AIDS at 25


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AIDS at 25

Twenty-five years after the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, both an AIDS vaccine and a cure are still remote possibilities. At least 96 US-sponsored vaccine trials are underway, but experts agree that none is likely to yield a useful product, though they may point to better candidates. Even potential vaginal microbicide products remain years away. What drugs are entering the marketplace are the result of old research.

"The low-hanging fruits have all been picked. and we still face huge challenges," said Dr. David Ho of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York. "This is not because of a lack of effort or because of a lack of money. It's just a fundamental problem posed by HIV."

In the United States since 1981, more than half a million people have died from HIV/AIDS complications. According to CDC, an estimated 15,000 will die from them this year. More than 1 million people in the United States have HIV/AIDS, and 40,000 contract it each year.

African Americans, some 13 percent of the population, account for half of new US infections and one-third of deaths. Black males are seven times as likely as white males to have HIV; black females are 20 times as likely to be infected as white females.

Worldwide, at least 25 million people have died from AIDS, and 2.8 million will die this year, according to the World Health Organization. An estimated 38.6 million people have HIV/AIDS, and an additional 4.1 million are infected each year in what Dr. Kevin Fenton, head of AIDS programs at CDC, called "one of the deadliest epidemics in human history."

"We are the last generation to know what life in a world without AIDS was really like," said Dr. James Curran, who was among the first at CDC to study the disease, and who is currently dean of Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

Los Angeles Times (06.05.06):: Thomas H. Maugh II, Jia-Rui Chong

We are providing the above information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared without conducting any additional research or investigation into the facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact sheets and announcements.

HIV 2 ELISA

Persons at risk for HIV-2 infection include:

Sex partners of a person from a country where HIV-2 is endemic (this category includes persons originally from such countries).

Sex partners of a person known to be infected with HIV-2.

Persons who received a transfusion of blood or a nonsterile injection in a country where HIV-2 is endemic.

Persons who shared needles with a person from a country where HIV-2 is endemic or with a person known to be infected with HIV-2.

Children of women who have risk factors for HIV-2 infection or who are known to be infected with HIV-2.

Additionally, testing for HIV-2 is indicated when there is clinical evidence for or suspicion of HIV disease (such as an AIDS-associated opportunistic infection) in the absence of a positive test for antibodies to HIV-1 and in cases in which the HIV-1 Western blot exhibits the unusual indeterminate pattern of gag (p55, p24, or p17) plus pol (p66, p51, or p32) bands in the absence of env (gp160, gp120, Or gp41) bands.

Although most HIV infections in the United States are of HIV-1 group B subtype, current ELISAs can accurately identify infections with nearly all non-B subtypes and many infections with group O HIV subtypes. Infections with HIV-2 and HIV-1 group O are rare in the United States and routine screening for these subtypes is not generally recommended as part of diagnostic testing except in areas where several such infections have been identified. Routine screening for HIV-2 might be appropriate in certain populations where potential risk for HIV-2 infection is higher (e.g., in areas where West African immigrants have settled). Since June 1992, FDA has recommended routine screening for antibody to HIV-2 (in addition to HIV-1) for all blood and plasma donations. Clients with clinical, epidemiologic, or laboratory history that suggests HIV infection and negative or indeterminate HIV-1 screening tests should receive further diagnostic testing to rule out HIV infection, potentially including testing for HIV-1 non-B subtypes and HIV-2 .

STDWeB provides only health screening services. Tests are provided only for personal information and/or risk identification purposes. STDWeB does not diagnose or treat medical conditions. STDWeB screenings do not take the place of a physician care. Transactions with STDWeB are confidential and will not be shared with third parties. Tests with "positive" or "indeterminate" result may require confirmatory testing and may involve additional charges.

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