Call for HIV testing of immigrants

Advocates of stricter border controls in Britain have called for the HIV testing of immigrants to stem a rise in cases imported from Africa. Figures from the British Health Protection Agency (HPA) suggest that 90 percent of all people diagnosed with HIV may have contracted it in Africa. HPA said the vast majority of some 2,338 people diagnosed with HIV in Britain during 2002 were thought to be African immigrants. Reuters quoted HPA as saying: "This disparity is due to two factors: the very high prevalence in many African countries, and the historic links between the UK and Africa." However, the call has been rejected by immigrant support groups and the opposition Liberal Democrats, who said testing would be "unethical and unworkable".