A.I.D.S. Underestimated? (Press, 28 January 1987)

A report from Wellington discusses concerns about the under-reporting of A.I.D.S. cases in New Zealand. An anonymous individual with an A.I.D.S.-related condition claims that the actual number of victims could be significantly higher than the 35 cases reported to the Health Department since 1983. He believes that many cases go unreported, indicating that the real figure may be double the current tally. Dr Arvind Patel, assistant director for communicable diseases at the Health Department, expressed skepticism about the suggestion of significant under-reporting. He noted that while his data might have delays of a few months, most doctors are aware of their legal obligation to report cases promptly. He also pointed out that notification systems are in place to maintain confidentiality, meaning patient identities remain anonymous in reports. Dr Patel doubted that diagnosed cases in hospitals would fail to be reported, although he acknowledged potential administrative delays in processing notifications. The Health Department lacks precise statistics on A.I.D.S. fatalities because of the absence of a systematic notification protocol, but they are actively seeking information from district offices. Dr Patel clarified that the available statistics serve primarily to indicate trends, either upward or downward, in disease incidence. Phil Parkinson, a spokesperson for the A.I.D.S. Network, remarked that similar under-reporting has been observed in the United States, where up to 30 per cent of cases may not be officially recorded. He further noted that the clinical definition of A.I.D.S. had been revised the previous year, potentially contributing to an increase in reported cases. Parkinson also referenced recent findings from the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, which suggested that saliva might inhibit the A.I.D.S. virus. However, only a few cases are thought to have been transmitted through saliva, and there is emerging hope that further research could demonstrate the oral transmission risk to be low or non-existent. Additionally, a recent survey conducted by the A.I.D.S. Network revealed that a small number of homosexual individuals continue to engage in high-risk behaviours associated with the disease. Overall, the report underscores the complexities surrounding the reporting of A.I.D.S. cases and the pressing need for accurate data to understand the true scale of the disease in the community.

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