Spread of HIV began decades earlier than once thought, a new study finds
Homeland Security makes it easier for HIV-positive people to visit the U.S.
North Carolina to screen existing and incoming inmates for HIV
Scientists develop nipple shield to prevent HIV transmission during breastfeeding
SurvivorshipAtoZ.org
Spread of HIV began decades earlier than once thought, a new study finds
Researchers at the University of Arizona in Tucson recently found that the strain of HIV that is most prevalent around the globe began spreading in humans in sub-Saharan Africa somewhere between 1884 and 1924, decades earlier than a previous estimate of 1930.
For the study, which is published in the current issue of Nature, researchers used a 1960 sample of preserved, HIV-infected lymph-node tissue from a woman who lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The used the HIV-1 group M genetic sequence, and other HIV-1 genetic sequences, to construct a family tree of the origin of the viral strain. From this, they were able to estimate the time of origin of HIV-1 group M.
Lead researcher Michael Worobey believes that there is a direct correlation between the start of the epidemic and the urbanization of colonial Africa, according to HealthDay news. The spread of HIV may have been instigated by the rapid growth of cities during this period, coupled with associated high-risk behaviors.
“I think the picture that has emerged here, where changes the human population experienced may have opened the door to the spread of HIV, is a good reminder that we can make changes now that could help reverse the epidemic,” said Worobey.
These findings give him hope that the virus will one day become extinct.
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Homeland Security makes it easier for HIV-positive people to visit the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced new rules that will make it easier for HIV-positive visitors to enter the country. With certain requirements, the new regulation gives U.S. consulate offices overseas the authority to grant temporary, non-immigrant visas to people living with HIV who meet all other criteria.
Previously, HIV-positive applicants were required to wait until they received a special waiver from Homeland Security before they could be granted a visa, a process which could take roughly 18 days. The HIV Waiver Final Rule streamlines this process. New visas under this regulation, however, will be “subject to criteria designed to ensure an HIV-positive person’s activities while in the United States do not present a risk to the public health,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in a statement from the Department.
This change comes as a result of the newly reauthorized President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which repealed a law that previously barred people living with HIV/AIDS from entering the U.S.
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North Carolina to screen existing and incoming inmates for HIV
Screening for HIV will become a part of annual physicals for current prisoners in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Corrections, and a part of routine intake for all incoming inmates.
This decision comes as a result of increasing pressure on prison officials from black religious leaders, lawmakers, and public health officials, who have continued to express concern about the risk that released inmates pose to public health. By some reports, prisoners contract HIV at a rate that is seven times greater than the general population.
Previously, in order to receive an HIV test, inmates in North Carolina have had to request it. Beginning in November, tests will be performed on all inmates unless they opt out.
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Scientists develop nipple shield to prevent HIV transmission during breastfeeding
A chemical engineer at Cambridge University has devised a simple nipple shield that prevents HIV transmission from an infected breast-feeding mother to her child.
According to BBC News, the device uses a detergent known as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), which biochemists use to break down proteins for analysis. A fairly non-toxic amount of the chemical can kill HIV almost instantly. A layer of cotton-wool is soaked in the substance, and then added to a cotton shield.
Prototype designs are currently being researched by engineers and field workers who came together at the International Design Development Summit held in the United States.
Stephen Gerrard, the engineer responsible for the nipple shield, states that he was initially concerned about the stigma that women who are identified while using the device might face.
“We’re considering marketing it as a way to deliver medicines or micronutrient supplements to aid breast feeding,” said Gerrard, according to the BBC News. “For example, they can also be used for iron or iodine deficiency.”
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SurvivorshipAtoZ.org
David S. Landay, an activist whose life partner died of HIV complications, has launched a website for people with life-threatening illnesses that includes such uncommon information such as what not to say to insurance agents and how to get them from a “no” to a “yes.”
The comprehensive website was launched on June 11 with an segment on ABC's Good Morning America with cancer survivor and co-host Robin Roberts. (The interview can be viewed on the site’s home page under “In The News”). The non-profit site, with initial funding from Johns Hopkins and the City of New York, provides people with the financial, legal and practical information that answers the questions that come charging after a diagnosis, as well as those which come up 5, 10 or 20 years later, in unprecedented breadth and depth -- including form letters and how to complete government forms. The site also offers a free computer-generated report (including videos) personalized to the user's health, economic, and social situation, and explains why, in spite of standard advice, High Deductible Health Plans are good for people with cancer and other life changing conditions.
According to SurvivorshipAtoZ.org, published reports note that more than 30,000 sites provide medical information. SurvivorshipAtoZ, however, aims to avoid all the time and stress of making mistakes and using trial-and-error by integrating information from a practical, legal, and financial standpoint.
In a community-focused section, user participation is encouraged to provide practical tips, local information, and resources. Message boards are set up by category (insurance, employment, etc.) with specific boards for business owners and for people who are self-employed. Users will be asked to donate to help keep the site advertising free to avoid any potential conflict-of-interest.
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