HIV "new strain" story: for more information.On February 23, 2005 the State of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Department of Health (DOH) sent to HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome service provides a 10-page update on the single case of a patient with multi-drug resistant HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. who progressed rapidly to AIDS. [1] Extensive media coverage had resulted from an earlier DOH press release and press conference less than two weeks before. [2] The February 23 letter noted that as of that date, "no other persons infected with the same strain have been identified." (A report of a similar virus in San Diego turned Out to be erroneous.) The Retroviruses conference (in Boston, February 22-25, 2005) did little to resolve the questions around this case. The conference quickly added a panel of expert speakers who reviewed current knowledge and answered audience questions, but little new information was available. Most scientists, physicians, and activists are skeptical about whether this case represents a new strain at all, and they agree that we do not yet know if a new public-health threat has been discovered. But new HIV strains develop all the time. More virulent, transmissible transmissible /trans·mis·si·ble/ (trans-mis´i-b'l) capable of being transmitted. trans·mis·si·ble adj. Capable of being conveyed from one person to another. , and/or drug-resistant viruses seem inevitable unless we do better in preventing the transmission of HIV. There is widespread agreement among activists and others that social norms must more clearly insist that risking infection of others or of oneself is not acceptable. At this time the best information source is a Web page of background papers and documents [3] placed online by CHAMP (Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project) and TAG (Treatment Action Group). It is available at http://www.champnetwork.org/index.php?name=newcase References [1] http://www.champnetwork.org/media/NYDOHFeb23.pdf [2] On February 11 The New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene mental hygiene, the science of promoting mental health and preventing mental illness through the application of psychiatry and psychology. A more commonly used term today is mental health. said in a press release, "A highly resistant strain of rapidly progressive human immunodeficiency virus human immunodeficiency virus n. HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A transmissible retrovirus that causes AIDS in humans. (HIV) has been diagnosed for the first time in a New York City resident who had not previously undergone antiviral drug treatment...." The full early press release (the one that caused the media frenzy) is at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/public/press05/pr016-05.html [3] http://www.champnetwork.org/index.php?name=newcase |
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