Is it a HIV supervirus or not? We don't know yet. But deep down in Mr. Ho's laboratory tests are being conducted to see whether or not the new strain of HIV is actually a supervirus or not.
AIDS viruses isolated from two individuals are being studied to determine whether either might be the source of a rare and potentially more aggressive form of HIV detected in a New York City man, an AIDS scientist involved in the studies said Sunday.
Many more tests need to be conducted to determine if the strains from the three people are the same, said the scientist, Dr. David Ho. He directs the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in Manhattan, which is conducting some of the studies in collaboration with the New York City health department. While some findings may be available in a week, others will take longer, Ho said.
But even if the strains prove to be the same, it does not necessarily mean that a supervirus is on the loose because there could be genetic factors in the first man that would make the infection progress faster.
"What we can't prove is that this is a supervirus" and that it caused the rapid progression from infection to AIDS in the New York man, Ho said.
Tests in Ho's laboratory and elsewhere have shown that the strain from the man whose case started the investigation is resistant to 19 of the 20 licensed antiretroviral drugs. AIDS experts said that the strain may have led to the rapid onset of AIDS in the New York man or that his immune defenses may have been weakened by drug use or genetic factors.
Now, we have a potential source (NYC and, perhaps San Diego..see below) of where this virus came from and if it's indeed a supervirus, and if you're familiar with with math there is this progression called "geometric growth," then there will be some nasty progression from here on out. This is when 2 becomes 4 and 4 becomes 8 and then 16 and then 32, 64, 128, 256, and so on, doubling after each new generation. Or it could 3, 9, 27, 81...and so on, tripling with each new generation. This is also called "exponential growth."
If this supervirus is true and that it takes 2 to 3 months for a full blown AIDS, then imagine the devastation. Imagine when the new HIV strain is resistant to 19 of the 20 licensed antiretroviral drugs, you're talking trouble.
The two male contacts in New York, only one of whom is cooperating with the investigation, are among hundreds of men with whom the New York man told health officials he has had sex in recent weeks while using crystal methamphetamine. The man who sparked the investigation is cooperating with city health officials but apparently does not know the names of all his partners.
That partner probably did have sex with the New York man in October, a few weeks before the New York man became ill with what his doctors believe was the acute retroviral syndrome. It occurs in the earliest stages of HIV infection.
"He's a potential source for this man's case," Ho said. "But he may not be."
The second virus is from an unidentified patient in San Diego. It was found by scouring the records of a commercial laboratory, ViroLogic Inc. of South San Francisco, and portions of its genetic makeup closely resemble the molecular pattern of the New York man's virus, Ho said.
Of course, he doesn't know the names of all his partners over the past several months. Who knows whether if this is a supervirus or not. If so then we would have literally, potentially so, thousands already infected or will be infected. If one had sex with 10 other people, and in turn if they each had sex with 10 other people, that's 100 that could be potentially infected. And then they each have sex with 10 other people that's 1000 potential victims. And then up to 10,000 in just a few months time. That's exponential growth. And with diseases, especially the dangerous or virulent ones, when conditions and environments are ideal, then these diseases can rapidly progress. Knowing the power of math realizes the danger of a runaway virus. It's not a pretty sight.
And using a condom might be questionable too if this is a new deadly HIV strain then we don't know if this new virus is a little smaller that can pass through the porous holes of the latex rubber. We don't know what kind of harsh environment it can survive. We don't know what other pathways this virus can take or if it can reside in saliva or not. All you need is one dinky little virus for it to multiply exponentially. Exponential growths is very fast, unlike accumulative growth which is just adding 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12...or 5, 15, 20, 25...100, 200, 300...it grows but it's very, very slow compared to exponential growth with each succeeding new generation.
Now, we have San Diego and NYC to contend with (so far) on this potential HIV Supervirus. Only time will tell if this is indeed a supervirus. Might want to stop your favorite activity for now for the next few months until health officials know for sure. Being prudent has always been a wise choice. Unfortunately, many don't give a hoot. Be very careful I'd say. Be responsible. Be accountable. Be smart.
Meanwhile, here's a good concept, and it could save your health, sanity, and life - Project Reality.
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