
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993                   TAG: 9311110077
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BERLIN                                LENGTH: Short

2ND GERMAN COMPANY SHUT IN AIDS SCANDAL

Germany's AIDS scandal widened Wednesday with the closing of a second blood products company whose alleged neglect left at least two people infected with the HIV virus.

At least six cases now have been reported in Germany of people infected since 1989 with HIV, which causes AIDS, through contaminated blood products.

The Haemoplas company, in the western city of Osterode, was ordered to suspend operations a day after its products were recalled from 69 hospitals. Officials said it failed to test every plasma unit, as required by law.

The Lower Saxony social welfare minister, Walter Hiller, told a news conference Wednesday no evidence existed that Haemoplas knowingly sold plasma infected with HIV.

But state health officials said the company's plasma was not routinely tested. The company would commonly test only the first unit given by a donor, said one official, Dr. Hans-Peter Hoecklen. - Associated Press

by CNB