Faue y

SERVICE,
Oo SO

 

WEALTH
«0 fay

=

ff DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service
ha National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Building: 31
Room: 7A03
Phone: (301) 496-2263
Fax: (301) 496-4409

December 17, 1993

Professor Joshua Lederberg
The Rockefeller University
New York, NY 10021-6399

Dear Josh:

Thank you for your recent note concerning the December 5 edition of the
Sunday New York Times and your question concerning bibliography on research on
transmission or lack of transmission of HIV from TB infected individuals. I
checked with Dr. Sten Vermund who is our epidemiologist in the Division of
AIDS, and he knows of no published research on transmission of HIV from a TB
infected individual who might be coughing up sputum and/or blood. However,
there certainly should exist some degree of a database in this regard,
particularly with the infectious disease physicians who are following TB
patients in correctional institutions, as well as in situations in which there
has already been documented transmission of tuberculosis from an HIV infected
individual to a non-HIV infected individual. I am certain that under those
circumstances the individuals that contracted TB from the HIV infected
individuals themselves had HIV testing; I assume that this testing turned out
to be negative. However, I do not have data in front of me. I have asked
Dr. Vermund to check out those individuals who might have access to such data
and to determine whether or not there are any studies that are published or in
press concerning the question that you asked.

If you would like to speak directly to Dr. Vermund, he can be reached
at:

Sten Vermund, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief, Vaccine Trails and Epidemiology Branch
Division of AIDS, NIAID

6003 Executive Boulevard

Solar Building, Room 2A42

Bethesda, MD 20892

Phone: 301 496-6177

Fax: 301 402-1506

In the meanwhile, I will ask Dr. Vermund by virtue of a copy of this
letter to send to you any information that he gathers concerning this
question.
Letter to Professor Lederberg
December 17, 1993
Page 2

It was good to see you again in New York City. I wish you a Happy
Holiday Season and a healthy and successful New Year. Thank you and best
personal regards.

Sincerely,

Ton

Anthony S. ci, M.D.
Director

National InStitute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases

ASF: 1r

cc: Sten Vermund, M.D., Ph.D.