Presidential Address: American Foundation for AIDS Research

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As dangerous and deadly as AIDS is, many of the fears
surrounding it are unfounded. These fears are based on
ignorance. I was told of a newspaper photo of a baby in a
hospital crib with a sign that said, "AIDS -- Do Not Touch."
Fortunately, that photo was taken several years ago, and we now
know there's no basis for this kind of fear.
But similar incidents are still happening elsewhere in this
country. I read of one man with AIDS who returned to work to
find anonymous notes on his desk with such messages as, "Don't
use our water fountains."
I was told of a situation in Florida where three young
brothers -- ages 10, 9, and 7 -- were all hemophiliacs carrying
the AIDS virus. The pastor asked the entire family not to come
back to their church. Ladies and gentlemen, this is
old-fashioned fear and it has no place in the "home of the
brave."
The Public Health Service has stated that there's no medical
reason for barring a person with the virus from any routine
school or work activity. There's no reason for those who carry
the AIDS virus to wear a scarlet A.
AIDS is not a casually contagious disease. We're still
learning about how AIDS is transmitted, but experts tell us you
don't get it from telephones or swimming pools or drinking
fountains. You don't get it from shaking hands or sitting on a
bus, or anywhere else for that matter. And most important, you
don't get AIDS by donating blood.