Schools Told Not to Isolate AIDS Victims : ‘Stop Worrying’ Over Easy Spread of Virus, New Guidelines Say

AIDS victims should not be isolated or given special treatment in U.S. schools, according to a new guide released today that says up-to-date knowledge about the disease should quiet fears that the virus can be easily transmitted.

“Until now, many people have been fearful that (AIDS) could be transmitted at school,” the National Assn. of State Boards of Education said in the booklet, which updates guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control in 1985.

“We have enough information to stop worrying about this.

“What we do need to worry about--and the place to put our energy and concern--is education.”

No Mandatory Testing

The guidelines, endorsed by a variety of health and education groups, call for confidentiality but oppose mandatory testing of school pupils or employees for AIDS.

AIDS is a fatal disease that destroys the body’s ability to fight infection. The disease is spread through the exchange of body fluids infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.

The guide said about 1.5 million people in the United States are infected with the HIV virus. More than 102,000 cases of AIDS have been diagnosed in this country since 1981, and more than 59,000 of those victims have died.

The new booklet gives educators up-to-date knowledge about AIDS and how the disease is spread, said Brenda Welburn of the school board association. Previous guidelines suggested that schools be cautious about children who bit or who weren’t toilet trained, in case the AIDS virus might be transmitted through saliva or handling diapers.

“We now know that HIV is not transmitted through saliva or urine,” Welburn said. “Even the possibility that the AIDS virus would be transmitted through simple exposure to blood is extremely low.”

So the suggested policy is to allow students who are infected to attend school and be entitled to all rights, privileges and services received by other students, the guide said.