NBC NIGHTLY NEWS, THE {EXCERPT}: COVERAGE OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC BY ROBERT BAZELL, NO. 2 (TV)
Summary
In this excerpt, science correspondent Robert Bazell examines several different aspects of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which has become "the country's number one health priority." With 1500 people now believed to be infected with the disease, and an extremely high mortality rate among the victims, people with AIDS are now facing prejudice and fear from many of those with whom they come into contact. Damon Lashbrook reveals that he was ordered to take a leave of absence from his job because of the anxiety his presence was causing co-workers. San Francisco police and firefighters are being given surgical masks to wear when dealing with AIDS victims. Philip Seelig, president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, comments on the fear prison guards feel when dealing with inmates who have been infected with AIDS. Nurse Sheila Bardliving, who cares for AIDS sufferers, recalls seeing people running away from AIDS patients. Dr. Marc Sicklick of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine discusses the public concern about AIDS transmission through casual contact. Dr. Ayre Rubinstein, also of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, comments that studies of family members of AIDS victims show that the disease is not likely to be spread through casual contact. Bazell notes that the disease is usually transmitted to drug addicts by contaminated needles, to children from their mothers' blood in the womb, through blood transfusions and blood products, and to homosexual men who get the disease through sexual contact. Bazell concludes the report by noting that AIDS, which kills infection-fighting blood cells called lymphocytes, is thought to be unlikely to spread beyond these groups.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Blake Byrne.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: June 20, 1983 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:04:06
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T88:0084
- GENRE: News
- SUBJECT HEADING: AIDS (Disease); Blood transfusions; Drug abuse; Gays; Prejudice; Public health; Transmission
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1970-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Roger Mudd … Anchor
- Robert Bazell … Reporter, Science Reporter
- Sheila Bardliving
- Damon Lashbrook
- Arye Rubinstein
- Philip Seelig
- Marc Sicklick