General News HIV virus is still evolving

Erm... this isn't really new.

One of the reasons a way to stop infection, etc. hasn't been found is because of how fast it evolves.

 

That's also why we get tests done about every year.

 

On another note about a week ago I was talking to a colleague about how many subsidized housing programs are available for people who are HIV pos. I had commented how bad affordable housing was in NY and since that HIV programs were still heavily funded, I could see desperate people infecting themselves with the virus. Sure enough I saw a news segment on cnn saying just that was happening in different areas in the world.

A lot of money started flowing since the mass outbreaks in the 80's, scary to think people may be intentionally putting themselves through this.

 

Given many peoples situations,
And the rise in good care for such viruses(Such as the discovery that people with HIV and on proper care can live to the same life span as a person who is uninfected),
It's sadly not a shock

 

The main risk is that a strain will evolve that is resistant to the anti-retroviral drugs. This particular strain, since it is still treatable by said drugs, isn't a massive problem (except in terms of access to treatment).

 

Viruses aren't really considered "alive." They lack some of the mandatory characteristics necessary to be qualify as "living beings."

 

Well, its a grey area. They still reproduce inside host cells. But no one is denying that they do evolve. Its just not really a new idea that HIV is mutating.