Australia's health officials are also under the gun this morning. They're accused of incompetence after failing to track and restrain an HIV positive man named Stuart McDonald. McDonald allegedly used Gaydar to find partners and then knowingly infecting them with HIV. Witnesses in the case claim that when asked about infecting other men, he carelessly replied, "that's their problem". Charming.

Speaking to reporters, Health Minister John Hill defended his and his department's actions. Not only did they not here about McDonald until March 16th, they were told not to blow up McDonald's spot - such an action may have spurred him to flee into the night. Hill insisted:

I think the public has a right to be protected from somebody who's recklessly endangering lives by spreading HIV/AIDS and so as soon as I heard, we took action.

I don't know when his behavior accelerated to the state where there were concerns. That's what we need to establish.

Officials are also trying to determine if McDonald himself infected twelve men or if he infected one who went on to infect others.

This is the second such case in so many weeks: Michael John Neal's on trial for knowingly infecting sexual partners with the nasty retrovirus. And, as in the McDonald case, health officials have been criticized for inaction. It seems to us that people are point their fingers unnecessarily. Health officials are people, not gods. The only way to effectively track all HIV patients would be to have a massive register, electronic tags or round 'em all up in a camp, none of which seem realistic. Or particularly legal.

HIV+ man detained for reckless transmission [Pink News UK]