NEW! If you don't understand one of the words in this article,
just double-click it.
A window will open with a definition from CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary. If the double-click feature
doesn't work in your browser, you can enter the word below:
Have news about HIV? Send press releases, news tips and other announcements to news@poz.com.
February 8, 2008
Creative Ways to Curb HIV Infections
Though an effective HIV/AIDS vaccine has not been developed, researchers say that creative uses of HIV drugs may help prevent the spread of the virus, reports the San Francisco Chronicle (sfgate.com, 2/7). The research was presented at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections this week in Boston.
The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), examined couples in Uganda over the course of three years. Researchers found that in serodiscordant couples, if the HIV-positive partner is treated with antiviral drugs, it can reduce his or her chance of infecting the HIV-negative partner by 90 percent.
“Getting an early diagnosis, and getting treatment to drive down viral load, is going to be good for prevention,” said Dr. Rebecca Bunnell, a researcher for the CDC in Kampala, Uganda.
Other CDC studies presented at the conference and mentioned in the Chronicle story showed that HIV drugs can significantly reduce the risk that an HIV-positive mother will infect her baby through breast feeding.
Scroll down to comment on this story.
Please click OK to confirm your comment and confirm you accept our posting rules. Note your message will be reviewed by our staff before going live.
Previous Comments:
comments 1 - 1 (of 1 total)
chris shelton, orlando, 2008-02-12 23:54:09
Is there somewhere that couples could volunteer to be in the exact same studies? I happen to be in the same situation. Poz 17 yrs with a neg partner. Want to help if we can by donating information.
