|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 6, 2004
| Contact: |
Diana T. Yu, MD, Thurston
County Health Officer, 360-786-5581 ext. 16951# |
|
Jim Powers, Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney, 360-786-5540 Cell 360-259-4247 |
|
Sherri McDonald,
Thurston County Health Director, 360-786- 5581 ext. 17680# |
Officials Report Cost of
Locating Partners of HIV Infected Man
OLYMPIA – On March 26, 2004, the
Thurston County Prosecutor’s office released information about a Thurston
County man who was charged with assault for allegedly having unprotected sex
with multiple partners while knowing he was infected with the HIV virus.
In a report to the Thurston County
Board of Health on May 3, 2004, Dr. Diana Yu, Thurston County Health Officer,
reported that face-to-face contact has been made with 170 individuals who
called the Health Department for information after the news release.
Of the 170 individuals, less than 40 were actual primary contacts of
the accused. Others included
secondary or tertiary contacts or persons with information regarding other
potential contacts. All received information on reducing their risk for HIV and
other sexually transmitted diseases.
Of 125 staff at the Thurston County
Public Health and Social Services Department, 53 at one time or another worked
in some capacity to complete the necessary work. A total of just under $50,000.00 was accrued in personnel
cost alone for this response. Thurston County Public Health and Social
Services Director Sherri McDonald reminded the Board that this activity is
routine public health work. “This
is something we do everyday, the magnitude is just a bit larger.”
Board of Health Chairman Bob McLeod
agreed that it would be difficult for the Health Department budget to absorb
the total cost of this investigation. Both
Commissioner McLeod and Commissioner Cathy Wolfe directed Ms. McDonald to
explore funding options with the help of the state Department of Health.
The media response to this case has
led to an increase in information requests to health departments regarding
risks for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Dr. Yu would like everyone to keep in mind that “If you are engaging
in behaviors that put you at risk, you may become infected.
It is the risky behavior, not only the partner involved, that increases
your chances of becoming infected.”
Those who wish
more information on HIV/AIDS should visit the State Department of
Health web site at http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/hiv.htm
. Or they can call
the statewide AIDS hotline at 800-272-AID
| 