§ Lord Monkswellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the haemophiliac population of the United Kingdom have been infected by the AIDS virus.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)The most recent figures available show that:
2,228 patients with Haemophilia A have been tested and 902 (40.5 per cent.), have been found antibody positive to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
386 patients with Haemophilia B have been tested and 26 (6.7 per cent.), have been found HIV antibody positive.
327 patients with von Willebrand's disease have been tested and 9 (2.7 per cent.), have been found HIV antibody positive.
Blood products used in the treatment of haemophiliacs are now subject to heat treatment to inactivate HIV.
§ Lord Monkswellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will cite the scientific evidence which indicates the relative quantity of infectious AIDS virus in the semen, vaginal fluids and saliva of an infected person.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThere is no relevant scientific literature which answers the precise points raised by the noble Lord.
§ Lord Monkswellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the letter by Dr. John Seale in The Guardian of 20th January, they will withdraw, rewrite and republish their leaflet on AIDS, making specific reference to the risk of infection by mouth-to-mouth kissing.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonNo. The advice in the leaflet is based upon the best scientific advice available.