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Friday, August 7, 2009
Women in Cameroon Found to Have New Gorilla Strain of HIV
A new strain of the virus that causes AIDS has been discovered in a woman from the African nation, Cameroon. This strain differs from the three known strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and appears to be closely related to a form of simian virus recently discovered in wild gorillas, researchers reported in Monday’s edition of the journal Nature Medicine.
One of the researchers, Jean-Christophe Plantier of the University of Rouen, in France, noted that the finding “highlights the continuing need to watch closely for the emergence of new HIV variants, particularly in western-central Africa.”
According to researchers, the most likely explanation for the new HIV virus strain is gorilla-to human transmission. But they added that they cannot rule out the possibility that the new strain started in chimpanzees and moved into gorillas and then humans, or moved directly from chimpanzees to both gorillas and humans.
“Findings like these remind us that primates continue to transmit viruses to humans just as they did before we knew about AIDS,” said Rowena Johnston, Vice President of research for the Foundation for AIDS in New York City. “HIV continues to broadside us from directions we do not necessarily expect.”
The 62-year-old Cameroon woman tested positive for HIV in 2004, shortly after moving to Paris from Cameroon, according to researchers. She lived near Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, but said she had no contact with apes or bush meat, a name often given to meat from wild animals in tropical counties. HIV can be passed through blood as people eat bush meat.
Researchers have yet to determine how wide-spread the new HIV strain is. However, the virus’ rapid replication indicates that it has adapted to human cells.
One of the researchers, Jean-Christophe Plantier of the University of Rouen, in France, noted that the finding “highlights the continuing need to watch closely for the emergence of new HIV variants, particularly in western-central Africa.”
According to researchers, the most likely explanation for the new HIV virus strain is gorilla-to human transmission. But they added that they cannot rule out the possibility that the new strain started in chimpanzees and moved into gorillas and then humans, or moved directly from chimpanzees to both gorillas and humans.
“Findings like these remind us that primates continue to transmit viruses to humans just as they did before we knew about AIDS,” said Rowena Johnston, Vice President of research for the Foundation for AIDS in New York City. “HIV continues to broadside us from directions we do not necessarily expect.”
The 62-year-old Cameroon woman tested positive for HIV in 2004, shortly after moving to Paris from Cameroon, according to researchers. She lived near Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, but said she had no contact with apes or bush meat, a name often given to meat from wild animals in tropical counties. HIV can be passed through blood as people eat bush meat.
Researchers have yet to determine how wide-spread the new HIV strain is. However, the virus’ rapid replication indicates that it has adapted to human cells.
posted by
Chavon Williams
at
12:37 PM
Monday, July 20, 2009
Government Officials May Lift HIV Travel Ban
Foreigners who have HIV may be allowed to travel and immigrate to the United States under a plan proposed by federal health officials that will lift a 22- year-old ban on infected visitors.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are seeking public comment through August 17, 2009 on the proposal, which would remove HIV from the list of diseases that can bar entry to the county and do away with HIV testing as part of medical exams for permanent residence and, in some cases, travel visas.
“We’re trying to end the stigma and the discriminatory practice for a disease that doesn’t warrant exclusion for coming into this country”, said Dr. Martin Cetron, director of the CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. “We have to appreciate this is not a threat we face from abroad.”
While infectious disease experts and AIDS advocates are cheering this proposal on, immigration critics say they are leery of this proposal which could allow an average of 4,275 HIV-infected people into the country annually, with a lifetime medical cost of about $94 million for those admitted during the first year, according to the CDC estimates published in the June issue of the Federal Register. Others are concerned that HIV-positive visitors and immigrants will spread the disease.
As it stands now, HIV is among several diseases that require exclusion, including active tuberculosis, infectious gonorrhea, syphilis and infectious leprosy. Also on the lists are little-known sexually transmitted conditions such as chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum or LGV, and granuloma inguinale. CDC officials said they may consider removing these conditions in the future, but wanted to move first to align health regulations with the new HIV statute.
For additional information see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31910664/ns/health-aids/
Labels: Center for Disease Control, Federal register, HIV/AIDS, immigrants, travel ban
posted by
Chavon Williams
at
7:32 AM
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Medicinal Marijuana Bill passes Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate passed Bill 1381 yesterday which would allow for the legalization of medicinal marijuana. The bill will now go to the House for a vote. In order for the bill to pass the Senate, it needed a yes vote from at least 30 senators. The bill passed with a 30-28 vote.
The bill would allow for marijuana to be prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from painful diseases such as HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn’s disease. Patients would only be able to receive a prescription for cannabis from a doctor with whom they have an established relationship with. Once a patient receives a prescription for marijuana, he/she or the primary caregiver would then be able to grow cannabis in their home or retrieve it from a licensed dispensary.
When asked about their motives for passing the bill, many senators expressed purposes for relieving pain and being compassionate. Many senators disapprove of the bill because of concerns about the lack of background checks in the bill. Senator Dale Righter called the bill “an invitation for trouble” because the bill does not require criminal background checks for patients or their caregivers before they are allowed to grow marijuana in their homes.
The bill is now en route to the Illinois House. It is questionable how far the bill will get in the house. This is only the second time that a bill legalizing marijuana has ever reached a vote in either Illinois chamber. As of now, only 13 states have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana, but many other states have proposals pending.
For more information, see:
The Springfield, Illinois newspaper, State Journal-Register, website:
http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x726816166/Medical-marijuana-bill-clears-Senate
And the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch website:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/2151B842BA9B7B76862575C40007E895?OpenDocument
The bill would allow for marijuana to be prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from painful diseases such as HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn’s disease. Patients would only be able to receive a prescription for cannabis from a doctor with whom they have an established relationship with. Once a patient receives a prescription for marijuana, he/she or the primary caregiver would then be able to grow cannabis in their home or retrieve it from a licensed dispensary.
When asked about their motives for passing the bill, many senators expressed purposes for relieving pain and being compassionate. Many senators disapprove of the bill because of concerns about the lack of background checks in the bill. Senator Dale Righter called the bill “an invitation for trouble” because the bill does not require criminal background checks for patients or their caregivers before they are allowed to grow marijuana in their homes.
The bill is now en route to the Illinois House. It is questionable how far the bill will get in the house. This is only the second time that a bill legalizing marijuana has ever reached a vote in either Illinois chamber. As of now, only 13 states have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana, but many other states have proposals pending.
For more information, see:
The Springfield, Illinois newspaper, State Journal-Register, website:
http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x726816166/Medical-marijuana-bill-clears-Senate
And the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch website:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/2151B842BA9B7B76862575C40007E895?OpenDocument
Labels: cancer, cannabis, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, House, Illinois, marijuana, medicinal marijuana, Senate Judiciary Committee
posted by
Colleen
at
11:18 AM