Semen Donor Tied to AIDS in 4 Women

Four Australian women have contracted the deadly disease AIDS through artificial insemination at an infertility clinic, it was reported today.

It is believed to be the first time that acquired immune deficiency syndrome, which destroys the body’s mechanism for fighting infection, has been contracted in this way, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

One of the women had symptoms of lymphadenopathy syndrome, the second stage of the disease. The other three had AIDS antibodies but no symptoms, and results from further tests were needed to confirm their condition, the paper said.

All were unsuccessfully inseminated in 1982 with semen from the same donor at the clinic, attached to a major public hospital.

Dr. Graeme Stewart, the immunologist treating the woman affected worst, said the world must be made aware of the case in Australia, the only country where the screening of sperm donors has been a legal requirement since April.

Stewart said all women who had received semen at the clinic were being checked, but so far no others had been found to have AIDS.

The woman’s lymphadenopathy syndrome was diagnosed this year when she consulted a doctor about swollen lymph glands.

The three showing antibodies have had babies since 1982, but none of their children nor the husbands of the four have AIDS antibodies.