Obama ends ban on people with HIV entering US

[justashooter 430]

Yeah, I'm not sure where he's getting his "facts" there. You've basically got hetero AIDS in African (non-Muslim) countries and in some places like Haiti. Honestly, we keep hearing about how AIDS is going to break out epically in places like Asia and India but it's just not happening -- mostly you get groupings of HIV+ persons in your typical Westernized "high risk" categories -- sex workers, homosexuals, and IV drug users. LA countries tend to fall into Western high risk categories, with heterosexual spread of HIV being very low. The good thing about this is that having specific target populations makes working with those populations easier and cheaper. Condoms, lube, and clean needles for everyone!

read the post, stupid. the non-muslim countries are the sub saharan ones, right? haiti is rife with plasmodium vivax, right? LA countries that are equatorial and rife with vivax have high rates, whether you like it or not, and whether they tell you or not. the CDC website says that central plains china is not a high risk area for vivax, but i got it there, and many people there have "hard liver" disease. there was an epidemic in the 90's that infected 80% of the population. it's in the blood to this day, as most of the people have marginal health care. took me weeks to learn the truth about the shakes and fevers and chills i had periodically and arrange treatment, because the CDC doesn't know it's a$$ from a hole in the ground.

aids is rampant in south china and in the SEA states. it is rampant in india, as well. nobody gets health care and the government doesn't want to hear about it or lies about it. problem solved!

learn to see beyond your own nose. few people live lives like yours. it'ssssssscary, ain't it?

[SunDrop 59]

This is a very interesting decision and I'm amazed that it lifts inadmissibility for all applicants and not just for tourists/ temporary non-resident visas.

I believe STD testing is something to be decided on by the couple and shouldn't involve the government, since they have removed themselves from 'protecting the interest of US citizens' in this regard.

I'm very glad that HIV testing has been removed, because it has serious cost implications on issues like life insurance. If you have ever been tested, you are deemed as being a higher risk because obviously you have had cause for concern to be tested. (note sarcasm!) Telling the insurer it was only as a requirement of your visa isn't of interest to them, because the calculations are formulaic: if yes answered to question x, y and/or z then add % risk factor to determine policy cost.

Shame the fact there's one less test to run doesn't mean they'll reduce the cost of the medicals! Maybe now they can replace it with a TB skin test in countries where it isn't carried out by the Civil Surgeon...

[LadyGwen 0]

Lolz. I wish they've implemented this sooner. I just got my blood tested this morning. It was painful.