AIDS TEST IN NEWBORN BABIES

Dr Ho Tat Kin asked the Acting Minister for Health (a) if newborn babies are tested for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS, and if not, why not; and (b) if such tests are made, how many newborn babies have been found to be anti-body positive and what follow-up action his Ministry takes in such cases.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, newborn babies in Singapore are currently not being tested for HIV antibodies. It is unlikely that the infection has spread to this segment of the population as so far only one female, the wife of a patient with clinical AIDS, has been found to be infected with the AIDS virus. Only two of the 19 males found to be infected are married and the majority are homosexuals.

In countries with a similar low level of heterosexual spread of AIDS, infected children are either haemophiliacs infected through contaminated blood products, or are the offspring of infected intravenous drug users. In Singapore no haemophiliacs have been found to be infected, and there are very few intravenous drug users.

My Ministry will continue to monitor the situation through periodic screening of the population, including newborns, should the need arise.