OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS AND AIDS *

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Abstract
Since 1981 the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the agent that causes AIDS, has spread world-wide. HIV is spread mainly through sexual intercourse, infected blood or blood products on shared syringes and needles, and from mother to baby at or before birth. There is now considerable evidence to show that the virus is not transmitted by casual contact in the workplace and the families of AIDS sufferers are at very low risk of developing infection in the home. Although the majority of workers simply need the assurance that they are safe at work, some occupations require sensible, routine protective measures for the protection of staff and their clients or patients. Occupational health professionals will have an increasingly important role in providing solutions to health and safety problems in the workplace and in co-ordinating the welfare education and training of staff.