Infectious disease epidemiologists have the term “super-spreader” for people infected with an organism that behave in such a way that they have effective contact with inordinately higher numbers of susceptibles than is usually assumed to occur. For example, in the first HIV 
investigations in the 1980’s, it was found that the average number of lifetime sexual partners among those with what was then termed gay-related immune deficiency cases was 1100, with some reporting up to 20,000. If you haven’t read And the Band Played On, an amazing account of the first HIV investigations, the virus’ unfolding epidemiology, and the heavy hand of politics, you really should. Or, if you are inclined, it was also made into a movie. Click on the book image to link to the free text of some of the book on Google.
News in my state gives rise to another kind of super spreader, and something to get you thinking about legal and ethical issues in preparation for our live meeting this week. A medical technician in Denver who was addicted to painkillers would inject herself with painkillers and fill the syringe with saline to be used for patients. She was infected with Hepatitis C (see today’s disease of the week). She worked at 2 hospitals during the time period she was doing this, potentially exposing 6,000 people who underwent surgery. All of these people are currently being tested.
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