk for A.I.D.S., which raises the hypothesis that A.I.D.S. might behave as a helper virus in conjunction with hepatitis B. Although many healthcare workers hesitated to receive the vaccine due to safety concerns, researchers in the Netherlands were developing a synthetic form of the vaccine to alleviate these worries. However, this synthetic vaccine was yet to demonstrate the expected level of efficacy in generating immunity.

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