Central African A.I.D.S. Epidemic Feared (Press, 27 November 1984)

On 27 November 1984, a report from the "Guardian" highlighted that one of Britain's largest blood transfusion centres, the North London Blood Transfusion Centre in Edgeware, has advised individuals from Central Africa against donating blood. This recommendation arises amid growing concerns about a potential A.I.D.S. epidemic linked to Zaire and Zambia. The report notes that four of the five female victims of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Britain had connections to Africa due to their birth, work, or their husbands' employment. With approximately 180,000 donations received each year, the North London Blood Transfusion Centre has specifically requested that individuals born in Zaire and the Congo, along with their sexual partners, refrain from donating blood. The Health Department is expected to align with this precaution by implementing new guidelines concerning A.I.D.S. and blood donors. The outbreak of A.I.D.S. in Central Africa, particularly in Zaire, Zambia, and Rwanda, is alarming. Medical research indicates that the region could see about 10,000 new cases annually in the southern cities of Nigeria. Notably, research conducted by the Medical Research Council's laboratory in the Gambia found that antibodies to the A.I.D.S. virus are present in 5 per cent of blood donors in Zaire. These findings contradict the perception that A.I.D.S. predominantly affects male homosexuals. In Kinshasa, Zaire, half of those affected are women, and the majority of the men identified are heterosexual. This pattern is further supported by data from Belgium, where 23 victims were male heterosexuals and nine were women. In response to the escalating health crisis, the North London Transfusion Centre has created a leaflet outlining several reasons for individuals to avoid blood donation. Among these reasons are being pregnant, undergoing acupuncture or earpiercing, having a history of cancer, jaundice, or being a practising homosexual, intravenous drug user, or someone born in Haiti, Zaire, or the Congo, along with their partners. Additionally, those who have travelled to tropical areas are advised against donating. As a broad precaution, the leaflet includes a final advisory to refrain from donating blood if one is not feeling "100 per cent fit today." This guidance reflects the increasing awareness and response to the A.I.D.S. epidemic, as health authorities seek to manage the risks associated with blood transfusions during a time of significant concern surrounding the disease and its transmission routes.

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