Idaho Women Who May Have Been Infected By HIV-Positive Man Get Tested

Several women believed to have had sex with a man who they say didn’t tell them he had the HIV virus, a felony in Idaho, are undergoing testing this week in a Moscow clinic.

So far, about a dozen people linked to the case have been tested for HIV, said Carol Moehrle, director of the North Central District Health Department. She declined to give the results, citing medical privacy laws.

Kanay A. Mubita, 31, has been charged in 2nd District Court with seven counts of transferring body fluids that may contain HIV to seven separate women. HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that can lead to fatal AIDS.

Mubita remains in the Latah County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Police say Mubita, who holds a Zambian passport, became romantically linked with as many as 20 women while frequenting this university town’s local bar scene.

The women being tested in Moscow will have to be tested again.

Insulated by geography, Moscow and the Palouse have been largely insulated from many of the troubles of larger metropolitan areas. That all changed with the arrest of Kanay Mubita on December 7. Mubita, 31, has been charged with “Transfer of Bodily Fluid Which May Contain the HIV Virus,” a felony under Idaho code.

{snip}

He also stated he always used a condom with his ex-girlfriend, who brought the original charge against him. Authorities say he stated he is the father of his ex-girlfriend’s child; Mubita said no paternity has been established. He said it was scheduled for later this month, but now he wants to postpone it until his legal battle is over.

Mubita stated he believes his ex-girlfriend is bringing the charge because of arguments they’ve had. He went on to say the NAACP had been contacted because he feels he’s being singled out because he is black.

{snip}