Possible A.I.D.S.-infected Drug Addict (Press, 14 May 1988)

A Soviet woman named Patricia Legras is undergoing tests in Moscow to determine if she is a carrier of the A.I.D.S. virus. If positive, she would be the first known drug addict in the Soviet Union to be infected with the disease. As of May 1988, there are reported to be 45 carriers in the country, an increase from 19 six months prior, along with one confirmed case of A.I.D.S. Among foreigners, 238 have tested positive and been expelled, with three patients from abroad having died within the Soviet Union due to the illness. Valentin Pokrovsky, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, acknowledges that while the situation in the Soviet Union is relatively better than in Western Europe, complacency must be avoided. He notes that lower incidence rates of homosexuality, prostitution, and drug addiction, along with the late emergence of a sexual revolution, have helped prevent a widespread epidemic. He does not mention how border restrictions may have played a role. Blood donors in the Soviet Union have been regularly screened since the beginning of 1988, resulting in only one donor testing positive, who had already transmitted the virus to five individuals. A total of three million people in high-risk groups have been tested in the past 18 months. Pokrovsky admits there should have been more openness about A.I.D.S. in earlier years, highlighting that previous denials of homosexuality and prostitution have hindered public understanding. However, he sees the new policy of glasnost as a beneficial step forward in education regarding the disease. The Moscow A.I.D.S. clinic offers completely anonymous testing and is equipped with modern facilities, including a dedicated laboratory led by Dr Vladimir Sergiev. He employs a reliable British diagnostic system for testing blood samples. While there are 270 testing laboratories across the Soviet Union, only five laboratories can conduct thorough checks on suspicious samples. Most of the known carriers in the Soviet Union are women, many of whom have had sexual relations with foreign students. The problem of drug addiction is relatively new, with around 10,000 believed to be drug users, which raises concerns about the potential for increased A.I.D.S. transmission, especially as there are no disposable syringes available to the general public. Plans are in place to significantly boost syringe production and increase condom availability. Both Dr Sergiev and Pokrovsky emphasise the importance of public education and changing sexual habits in the fight against A.I.D.S. They highlight a case involving a homosexual translator who had contacts in Tanzania, leading to 22 traced individuals, with five resulting in positive tests. The clinic's routine testing shows that many individuals feel well and continue their lives despite their status. Pokrovsky expresses concern that measures against epidemics are often implemented too late and is doubtful about a near-term vaccine being found. He believes a comprehensive understanding of the illness is necessary and views the fight against A.I.D.S. as an international issue, not one that can be managed by any single country.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand