New, Aggressive HIV Strain in Cuba
New, Aggressive HIV Strain in Cuba
Feb. 16, 2015 -- A new, highly-aggressive HIV strain has been identified in some patients in Cuba, according to researchers.
They said untreated infection with the CRF19 strain -- a combination of HIV subtypes A, D and G -- can develop into AIDS within three years, and that progression occurs so quickly that treatment with antiretroviral drugs may come too late, United Press International reported.
People with untreated HIV infection typically develop AIDS within 5 to 10 years.
The CRF19 strain does respond to most antiretroviral drugs, but people with the strain may not realize they have AIDS until it's too late, according to the study in the journal EBioMedicine.
The CRF19 strain of HIV has been detected in Africa, but there have been too few cases of it to be fully studied. The researchers said the strain is more common in Cuba, UPI reported.
They said untreated infection with the CRF19 strain -- a combination of HIV subtypes A, D and G -- can develop into AIDS within three years, and that progression occurs so quickly that treatment with antiretroviral drugs may come too late, United Press International reported.
People with untreated HIV infection typically develop AIDS within 5 to 10 years.
The CRF19 strain does respond to most antiretroviral drugs, but people with the strain may not realize they have AIDS until it's too late, according to the study in the journal EBioMedicine.
The CRF19 strain of HIV has been detected in Africa, but there have been too few cases of it to be fully studied. The researchers said the strain is more common in Cuba, UPI reported.
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