Lost Journals

A previously unknown superstrain of HIV was recently diagnosed in New York City stunning researchers and spurring activists to action.

The virus is known technically as a strain of three-class antiretroviral-resistant HIV or 3-DCR HIV. In layman’'s terms, that means the new strain is resistant to three of the four classes of drugs used to treat HIV. A cocktail of drugs from the four classes is needed to keep the virus in check.

Kendall Smith, an HIV researcher at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center, said that because the virus is constantly mutating, a possible superstrain “has been the "dark shadow lurking behind us.”"

Last October, Patient X was involved in multiple episodes with multiple partners of unprotected sex while binging on crystal methamphetamine, during which time doctors believe he was infected. In December, the 40-something man developed flulike symptoms and tested HIV positive. Further tests uncovered the superstrain virus.

Not only is the new strain drug resistant but the time between infection and developing full-blown AIDS appears to be two to three months as opposed to years.

Jay Dobkin, medical director of the AIDS Center at Columbia Presbyterian in New York, said: “"Many of us here remember the dark days before there was any effective treatment for HIV, and I think [this] should at least be a reminder that those days could come back.”"

"Nationally, AIDS cases and HIV infections have remained fairly stable since 1998 at about 10,000 new infections every three months, but that overall stability may mask reported increases in HIV infections among heterosexuals," said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control (CDC).
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"Today’s epidemic is very different from the one we faced a decade ago. The populations at risk, the attitudes about infection and the science of HIV have all changed. And so much our prevention efforts," said Valdiserri.
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"Americans don'’t have the same sense of urgency or crisis which characterized the early years of the epidemic,”" Valdiserri said. "“Some are becoming bored with HIV after 20 years, some are simply tired of the messages and behaviour change. And many didn’t realize they were signing on for a lifetime of condom use.”"

Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, said strategies known to prevent its spread are still "grossly underused." Furthermore, those who use drugs through needles are though to make up the bulk of new infections and are most hurt by failing prevention efforts.

Scientific discoveries in HIV and AIDS also seem to be merely incremental, experts said. New drugs that do the same thing - but slightly better - are emerging, but there’s no vaccine or blockbuster treatment around the corner.

The far greater urgency lies in combating the complacent attitude of young adults who have grown up in an era of improved AIDS treatments and only the occasional funeral. However, HIV infection rates that had stabilized during the 1990s are starting to spike.

In Monday’'s Rocky Mountain News, Colorado'’s Interstate 70 was compared to those roads in Third World countries populated by long-haul truckers, prostitutes and high infection rates known as “AIDS highways.”

In the heart of America, I-70 is populated by sport utility vehicles, ski resorts, recreational/not-for-profit sex and the highest AIDS and HIV rates in rural Colorado.

Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin and Summit Counties are home to major ski resorts, attracting people from around the country and around the world to ride, ski, party and play. Add to this mix, increased methamphetamine usage and you’ve created the ideal conditions for HIV infection.

The liberating nature of crystal methamphetamine means that safe sex is discarded while sexual activity increases exponentially. According to the CDC, in almost half of the new AIDS cases, crystal meth was a factor.

Furthermore, a quarter of those infected along the I-70 corridor are women; whereas, around the rest of the state women represent 16 percent of those infected.

AIDS does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter where you live, sexual preference, or gender. Worldwide three million people died of AIDS last year, that’s 8,200 people a day. 35,000 Americans are infected and don’'t know it. Heterosexual intercourse is the fastest-growing mode of HIV transmission in North America and the dominant mode of HIV transmission worldwide.

Know the facts. Respect your body. Respect life. Complacency will kill you.