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U.S. lifts ban on travelers with HIV or AIDS
For the past 22 years, if you had HIV or AIDS and weren't American, you couldn't enter the U.S.That changed today as President Obama lifted the ban. Since the Obama administration is planning to host the 2012 World Aids Conference, the change in policy was necessary.
The biannual conference naturally includes many people living with HIV and AIDS, and barring their entry would have been bad PR for an administration that wants to be seen as a global leader in the fight against the disease
There are only ten countries that now ban people with HIV/AIDS from entering. They are: Brunei, China. Equatorial Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
According to the website hivtravel.org, some of these countries allow people to enter under "special circumstances". Some other countries not on the list put restrictions on people living with HIV/AIDS but not full bans.
Filed under: North America, Equatorial Guinea, Brunei, China, South Korea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore, United Arab, Yemen, United States, Papua New Guinea, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
Vic Jan 4th 2010 10:23PM
Uh, excuse me a second, but I am amazed at you "liberal" thinkers. How can I NOT call you idiots when I hear your retorts. One of you claims we that are against it are so because we "think we are going to catch it from the air"?? Another thinks we are wrong because we have an "early 80's bigoted mind set". Wake up people. Here is logical, accurate, truthful example back at ya: No I realize (as anyone with a brain stem does) that you cant get HIV from the air, etc... THATS NOT THE POINT!! You yourselves advocate condom distribution because we cant keep our children from procreating at an adolescent age. So I guess they cant have sex with someone HIV positive then huh? You are truly wreckless morons for trying to protect some kind of eutopian mindset. It is pure logic. A) We let in HIV positive people. B)They have sex. C) More people become HIV positive, further expanding this deadly disease. It is a deadly disease you know. It is currently UNDERREPORTED that approximately 1 in 200 people in the US are HIV Positive. And yes Rebecca, it is becoming an increasingly Heterosexual Disease dear. ( You liberals are always touting "NO BIAS" and "NO DISCRIMINATION") Well enjoy, thi sdisease does not discriminate. This is true insanity in our Chief office of the US. Wreckless, ignorant and hedonistic that they would put politics ahead of our safety. He does deserve the most horrible outing of any president. Undoubtedly and undeniably. How will you feel if a family member catches it from something you and I did (harmlessly I might add) as kids. Now they and we have to worry about this. OMG this is repugnant, naive and disgusting. SHAME ON YOU MINDLESS "EDUCATED" IDIOTS
Fred Jan 4th 2010 10:28PM
Get over this. It's a meaningless ban now anyway. We have tens of thousands of HIV cases here, so if it's a threat, it's too late to worry about a few travelers.
Vic Jan 4th 2010 10:36PM
To : JAMROCPRINCESS-
Be thankful we are here to protect your uneducated ignorant ass. We are AMERICANS. Protecting AMERICA. Allow me to let you in on a little secret Jamroc- We need to get our "house" straight before we can help the rest of the world. I for one will not be brought down to these third world levels under the guise that I need to in order to have a "HEART". $%%^^&&* the heart. I am AMERICAN FIRST- UN SECOND, PERIOD. This abboration in office does not speak for me or the majority of Americans. So youin other countries pleas espread the world- We are NO LONGER Supporting this OBAMAnation!!
Ken Amos Jan 4th 2010 10:44PM
A politicians first resposibility is to the citizens who elected him an he's sworn to protect.
This mind set, this way of thinking does not show the proper care for one's people. Mr. President if one extra person is infected with Hiv/Aids because of this, you will have failed in your prime directive. To protect (The People of the United States of America from all threats human, biological and viral). This move does not show wisdom in any sence of the word.
jrustang74 Jan 4th 2010 10:45PM
Hey , in a year after this lift, the pres will have even more reasons to push that health care. Sounds like a bad way to pass a crappy law.
jane Donute' Jan 4th 2010 10:49PM
LIFT THE BAN??????? ARE THEY NUTS???? WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND ENLARGE THE BAN!!
AND TO THE LADY WHO COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT, EASILY FOR MOST, OBAMA TRAVELS BY PRIVATE JET, AND WE TRAVEL BY PUBLICE (HIV INFESTED?) JETS,,,,,,,,,SEE NOW?????????????????????????
MORE BANS ARE NEEDED, BOMB YEMEN AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS MORE,AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!
YES, MAKE THE AL-QAIDA PILLARS OF SAND,,,,,AS IN GONE!!!!!!!!WITH THE WINDS OF A BLOWN UP YEMEN.
WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE!
(someone stirred up my other comment and it was not me!!)
Kiki Jan 4th 2010 10:51PM
Actually we're not at all at shortage of HIV/AIDS infected Americans, considering 1 in 250 ppl in the US is infected, and let's not forget about the Americans who travel outside the US only to become infected by this disease outside of the country.
Katie01967 Jan 4th 2010 10:52PM
To bring take your dog from Wisconsin to Alaska via Canada, you have to have a certificate from an animal doctor and updated vaccinations. Why isn't it reasonable that any non-American getting off an airplane from overseas also have a health certificate from a doctor, and results of a TB test, an HIV/Aids test plus one for std's?
ciril Jan 5th 2010 12:54AM
Because dogs are animals. Though human beings are technically animals, they have more rights AND self control than your average canine, generally speaking.
Stifinsor Jan 4th 2010 10:56PM
Just that many more people who will be sucking the taxpayers dry coming to the U S for free treatment of their disease. This man some call "president" is the single most dangerous threat to individual freedom this country has ever faced, and most of you are too stupid to realize it. But you can probably tell us all about the latest news about Jon and Kate or Lindsay Lohan. WAKE UP PEOPLE.
Melani Jan 4th 2010 10:58PM
I can't believe the ignorance of some posters. They are lifting the ban on people traveling to the U.S.. These people know that they are HIV positive. Do you think they are going to look for casual hook-ups while they are here? Unless these posters are planning on having unprotected sex with someone who is visiting from a foriegn country, they have nothing to worry about.
ciril Jan 5th 2010 1:05AM
Some people live their lives in abstract fear of anything and everything around them.
Fear leads to a multitude of non-sequiturs such as the absurd claim that now multitudes of AIDS patients will come to the U.S. for free health care, something we are known for giving out like candy.
Or the idea that we will now be in danger from AIDS-infected terrorists. Yea, that's the ticket.
Or more AIDS in our blood supply.
Please.
Kris Jan 5th 2010 1:04AM
Do any of you dissenters realize that any US citizen with HIV/AIDS who travels outside the US and has an unprotected sexual encounter is doing exactly the same thing to people in other countries? I don't see you asking to ban US citizens from traveling.
People who are stupid enough to not use protection during sex (with a partner who has the virus) could get the virus. People who are smarter will use protection. Darwin called this survival of the fittest; I call it weeding out the idiots.
I don't even like all of Obama's policies. I didn't vote for him (I didn't vote for McCain either) and I don't support all of his decisions; but I think he made the right move here.
And I really am upset that the dissenters are treating people with HIV/AIDS like they are necessarily criminals. Calm down. 25% of the country has an STD; did you know that? That's ONE in FOUR.
(If you're hosting a party, sometimes it's a funny game to play.)
mshariann1 Jan 4th 2010 11:04PM
I WOULD NOT BE SCARE TO SIT NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS AIDS OR HIV.BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT GET IT.NOW BATHROOM NO WAY.YOU MIGHT THAT WAY.
shlee Jan 4th 2010 10:59PM
to all the jacks out there who think that this is a horible thing, people already fly everyday in the us with hiv/aids, kids in school systems have it, people at your office can have it, one day - you might get it and not from some freak accident. the chances of contracting aids/hiv from simply coming into contact with a person, say by sitting next to them on a plane, are close to non existant. stop being selfish, uncompasionate people, and let people live their lives the best way they can.
You have more chances of walking into a hospital, contracting mrsa and dying from it then getting aids from a stranger that your not having relations with.
jack Jan 4th 2010 11:14PM
MAYBE WE SHOULD LET AIDS PEOPLE ONLY FLY ON WHITE HOUSE ONE JETS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY
stvinw Jan 4th 2010 11:17PM
What on Earth is President Hussein thinking? As if we don't have
enough problems to deal with in this country...now he's opening the
door to an Aids epidemic in the U.S.
I hate to think about the state this country is going to be in by the
time he gets thrown out of office in 2012...if we make it to that point.
t Jan 4th 2010 11:25PM
Are you kidding? as a former us border guard with the INS. I know and have witnessed people with HIV/AIDS enter the USA throughout this 22 year period. Sure they were theoretically banned but were still able to obtain waivers in special cases. No not all HIV/AIDS people were admitted but it is all a political cherade to make the USA public feel secure when that such security is in fact not what they claim it to be.
It is all the government making the public feel safe so they keep consuming. And hey that is important. But please, you would be a fool to put your trust in the Government. Those guys really just care about themselves and their pensions.
Tell your kids to start a plumbing business so they can charge what ever they want and hide all the income.
The new world order will take all the money from anybody that has any money.
God bless and don't give in to political correctness.
Dave Jan 5th 2010 6:54AM
Quit Bitching and Do Something. FIRST- through all these corrupt career politicians out of the House of Representatives...
Go To: www.GOOOH.com
Get Out Of Out House
sskkn Jan 4th 2010 11:26PM
obama can't get the rest of his family over here if they banned those who have hiv and aids...nearly everyone he is bringing over here is infected...his plans have been all along to allow illegals to come , no need for health inspection...or to learn our langauage..obama plans to allow them in..no questions asked.