Immune Competence in Haitians Living in New York

To the Editor: The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the cause of which remains unknown, has been described in homosexual men and parenteral drug abusers in the United States.¹ Hemophiliacs and sexual partners of patients with AIDS also seem to be at risk.^2,3 Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the epidemiology of the syndrome is its reported occurrence in Haitians living in Haiti and in persons from Haiti living in the United States, most of whom have stated that they did not engage in homosexual activity or abuse drugs.^4,5 The reason for the apparent increase of the disease among persons of.