HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7203 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7203
X04SOR2,-.-- To the Mayor and Members of the City Council July 7, 1987
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Subject: HEALTH CARDS HIV VIRUS
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Background
During* the early part of this century many states and municipalities enacted
legislation requiring compulsory examination of food-handlers for syphilis, typhoid
fever and tuberculosis. This was a legislative attempt to control the spread of
communicable diseases. In recent times the incidence of typhoid fever has decreased
so dramatically that testing for it has become highly unproductive. Similarly
the incidence of tuberculosis has declined sharply since the beginning of the
century. Moreover, food-handlers are no more likely to transmit this disease than
are other members of the community. Food-handlers were unfortunately singled out
for testing for syphilis and other venereal diseases. As pointed out by Doctors
Hanlon and Pickett ". . . it is highly unlikely that a food handler will transmit
syphilis . . . or other venereal diseases . . . while engaged in activities customarily
related to food handling."
As a result of the decreased incident of typhoid and tuberculosis and a better
understanding of disease transmission, the use of compulsory examination of
food-handlers decreased throughout the seventies and eighties. It is now the
exception rather than the rule. The City of Fort Worth eliminated this practice
in October of 1980 with no documented negative health outcomes resulting.
Recently there has been increased concern regarding the possibility of becoming
infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, as a result of eating in
establishments that employ HIV-positive workers. The Centers for Disease Control
stated in November of 1985 that there is no epidemiologic or laboratory evidence
that sexually transmitted infetions are transmitted during the preparation or serving
of food or beverages. They further stated that food-service workers need not be
restricted from work based on evidence of HIV infection. These recommendations
remain in effect today.
Assessment:
There is no evidence of a threat to the public health as a result of HIV-positive
individuals being employed in the food-service industry. Like syphilis, it is
highly unlikely that the infection would be transmitted while engaging in customary
food handling activities. Therefore, there is no indication for HIV examinations
for food-service workers.
Unless otherwise directed the Public Health Department will continue to support
the current practice of food-service worker training without compulsory testing
for HIV infection and assure the public that there is no known risk of developing
AIDS as a result of food or beverage exposure.
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Douglas Harman
City Manager
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS