The African heterosexual AIDS myth

Townhall ^ | April 14, 2005 | Michael Fumento

[Blood of Tyrants]

Ninety-nine percent of AIDS and HIV cases in Africa come from sexual transmission, virtually all heterosexual. So says the World Health Organization, with other agencies toeing the line. Massive condom airdrops accompanied by a persuasive propaganda campaign would practically make the epidemic vanish overnight. Or would it?

A determined renegade group of three scientists has fought for years – with little success – to get out the message that no more than a third of HIV transmission in Africa is from sexual intercourse and most of that is anal. By ignoring the real vectors, they say, we’re sacrificing literally millions of people.

These men are no crackpots. John Potterat is author of 140 scholarly publications. He began working for the El Paso County, Colorado health department in 1972 and initiated the first U.S. partner-tracing program for AIDS/HIV.

[G.Mason]

" And now we are seeing it with the "Marburg" outbreak in Angola ... "

That is astounding!

I sit here, in the comfort of relative wealth and knowledge, taking health care, as expensive as it may well be, for granted.

Meanwhile those billions of dollars given the continent of Africa, [ see ... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1383427/posts ] and other third world nations, seeming to dissapear into the black hole of human greed and corruption. And all the while there is the continual braying for more. We [the wealthy] are not giving our fair share.

Sound familiar?

[ChicagoHebrew]

Did you read the article? Two big sources of African AIDS: 1) contaminated medical needles (for innoculations, dental surgery etc.); and 2) heterosexual anal intercourse.

[Sthitch]

Actually HIV is the least of one's worries from a reused needle. That will take years to kill you, there are plenty of infections that can come from such a needle that will kill you in days. The bodily fluids that are on a needle are perfect incubation points for bacteria, so if a needle sits after use, it would easily become contaminated with Staphylococcus and lead to a quick and very unpleasant death. The needle is also more likely to be infected with other diseases, that would diminish the immune system and make contracting even more significant ailments more likely (such as AIDS, Marburg, or Ebola).

It should also be noted, that blood screening in Africa is not on par with what is being done in the Western world, so there is also a strong possibility of contaminated blood reaching patients.

[G.Mason]

" ... Also, no-one will EVER convince me that you can get aids from a needle but not biting insects."

Or the Nile virus, or malaria, or ... ;)

[ladyjane]

no more than a third of HIV transmission in Africa is from sexual intercourse and most of that is anal.

What am I missing here? Two-thirds is transmitted by something other than sexual intercourse?

[timtoews5292004]

not neccessarily other than sexual intercourse. the author is merely stating that the mythical 99% hetero transmission rate is a load of hookum, or so his own independant research states. the author wants the "authorities" at the WHO to adjust their own statistics to reflect reality and not perpetuate a myth. That said, he would have a stronger case for change if his research showed that 50% or more of the transmissions were through homosexual contact. As it stands, the WHO can still say "well its still at 66% and its still to high. we still need to hand out condoms." instead of informing the public that risky behavior such as needle reuse and homosexual/bisexual behavior and then subsequent promiscuity on the part of the infected person, whether hetero or homosexual trying to rid himself/herself of the disease, is the true problem.

[Sthitch]

It is incredibly sad what is happening in Africa. Money is not what is going to solve the problem on that continent, education will. Does that sound familiar? It is not just educating a man not to cheat on his wife, or to wear a condom when he is with his boyfriend or a hooker, but education that allows these countries to develop and throw off the chains of oppression. As long as the people are kept illiterate, ignorant, and oppressed they are going to continue to have these problems. With organizations like TransAfrica and the UN setting the agenda for the continent, I hold out little hope for change

By the way, I put Marburg in quotes because it seems less and less likely that the current infection is actually Marburg, and more likely another hemorrhagic fever, such as an Ebola variant. Marburg generally has an 80% survival rate, and that is far different than the current 80% mortality rate we are seeing during this outbreak.

[doc30]

On the other hand, why is HIV in Africa about as common among women and among men?

This may sound offensive, but it is the type of sex preferred by men in Africa. They prefer "dry" sex to the point women will do whatever they can to by dry during intercourse. That causes the same tissue tearing in women that gay men get from their form of intercourse which facilitates viral tranmission extremely well in both directions.

[LtKerst]

Ninety-nine percent of AIDS and HIV cases in Africa come from sexual transmiss

I read that one African nation has 25% of it's population
Infected with Aids!!!

This is Horrendous! They predict that Africa will Loose
50 million people to Aids in the next 20 years.

Because of Ignorance, Men believe that having sex with a Virgin will cure them of Aids they have resorted to raping
young girls and even kidnapping Baby girls from their Beds.

When faced with such backward Superstitions...This will run through Africa like a grassfire.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Poor medical practices and illicit drug use.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Poor medical practices and illicit drug use. Condoms don't stop dirty needles. We could stop AIDS much more effectively by teaching abstinence and giving the hospitals and clinics autoclaves and new needles.

[tiamat]

december12 wrote:


This is a fascinating article. I expect there's some truth to it. On the other hand, why is HIV in Africa about as common among women and among men?

---

Several reasons.

The men go out and screw around, and then come home and infect their wives. The wives are discouraagedd from refussing a husband's attentions.

Also, there is a myth in some parts that having sex with a virgin will cure AIDS.

So the infected men rape young girls for a cure, thus spreading it even more.

AND there is a cultural distaste for condoms.

AND needles for transfusions and medical care are often not properly cleaned.

AND the blood and plasma suplly is not safe.

AND some of the governments have claimed thaat AIDS is a myth or have glommed onto money that couldd be used for educational purposes or for condoms.

Lots of reasons that women and kids in Africa (and India for that matter) contraact this deadly disease.

[tiamat]

I think Africa is lost.

I truly do.

[jec41]

well, if some of those doctors are using that needle on a patient with AIDS, anyone who follows on that same needle would probably get it, too.

Not so, we cleaned and used the same needles for years. In fact there were no disposable needles. You ordered a set of needles and a sterilizer and they were also boiled in water. In the last 30 years we started to use disposable needles because it is cheaper. They are not meant to be cleaned but thrown away after one use because their construction makes them harder to clean. As past generations learned your survival depends on sanitation. I fear the present population will have to learn this the hard way!!!!!!!!!

[G.Mason]

"It is incredibly sad what is happening in Africa ... "

FWIW ... I agree with you 100%.

Were one to look at the health associated problems of any inner city [ Detroit, New york, Chicago, LA ... ] we see the same similarities. Lack of education, morays, drug use, squalor and filth. Middle America appears quite healthy. Seems to be equateable to the Red / Blue election map.

Thanks for the Marburg info, and I get your point.

[toothfairy86]

Speaking of superstitions, there's the story of how the sex educators were teaching the Africans to put a condom on their "spear" before having sex in order to prevent Aids. The trouble was that when the educators came back to see how things were going, they noticed that the huts all had a spear with a condom on it propped up against the entrance to the hut.

[Little Pig]

Let Africa Sink

[EdReform]

Ping

[sharktrager]

Possibly because it is being spread by medical procedures, as stated in the article?

[scripter]

Also, no-one will EVER convince me that you can get aids from a needle but not biting insects.

A needle, yes, but there are no documented cases of AIDS transmission from insect bites. I believe the experts say AIDS is highly unlikely to be transferred from insects bites, but to say it's impossible to transfer AIDS via insects would seem wrong.

This article makes a case against HIV transmission via mosquitos: Why Mosquitos Cannot Transmit AIDS. Here's another helpful article: Can I get AIDS from a mosquito bite?