HIV Outbreak Began Decades Earlier Than Thought

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The most pervasive global strain of HIV began spreading in humans around 1900 in sub-Saharan Africa, a new study claims.

The research, which is published in the current issue of Nature, found that HIV began spreading between 1884 and 1924, around the same time urban centers in west central Africa were established. This estimated time of origin is decades earlier than the previous estimate of 1930.

For the study, researchers analyzed tissue samples and uncovered the second-oldest genetic sequence of HIV-1 group M. They used this and other HIV-1 genetic sequences to construct a family tree of the origin of the viral strain and to estimate the time of origin of HIV-1 group M.

The researchers worked with a 1960 sample of HIV gene fragments from a wax-embedded lymph-node tissue biopsy from a woman in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This 1960 virus is the second-oldest known HIV-1 group M genetic sequence, with the oldest being a 1959 blood sample from a man also from Kinshasa.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081001/hl_hsn/hivoutbreakbegandecadesearlierthanthought

David

[leftofcool]

1. I believe it, they would not have know what to call it then

not enough medical info or technology to figure out wht people were dying who had it

[kestrel91316]

2. People would have died quickly of whatever random opportunistic infection

came along first. So none of the deaths would have looked related.

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[trotsky]

4. This should hopefully further bury the ridiculous idea...

that somehow a batch of polio vaccine caused HIV. Though with all the practice they've had, the twue believers will keep their heads firmly buried in the sand.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. What about the idea that the US government created it to kill black people?

[beam me up scottie]

6. You beat me to it.

Conspiracies are a lot like viruses, the conspiroids will modify and adapt those pesky facts until they actually appear to support their theory.

[trotsky]

7. Oh but of course!

Using the advanced DNA sequencing technology that was available in 1900! How could I be so stupid?!?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. Ronald Reagan travelled back in time

it's twue!!!