CDC Lifts HIV Ban

On November 2, the Centers for Disease Control issued a Final Rule removing HIV infection from its list of “communicable diseases of public health significance.”  Since the late 1980s, when HIV infection was added to the list of “communicable diseases of public health significance,” persons infected with HIV have been inadmissible to the U.S. (except by a difficult-to-obtain special waiver).  When the Final Rule takes effect on January 4, 2010, persons with HIV infection will no longer be barred from visiting or immigrating to the U.S. due solely to infection with the virus. 

The President remarked on this rule change in his signing statement for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act on October 30.  A history of this issue can be read in the Final Rule.