New HIV Strain Discovered
August 4, 2009 by Cherie Burbach
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Researchers have identified a new strain of the HIV virus. This time, the virus first came from gorillas. In the past, the strains have originated with chimpanzees. This discovery confirms that both animals are likely sources of HIV.
The new strain is called RBF 168, and was first found in a woman, aged 62, who had moved to Paris from Cameroon, a nation in Africa. The woman said she did not have contact with apes or bush meat, which would mean she probably got the virus from another human.
Despite this new strain, experts says it’s not likely to cause an increase in the number of AIDS cases each year.
Image: sxc.hu.
