AIDS and HIV Worries After News of Possible "Supervirus"
Last week, news that a rare, more virulent strain of HIV was found shocked New Yorkers, especially the gay community. This strain seems to speed the progression from HIV to AIDS more quickly (here's the NIH on AIDS and HIV). The NY Times showed the interesting generational divide between older gay men who have seen their friends die and young gay men, who know that people with HIV can sometimes live long lives with the help of drug cocktails. And today, the Times notes "Gay Users of Internet Play Down Concerns Over New Strain of AIDS," as scientists studying this strain say that though the news is alarming, there is no conclusive evidence - yet - that there is a supervirus; there could be genetic factors in the diagnosed patient that might have caused the virus to spread rapidly.
The Mayor and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are urging people to "avoid drug use, needle sharing and unprotected sex to reduce risk" of transmitting HIV. Here's information about how HIV is and isn't transmitted from the Health Department, and here's a list of free and confidential clinics where you can get tested for HIV and other STDs.
