DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

May 7 1990

The Honorable Henry A. Waxman
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Waxman:

	Thank you for your letter concerning’ the transmissibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the workplace.

	National and international epidemiologic studies have consistently shown that HIV has three main routes of transmission: sexual contact with an infected person, exposure to blood or blood products primarily through needle sharing among intravenous drug users, and perinatal transmission from an infected woman to her fetus or infant. None of the reported cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States are known or suspected to have been attributable to AIV transmission via casual contact in the workplace.

	All epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV are not transmitted during the preparation or serving of food or beverages, and no instances of HIV transmission have been documented in this setting. In studies of households where over 400 family members lived with and/or cared for persons with HIV infection and AIDS, no instances of casual transmission have been reported, despite the sharing of kitchen and bathroom facilities, meals, and eating and drinking utensils, If HIV is not transmitted in these settings, where exposures are repeated, prolonged, and involve contact with the body secretions of infected persona, often when HIV infection was unrecognized for months or years, it would be even less likely to occur in other social or workplace settings. The pattern of cases would be much different from what is observed if casual contact resulted in HIV transmission.

	The Public Health Service recommends that all food-service workers follow recommended standards and practices of good personal hygiene and food sanitation and avoid injury to the hands when preparing food. Should such an injury occur, workers are advised to discard any food contaminated with blood, Food-service workers known to be infected with HIV need not be restricted from work unless they have evidence of other infections or illnesses for which any food-service worker should also be restricted.

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Page 2 - The Honorable Henry A. Waxman

	I am enclosing a copy of the Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report (MMWR) of November 15, 1985, that gives recommendations for preventing transmission of HIV in the workplace. Guidelines for food-service workers are on page 7 of the report,

	Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with information concerning this public health issue. A similar letter is being sent to Representative Don Edwards.

Sincerely

[Signature]
William L, Roper, M.D., M.P.H.
Director

Enclosure

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