Australia's sex workers association believes ACT Health authorities should not have released details about an unregistered male prostitute who has been charged with knowingly transmitting a sexual disease.

ACT Health yesterday confirmed the man, 41, from Kingston has HIV.

Counsellors have started calling 250 people believed to have been in contact with Scott, in a bid to identify potential victims.

Janelle Fawkes from the Scarlet Alliance says that move raises privacy issues.

"In Australia, the epidemiology supports our understanding that Australian sex workers are on the whole are effectively implementing safe sex practices with their clients on a daily basis," she said.

"I think the stigma and discrimination that may come out of this release might outweigh the public health outcomes."

Ms Fawkes says the matter should be handled by the courts.

"Scarlet Alliance is concerned that the decision by ACT Health to release details of the individuals' HIV status will prejudice the likelihood of a fair trial," she said.

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