New aggressive strain of HIV reported

February 13, 2005

RARE AGGRESSIVE STRAIN OF HIV REPORTED IN NEW YORK

By Marc Santora & Lawrence K. Altman (NYT News Service)

A rare strain if HIV that is highly resistant to virtually all

antiretroviral drugs and appears to lead to the rapid onset of AIDS was

detected in a New York City man last week, city officials said.

It was the first time a strain of HIV has been found that both showed

resistance to multiple drugs and lead to AIDS so quickly, the officials

said. While the extent of the disease’s spread is unknown, official

called a news conference to say that the situation is alarming.

We consider this a major potential problem”, said Dr. R. Frieden,

the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental

Hygiene. The department issued an alert to all hospitals and doctors in

the city to test all newly detected HIV cases for evidence of the rare

strain. The virus was found in a New York City man in his mid-40’s who

engaged in unprotected anal sex wit other men on multiple occasions

while he was using multiple occasions while he was using crystal

methamphetamine. Health officials said have long said that the drugs

stimulating effect and erasure of inhibitions contributes to sex

marathons that have increased the spread of HIV.

The man, whose name was not released to protect his privacy, is believed

to have had unprotected sex with hundreds partners, according to one

person briefed on the case who insisted on anonymity because the

investigations is continuing.

Some AIDS specialists outside New York City expressed skepticism about

the alarm, believing that it might be an isolated case related to the

patient’s immune system but Dr. Frieden said the case heightened the

importance of using condoms.

“This case is a wakeup call,” Dr. Frieden said. “First, it’s a wake up

call to men who have sex with men, particularly those who may use

crystal methamphetamine. Not only are we seeing syphilis and a rare

sexually transmitted diseases- lymphogranuloma venereum- among these

men. “Now we have identified this strain of HIV that is difficult or

impossible to treat and which appears to progress rapidly to AIDS.”

Source: Times of India Sunday, February 13, 2005

Recommended Posts