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US HIV/AIDS travel ban lifted

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A US rule ending a policy prohibiting people with HIV or AIDS from entering the country went into effect on Monday. The decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to remove HIV from its list of communicable diseases of public significance ended the 22-year-old ban. When the rule was published in November, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "he ability to travel freely and have access to affordable health care should be available to everyone. This change has been a long time coming, and I am pleased it is happening now." Clemens Ruland, a Netherlands native, is expected to be the first HIV-positive visitor since the ban was lifted when he lands in New York Monday. The US had been one of only about a dozen countries that ban travelers with HIV or AIDS. In October, a report indicated China was considering lifting its ban against travelers with HIV or AIDS. In 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) relaxed restrictions on issuing visas to HIV-positive applicants. Also in 2008, the US removed a statutory restriction on issuing visas to HIV-positive foreigners.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 04, 2010 (boomark / email).