You are right in writing about the need to prevent HIV early in the disease’s development (TMID 1 July). Years back, the US top medical officer released 99% of a commissioned report on the spread of HIV and resultant Aids. What was in the 1 % of the report considered so alarming to the general public that it was not published?

Following the publication of this report more care was advised when contact with blood was a possibility. There was a situation where a woman contacted Aids from her dentist. We saw the scandal break in France where blood bags were infected. I am not a medical man, just a taxpayer, but it is common knowledge that screening blood donations is costly and time consuming, which is why, at best, a doctor just interviews a prospective blood donor. I would think that the provisions in place, banning high risk groups from donating blood should be kept in place.

S Debono

Kirkop