Brazil & A.I.D.S

[Ken2]

I have a relative who works in the mortuary business here in Denver.  When I mentioned meeting a gal in S.A. he was curious and mentioned that he had recently had to ship the corpses of two ladies (within the last year)back to Brazil becuase they had died of AIDS.  (I dont think from drug use either). Both gals in thier early 40s.  I wonder if AIDS is a major problem in Brazil.  Not intended to rain on anyones parade; just a thought for those visiting Brazil.

K.P.

[HappyInBrazil]

... in response to Brazil & A.I.D.S, posted by Ken2 on Apr 10, 2002

Good thought for everyone if they are going somewhere or not.  I doubt this would "rain on anyones parade".

Be careful where you put that thing, if it falls off another one won't grow.

Also, a condom may prevent AIDS and pregnancy, but you can still become infected with herpes and hepatitis.

If you want to chase whores, go to Nevada, where it's regulated by the government.

Also, if you're worried about it with a woman, don't sleep with her.

Seems strange to me a little, when you say "he had recently had to ship the corpses of two ladies (within the last year)back to Brazil becuase they had died of AIDS."  Did he ship them back at the request of their families or because of some regulation on AIDS patients.  Also, how do you really know one way or the other how they contracted AIDS?

Also, I'd be curious how many other women he prepared for burial that died of AIDS.  

Still, I would agree bottom line, if you don't feel comfortable with the risks. Don't put yourself in the situation.

[Ken2]

... in response to Everywhere & A.I.D.S, posted by HappyInBrazil on Apr 10, 2002

You asked a few questions I cannot answer.  In regards to shipping the bodies back.  It was at the request of the families, but the mortuary had (and has) to deal with red tape because of the possible liabilities when shipping someone infected back to thier home country.  Legally there is a thin line.

K.P.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Everywhere & A.I.D.S, posted by Ken2 on Apr 10, 2002

Recently Brazil declared that they would not honor US patents on aids treatment drugs and started making them in their own labs....there was a big discussion on it somewhere (not here, I forget where)

-----moral question---Brazil claims that they can make for $2.00 what the US drug companies were charging $40.00 for. But the drug companies respond "Perhaps, with poor quality control and not covering the development costs".

----practical question----no profits=no research=no new drugs vs. can't afford them, so they don't do us any good anyway

My opinon is that common asprin would cost $12.00 a pill if it was still under patent.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Brazil & A.I.D.S, posted by Ken2 on Apr 10, 2002

I read that it was reaching epic proportions, but they have curtailed it lately (last couple of years) with public awareness programs...

Dunno more than that...

[Slowandtru]

... in response to Brazil & A.I.D.S, posted by Ken2 on Apr 10, 2002

While drug use is as common in Brazil as it is almost everywhere else, the sexual promiscuity in the major cities, especially Rio, is rampant. Rio may be one of the few places in the world more vanity oriented than the United States. Boob jobs, butt jobs, liposuction and aesthetic plastic surgery in general is almost like a trip to the 7-11 and, for many people there, sex is as casual as well. The "vanity surgery" is becomming a major trend in Cali, Colombia too, but not nearly to the extent that it is in Rio. Be very selective and very careful if you plan to visit.

[greg]

... in response to Re: Brazil & A.I.D.S, posted by Slowandtru on Apr 10, 2002

Can You tell us more about your knowledge on SA especially Brazil? I was considering choosing Brazil as one place to visit in SA during my Vacation there, but feel some doubts after reading about the high risks of possibly getting involved with the wrong person. My brother did travel to RIO..He was pick pocketed at a dance club. Thanks, greg

[Slowandtru]

... in response to Hi Slowandthur, posted by greg on Apr 10, 2002

Greg, I really don't have much more information than I have already related. It has been about four years since I was last in Brazil. I have traveled to Colombia several times for five or six week stays during the last year or so, but Brazil is kind of stuck in time for me since I met my fiancee.

The dance clubs attract pickpockets everywhere in Latin America. Poverty is a very real thing for most people and scruples tend to disappear when one is hungry. I only spent a couple of weeks in Brazil that last time and the lady and I were more into exploring each other's potential than going out to nightclubs so my experience is limited in that respect. Even in Cali I stay away from the tourist night spots because even though that is where action is it is also the highest risk area. There is a drug used in Colombia that is made from an extract from a native tree that is similar to what is used in Hati to produce what people label as "Zombies". It is slipped into drinks and the recipient is usually found nude and wandering without a clue as to who he is or what happened. In some cases the "drugged out" people are told to go home and get everything of value and bring it back...which they do. I personally know two people, both Colombian natives, that this has happened to. Pretty weird stuff. There was a young woman on television that the news stations were trying to get some info on. She had had amnesia for months as a result of the drug and could not be identified so the TV stations had her on in hopes that someone could identify her. That's "Locolombia" as the locals say. With Brazil having a similar ecostructure I would bet that similar things happen there. You don't get news like that in our world but it is a common occurance for the natives.

South America is NOT the United States. There are things there that, while common knowledge to the inhabitants, are completely foreign concepts to the North American mind. We share more of a cultural heritage with Europeans than we do with Latins. Spanish conquest and perpetual violence have left their mark not only in history but in cultural outlook. The Church had to send missionaries to stop the Conquistadores from herding native Indians along on their marches AS FOOD! A decidedly different mindset. There are really wonderful times to be had in South America but one has to really be aware and vigilent at all times in order to avoid becoming a statistic. I would suggest researching as much as possible before you go. The State Department sites on foreign travel give the basics but the Internet and this forum can fill in the gaps. Sorry I couln't give more current information.

Good luck.

[HappyInBrazil]

... in response to Re: Hi Slowandthur, posted by Slowandtru on Apr 11, 2002


"The Church had to send missionaries to stop the Conquistadores from herding native Indians along on their marches AS FOOD!"

This is completely false, everyone who is considering travel to Latin America needs to really be careful they are not discouraged by misinformation.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Misinformation Warning, posted by HappyInBrazil on Apr 12, 2002

Maybe that was just a little dyslexia and he meant the natives herded the missionaries along as food. Anyway you make a good point. Posters considering travel to Latin America shouldn't be discouraged by the prospect that they'll be hearded around as food.

[HappyInBrazil]

... in response to Re: Brazil & A.I.D.S, posted by Slowandtru on Apr 10, 2002

I have to say you included a gem of advice that's worth repeating: "Be very selective and very careful if you plan to visit."

On the other items, I'm wondering if you have access to any information, like studies or reports to support the contentions that make up the rest of your post.  Anything?

Also, Brazil is a very big country.  I don't think it is necessarily representative of the country as a whole.  If you do, I'd be curious to know why?

[Slowandtru]

... in response to Not meaning to harsh on you...., posted by HappyInBrazil on Apr 10, 2002

The last time I visited Brazil I went to see a woman I had been communicating with for some time. She works as an attorney for the government and she was the one who made the comments. However, previously I had watched a documentary on the treatment of women in Brazil, past and present (if you will recall a few years back a Physician set his wife on fire, burning her to death for what he had perceived as her flirting with another man. He was never taken to court). The film went into the radically changing attitudes and morals in Brazil and in Rio in particular. It included statistics on the tremendous rise in STD's of all types and HIV in particular though I do not remember the exact figures. The commentator attributed this rise to the "new morals" being fostered in the large cities. I assumed Rio was singled out for the "anything goes" atmosphere during carnivale that kind of spilled over into the rest of the year...but that is just a guess.

The woman I was with was from another large city but we visited Rio. Since my home is in South Florida the nudity on the beaches did not surprise me, nor did the public displays in the clubs but I have to admit that the general ambience was pretty loose everywhere we went.

Just a couple more comments; The people in the general population of Brazil are not in accord with what goes on in Rio. Their attitudes run from grudging acceptance to appalled. Many, if not most, women in that country are decent females with more than their share of family values and morals. It is Rio and, to a lesser degree, the other metropolitan areas that have the reputation. Not to say that there are not decent people even in Rio, but the broad stroke is that Rio is a "Sodom and Gommorrah" compared to the rest of the country. I have also heard the same opinion from people who live in other South American countries who have traveled to Brazil more extensively than I.

I'm sure that if you are interested enough a "google.com" search will produce the statistical information you are looking for. I can only relay the little personal information that I have.

[HappyInBrazil]

... in response to Re: Not meaning to harsh on you...., posted by Slowandtru on Apr 10, 2002

Since we are not talking facts, but just personal experiences, I have to say this has not been my experience at all.  I live in a city of over 1 million people, and I really have not formed the same impression.

How different would it be from going to Marti Gra in New Orleans, and assigning that behavior and morality to the entire country? or even the city?

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Brazil & A.I.D.S, posted by Slowandtru on Apr 10, 2002

I heard a public radio program awile back about the issue of aids in Brazil and they said one of the problems is that bi-sexuality amongst men is actually considered "stylish". That added to the general promiscuity would seem to spread it through the population wildfire. At one point I was seriously considering the African countries. Some of the woman on the MOB sites are really stunning but with the prevalence of aids there I decided to scrap the idea. Maybe some of posters in Brazil have the low down on the situation.