THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411110277
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 27 lines
Sick and cruel describe anyone who would mail a fake letter informing a person that her name was provided by a man with HIV, the virus leading to AIDS. If it were possible to identify the sender, arrested and convicted and/or treated would enhance the description.
The Suffolk Health Department, understanding that word of HIV infection or AIDS is traumatic, does not notify clients by mail. Not everyone knows that, of course, including the victim of the hoax.
If the writer thinks there's anything funny about it, perhaps contact with HIV and AIDS victims and families in Western Tidewater would change that view. There are 32 reported AIDS cases in Suffolk, nine in Isle of Wight County, six in Franklin and four in Southampton County. The HIV-infected include 67 in Suffolk, 16 in Isle of Wight County, 15 in Franklin and three in Southampton County.
Numerous others have been taken off these rolls - by death. Where's the joke? by CNB