Shades of AIDS disinformation in Greece this week, from a ruling SYRIZA party MP and a physician specializing in infectious diseases no less, as Yiannis Mihelogiannakis told a television news program that the HIV virus is transmitted through … saliva.

The current radical leftist and former socialist PASOK MP raised eyebrows and generated a heated reaction by at least three NGOs active in providing support and assistance to HIV+ individuals and AIDS sufferers.

“We call on your capacity as a physician to highlight the scientifically proven statement that HIV is not transmitted through saliva,” a press release by the trio of NGOs noted.

The three groups are “Thetiki Foni” (Positive Voice), the Zoi Centre and Praksis.