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Article: Idaho's Drive to Stop AIDS at the Border Arouses Doubts
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- November 10, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Two years ago, when Idaho became the last state in the country to
report its first case of AIDS, Dr. Fritz R. Dixon, the state's chief
public health officer, made a decision he believed would enable
officials here to "corral the virus."
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, he decided, would be treated
like every other communicable disease. With little discussion and
virtually no opposition, Dixon instituted sweeping measures: He
barred anonymous testing, a practice many public health officials
believe is essential to encourage potentially infected persons to be
tested. Doctors, hospitals and laboratories would be legally
required to report the name and address of anyone who tests ...