Foreign Service Employees, Kin, Job Applicants to Be Tested for AIDS Virus
The State Department within two months will begin testing Foreign Service employees, their dependents and job applicants for exposure to the AIDS virus, an official said Thursday.
Under the program, approved in late September by Secretary of State George P. Shultz, overseas service would be severely limited for employees who test positively, said Dr. Paul A. Goff, State Department deputy medical director. Applicants testing positive would not be admitted to the Foreign Service.
Employees and dependents 18 and older showing positive results would be restricted to the United States if they show signs of a faltering immune system, he said. Those with no symptoms of acquired immune deficiency syndrome will be allowed to serve in countries with the facilities and experience to treat the disease.
Goff said about 20,000 people will be tested, including overseas employees and dependents of 38 other agencies such as the U.S. Information Agency and the Agency for International Development.
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