AIDS and blood donors in Brazil [letter]

Testing for human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) antibodies is now carried out in all blood banks in Brazil. Between May 16-July 25 1985 1469 blood donors were screened and 2 (0.13%) were repeatedly positive for HTLV-III antibodies. In the state of Sao Paulo 296 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had been recorded by July 26 1985 with 132 deaths. 88% of these cases involved homosexuals 2% were blood transfusion recipients and 2% were hemophiliacs. There were an additional 74 AIDS cases in other parts of Brazil. 1 new case is detected each day in Sao Paulo and it is estimated that about 1000 cases will have been detected in Brazil by the end of 1985. Given a frequency of 0.13% seropositivity for HTLV-III infection and a total of 50000 blood donors/month 65-125 donors/month may be potential carriers of infection in Sao Paulo state alone.