We write to endorse Dr. Sullivans proposed regulation of January 23. and hope to see it made law at the end of this 60 day waiting period. The proposed regulation of January 23. 1991. was a sound one. developed at the mandate of the Immigration Act of 1990 which called for Health and human Services Secretary Sullivan to design regulations for the exclusion of immigrants and travelers "based on current epidemiologic principles and medical standards." excluding only those aliens with diseases that "constitute a public health threat to the United States." The January proposed regulation reflected what we as scientists and medical professionals know perfectly well: that. unlike a person with active tuberculosis. a person with HIV cannot infect others through casual contact. HV is transmitted among adults in the United States almost exclusively via unprotected sexual intercourse and by the sharing of contaminated needles among injection drug users. U.S. citizens who choose to engage in these behaviors place themselves at risk of infection. and the continual willingness of our citizens to place themselves at such risk is a matter of great concern.
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