HIV Plush Toy

I know for a fact that Dr. Montaner does not have one of these on his desk, and I'm wondering why, as president-elect of the International AIDS Society, he does not.

* photo from Giant Microbes website

Giant Microbes classifies HIV as a "professional" plushie, along with hepatitis, tuberculosis and polio. Laypeople can purchase E. coli and the clap.

The HIV plushie is marketed as an educational toy. Maybe my boss suspects that producing a five-inch black doll with widely spaced eyes and a red ribbon over its heart while describing a life-threatening retrovirus would prove confusing.

Is he frustrated that despite prevention efforts, HIV is presented as a cuddly bedtime companion? Does the thought of children playing with it repulse him?

Maybe it's the inaccuracy of the design that irritates his scientific sensibilities.

Perhaps he realizes that the urge to employ universal precautions every time he handled the toy would be tiring.

Or maybe he's not even aware of the existence of these creatures. Perhaps the marketers missed the opportunity of a lifetime when they neglected to send him a sample.

In which case, my Christmas shopping just got a little easier.

Comments

I saw these for the first time at a university bookstore down south--hilarious! Do they have MRSA yet?

[Danielle]

I particularly like the flesh-eating stuffed microbe with a knife and fork embroidered on his belly. This could make a nice stocking stuffer for that special Infectious Diseases person in my life.

[Martina]

Don't order it, knit it!