Heterosexuals Can Get A.I.D.S. — Report (Press, 20 March 1985)

A recent study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" has revealed that the AIDS virus, previously thought to primarily affect homosexuals and drug users, can also be transmitted through heterosexual contact. Researchers led by Dr Robert Redfield from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington conducted a study with seven married men exhibiting symptoms of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The findings showed that five of their wives either displayed symptoms indicative of the disease or had other signs of infection. Notably, none of the men had engaged in homosexual activity, although three were intravenous drug users, and three reported having sexual relations with women beyond their wives. The seventh man in the study had no identifiable risk factors. Moreover, the study indicated that one of the eleven children in these families, a 14-month-old, contracted AIDS in utero from the mother. The absence of infection in the ten older children suggests that close contact within households does not significantly contribute to the transmission of AIDS, according to the researchers. The study highlighted that heterosexual activity could play a critical role in the virus's transmission. Additionally, recent data suggested that over 30 per cent of AIDS or pre-AIDS cases among military personnel might stem from heterosexual promiscuity. An upcoming study focusing on Africa is expected to confirm that most cases there are transmitted through heterosexual rather than homosexual contact or drug use. This study, led by Belgian researcher Nathan Coumeck, will also indicate that in Zaire, AIDS cases occur equally among men and women. AIDS attacks the body's immune system, rendering it vulnerable to various infections. In the United States, there have been approximately 9,000 reported cases of AIDS, with 4,500 resulting in death. The federal Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta anticipates an additional 9,000 cases to be reported in 1985, which would effectively double the number of victims in the country. Researchers have asserted that repeated sexual contact increases the risk of contracting AIDS, thereby underscoring the need for heightened awareness regarding the disease's transmission routes and the importance of safe practices across all demographics. This emerging understanding redefines the perception of AIDS, indicating a broader spectrum of risk beyond the previously recognised high-risk groups.

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