SAN DIEGO : Crank Caller Gives False AIDS Alarm
A female caller has phoned more than 20 San Diegans at work since Thursday, telling them a bogus story about how they or a member of their family has tested positive for the AIDS virus, the county health officials said Friday.
The caller then advises the person to contact one of the Department of Health Services’ public health centers.
“This is apparently someone’s idea of a sick joke, and we want the public to be aware that the caller is needlessly alarming unsuspecting people,” said Dr. William Cox, director of the department.
While the county does conduct tests for AIDS, such tests are conducted on an anonymous basis. The health department keeps no roster of names or identifying information. Results are only given in person, face-to-face--never by phone--to the tested individual.
Health officials believe the crank caller is using the phone book to contact people at work. Many of those who are called have shown up at the health department and are “confused, worried or angry,” Dr. Donald Ramras said.
“This is a nasty, nasty thing to do,” Ramras said.
Health officials are investigating the incident. They ask that anyone contacted by the crank caller report it to the health department at 236-3846, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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