Did Modern Medicine Spread an Epidemic

Did Modern Medicine Spread an Epidemic?

After decades, and millions of injections, scientists are asking the chilling question

William Carlsen / SF Chronicle 15jan01

Back to Story

Tracing HIV to its Simian Source

The worldwide AIDS epidemic is cause by two distinct viruses, HIV-1 and HIV-2, that experts believe crossed the species barrier to humans from two different species of African monkeys. SIV: Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Researchers first isolate SIV in 1985 after the virus infects and kills asian monkeys in US research labs. It is traced to the Sooty Mangabey monkey, an African species that is immune to the virus but can infect other monkeys. In late 1980's, researchers discover that SIV and HIV are genetically related.

HIV-1: The Global Virus HIV-1 is linked to an SIV found in chimpanzees. Experts believe that the "Group M" strain of the virus came from a single transmission from chimp to human in the early to mid-20th century. Since then the virus spread around the world branching into 11 viral subtypes. Subtype B is commonly found in the US. Group N and Group O strains of HIV-1 came from separate chimp to human transmissions and have resulted in a limited number AIDS cases primarily in Africa.	HIV-2: A Separate Virus HIV-2 is linked to SIV found in sooty mangabeys. Researchers believe that there are two main subtypes from two separate transmissions from mangabeys to humans. The virus is less infective and it takes a longer period before AIDS appears. The epidemic is found primarily in West Africa.

Back to Story

Locating The Origin of HIV

Camp Lindi: In the 1950"s, the Wistar Institute built Camp Lindi in the Congo, where 400 chimpanzees were kept for polio vaccine research. In his book, "The River," Edward Hooper contends that kidneys infected with SIV were removed from the chimpanzees to make the oral vaccine, contaminating it and starting the AIDS epidemic. Wistar categorically denies the allegations.

Needle Influx:
A recent theory by Preston Marx contends that the AIDS epidemic started with the reuse of contaminated needles during disease eradication campaigns in the 1950s in West Central Africa. The needles turned the harmless monkey virus into HIV through a process called serial passage.

Back to Story

If you have come to this page from an outside location click here to get back to mindfully.org

Medifast Coupons