That brings the total who have tested positive for hepatitis to 33.

They are among thousands tested because they were treated with endoscopic equipment that wasn’t properly sterilized between patients and exposed them to the body fluids of others. The equipment is often used in colonoscopies and ear, nose and throat procedures.

Nearly 11,000 former sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines could have been exposed at the hospitals in Miami, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. The agency said 6,687 patients have been notified of their test results so far.

VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts said the new HIV case was found in the Miami hospital. The agency said in a news release the positive tests were “not necessarily linked to any endoscopy issues.”

“It’s very disturbing that anybody would contract it, of course. I am pleased that the VA has agreed to treat all the veterans regardless of where they may have contracted it,” said Alexander Kovac, a veterans’ advocate who was stationed in Korea in the 1960s.

The VA has said the problems with the endoscopic equipment had gone on for years, but were discovered in December when officials learned the Murfreesboro facility wasn’t following cleaning procedures the manufacturer recommended. It issued an internal alert for hospitals to check procedures, and the problem at Augusta was discovered in January.

On Feb. 9, the VA announced a nationwide safety check of endoscopic equipment used in colonoscopies and ear, nose and throat treatments. The procedure involves a narrow, flexible tube fitted with a fiber-optic device such as a telescope or magnifying lens that is inserted into the body.

Some veterans were warned in February to get tested, and more were alerted in March when the Miami hospital backtracked on its previous conclusion that it didn’t have a problem.

The day after the first HIV infection became public April 6, the VA announced that its top medical official, Dr. Michael Kussman, was retiring. Kussman still works at the VA but could not be reached for comment. Roberts has said there was “no connection whatsoever.”

The endoscopic equipment is made by Center Valley, Pa.-based Olympus American Inc., and the company has said its recommended cleaning procedures are clear.

The VA and its inspector general have started investigations, and congressional members of the Veterans Affairs Committee have asked for a hearing in late May to discuss how the VA has been handling the problem.

The VA is providing a hot line for veterans and their families and posts the information it is releasing on its Web site.

Unfortunately, in the last two weeks I have received a lot of sad news from my family.  My grandmother just learned during treatment she was having for a broken hip that she has pancreatic cancer. My grandfather has been waiting to die since the death of his twin brother and a few strokes. Two of my grand aunts have cancer: one just found out and the other just decided to stop her chemo treatments.  My uncle learned he may have cancer when he brought my grand aunt to the hospital and the doctor advised him to check himself in – he was completely yellow! 

My sister said “A whole generation of our family might be gone before 2010.” 

I know I’m not the only one that is dealing with gravely ill family members but I know how lucky I am that I will be heading home soon.  In an effort to keep the conversation light, I told my sister “I’ll have to thank them for getting sick now that I only have a month to go – I’ll get to see them before they go.” 

Admittedly, that was a bit morbid. It’s depressing to think about, but I am not permitted to go on emergency leave for anyone outside an immediate family member. Even if my grandmother passed before I get home, since she didn’t raise me, I am not allowed to leave to attend the funeral. 

My sister has been the harbinger of bad news. My mother would rather keep these things from me since “I have enough to worry about.”  But I am glad my sister tells me, even though learning such sad news is distracting. I have been able to discuss my thoughts and feelings with a few of my buddies here. They have been pretty supportive, but when I think about it I get kind of numb. Too much too fast, maybe. 

Reading this over as I write it, I know I should discuss the situation of gays and lesbians and how gay and lesbian soldiers with a sick or dying partnerare stuck pulling at their hair. They might have one or more confidants, as I do with my roommate, since I felt safe enough with him to come out a while back. Or they may have to go at it alone.
 
Maybe they’re not even out to their families, or worse, their families shunned them after they came out. Maybe they don’t have someone like my sister to bring them the news of tragedy.

A husband or wife is considered immediate family and you can get emergency leave to tend to them. Grandparents and aunts do not fall under this umbrella. Obviously, my gay partner is left out also.

The way things stand now and the way I feel at this moment, I am actually angry at the idea I wouldn’t be able to see my partner if he were sick. I know I would start slow and pick up speed, from sane to reckless, doing everything in my power to land myself at my partner’s bedside – hopefully avoiding ending up in jail.

I have a very close family and I can’t get home to see them. My sister is going to see my aunts soon; my grandmother, recuperating from hip surgery, isn’t seeing anyone yet. I will have to continue to hear from a third-party news of what is happening. I plan on calling my mother tonight to let her fill me in on any holes left by my sister.

In the meantime, I wait. To go home. To hear news.

Republicans attacked the measure, calling it an attempt to circumvent the state constitution which bans same-sex marriage. Rep. Bob Gardner, the chief GOP opponent, also attacked a provision making it virtually impossible to put a repeal question on the ballot.

“We ought to give people an opportunity to refer the measure to the ballot,” Gardner argued during debate.

Under the plan, couples would be able to go to their county clerk’s office and designate each other as legal beneficiaries.

During the committee stage, Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D) the bill’s sponsor, said that he had wished he could have brought in legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, but admitted to the committee this was the best he could currently hope for.

In 2006 voters passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.  The same year they rejected another ballot issue that would have given same-sex couples many of the rights of marriage including property inheritance rights and the power to make medical and funeral arrangements.

The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and opponents of LGBT rights are mounting a campaign to defeat the legislation.

Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family is sponsoring a radio ad arguing the state cannot afford partner benefits during “a global economic crisis.”

“According to Gov. Bill Ritter’s office, Colorado must shut down two prisons, cut $225 million from school funding and suspend property tax breaks for senior citizens just to keep our state afloat financially. And while the global economic crisis continues to take its toll, our Legislature is considering a bill that would use our tax dollars to fund benefits for the same-sex partners of state employees. We’re being told these benefits will cost over $100,000, but many fear that number has been grossly underestimated,” the ad says.

As the bill works its way through the legislature, a move is underway to overturn the marriage ban.

Stu Allen, 23, is promoting a measure to ask voters in 2010 to repeal the ban on same-sex marriage.

Allen, who is straight, said that gay couples should have the same rights that he and his girlfriend of seven years would have if they got married.