DISEASE THREAT: Police and Queensland Health
are asking women who had sex with this man,
Godfrey Zaburoni to come forward for testing.
A PLEA for women to come forward if they had unprotected sex with an HIV-positive circus acrobat has resulted in two calls to Queensland Health today.
Godfrey Zaburoni, who turned 32 today, made no application for bail when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm or transmit serious disease.
Police admitted outside court that Zaburoni, who is believed to have been HIV positive since 1997, may have slept with hundreds of women.
He's given the names of 12 women, including one who tested HIV positive last year, to a Queensland Health officer since his arrest.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has called for women who slept with the man, and not used protection, to be tested.
"We're aware that this gentleman has HIV and we understand he's had unprotected sex with quite a number of women across the country,'' Dr Young said.
She said Queensland Health had been unable to contact the women directly because the information provided had been "too limited''.
Police charged him after a Queensland woman made a complaint.
Queensland Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Col McCallum said police had set up a task force to handle possible complaints against Zaburoni from other women.
"Our main concern is the health and wellbeing of the women involved,'' he said.
"But if they should wish to proceed through a criminal matter, we will certainly be in a position to deal with that and we will do it with a fair amount of vigour.''
Detective Superintendent Dave Hutchinson said Zaburoni faced life in prison if convicted.
Magistrate Gary Finger ruled that Zaburoni remain in custody until his next scheduled appearance on June 9.
Mr Finger banned the publication of any information about the woman to whom the charges relate.
Zaburoni's friends, speaking outside court, said the arrest had shocked them and they did not know he was HIV positive.
Rob Gumbo, a student from Zimbabwe, said he met Zaburoni when he arrived on the Gold Coast and shared accommodation with him but never learned about his HIV status.
"It's traumatising. No one had any idea, I don't think he told anybody,'' he said.
"He was working here on the Gold Coast doing corporate shows - just gigs here and there.''
Lochlainn Darroch said he and Zaburoni became friends after meeting at a Gold Coast nightclub.
"I was as shocked as everyone else (to learn he was HIV positive),'' he said.
"He had a girlfriend in Sydney and obviously she'd be feeling how everyone else feels ...''
Queensland women who have had unprotected sex with Zaburoni should contact 13 HEALTH. Women living interstate should phone Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
