Rob.Carr@asuvax.asu.edu (Rob Carr) (06/16/89)
Great article in today's Science News. It seems they're learning how HIV
mutates in the human body so that it can infect new types of cells, change
virulance, and all around become more lethal. This, in turn, is opening the
way to further ways to slow down or halt HIV progression. Unfortunately, there
wasn't enough in the article for me to make much sense out of how this occurs.
As for HIV infections that don't produce the antibodies, well that opens
another kettle of worms. 1) If you're in a moderate to high risk group, don't
donate blood. Just because you are HIV antibody negative does not mean you
don't carry the virus. 2) Safe sex, even with someone who is HIV antibody
negative, is mandatory. They may still carry the virus. While it is not known
if someone who is antibody negative but has the virus can spread HIV, why take
chances? 3) Sort of makes all the debates over releasing HIV antibody results
to people exposed to blood and body fluids ridiculous, doesn't it? The results
may be wrong....
Finally, let's say they developed a cure for HIV tomorrow. I'm talking magic
here, but who knows. What would this do for safe sex? The conditions that led
to the spread of HIV would still be there. We still have high mobility of
people. We still have cities with their high population densities. We still
have lousy air, food, water, and generally unhealthy lifestyles.
They never found the source for Ebola Viral Hemmorhagic Fever. My bood on
Biohazard Safety lists a bunch of viruses that are known that are far nastier
than HIV. Who knows what else is out there waiting?
If we learn from HIV how to stop all viruses, we may never face such a disaster
again. Then again, there may be no sure cure for all viruses. Do we become
paranoid, isolating ourselves from all human contact? Do we become reckless,
going in for our monthly treatments for syph., gon., and HIV? When, if ever,
can we let our guard down?
Larry Niven said it best, in the story "At the Core."
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* Origin: NorthStar Pitt - Pittsburgh, PA (412-881-1749) (Opus 1:129/81)
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Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!noao!asuvax!stjhmc!129!81!Rob.Carr
Internet: Rob.Carr@f81.n129.z1.fidonet.orgwaters@uunet.UU.NET (Strawberry Jammer) (06/20/89)
In article <24980@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> stjhmc!f81.n129.z1.fidonet.org!Rob.Carr@asuvax.asu.edu (Rob Carr) writes: >They never found the source for Ebola Viral Hemmorhagic Fever. My bood on This is the third time I have seen reference to "Ebola Viral Hemmorhagic Fever" in the sci.med.aids newsgroup. Can someone explain to a non-medical type just what disease this is and what (if any) relationship it has to AIDS? To parse the name I assume that its a virus that causes hemmoraging of some sort, but thats just a guess. -- *Mike Waters AA4MW/7 waters@dover.sps.mot.com * Troubled day for virgins over 16 who are beautiful and wealthy and live in eucalyptus trees.
Russ.Smith@f18.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Russ Smith) (01/27/91)
Is anyone out there interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the
treatment of HIV?
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Internet: Russ.Smith@f18.n382.z1.fidonet.org