Just Another Day

So.......since the first time since 2000, scientists have found a new strain of HIV.

That's a bummer.

As we sit here on the 31st World AIDS Day, it should be noted that current treatments already in existence cover this new strain. The bad news is, identifying the new strain is more complex, making detection harder and treatment, well.........non-existent should the carrier be unable to know it even exists.

Sooo...........that's a setback.

In a way I'm not completely surprised. Who knows how the virus might try to work it's way around barriers such as Truvada.  Since PrEP isn't a cure, it's not necessarily a full deterrent to HIV. I hail the use of PrEP, but it can be a false sense of security - as any infectious disease doc or free clinic will tell you, with the rise of Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea. Viruses have a way of morphing all the time, so it's not impossible for HIV to have done the same.

Of course, my theory is just that. I'm not an epidemiologist.

But 31 years in on World AIDS Day. Add to that another seven years when GRID (then AIDS) was detected in the U.S.  We've come a long way in terms of identification, treatment, education and treating stigma. With or without a new strain, there is still more work to be done - on all those fronts.



Song by: John Mellencamp