New HIV strain in Russia was discovered back in the year 2013. However, it seems the fast-moving virus has made its way to Cuba. An epidemic of HIV has begun in the area. How aggressive is the new HIV strain and what precautions must be done?
Scientists had discovered the new HIV strain in Russia back in Oct. 16, 2013. This discovery was made by scientists and researchers at the Novosibirsk's Koltsovo science city. The HIV subtype had been identified as 02_AG/A. This is the most virulent form of HIV, which has the capacity to spread at a faster rate than HIV subtype A(I).
The new HIV strain in Russia had spread at alarming rates in Siberia. It accounts for the new HIV infections in the Novosibirsk area. Scientists state that "number of HIV-positive people living in the Novosibirsk region has leaped from about 2,000 in 2007 up to 15,000 in 2012."
Now, it looks like the new HIV strain in Russia has managed to make its way to Cuba. An even more aggressive strain has been discovered by a team of researchers. The subtype is a combination of the three subtypes of HIV.
"Here we had a variant of HIV that we found only in the group that was progressing fast," shares Professor Anne-Mieke Vandamme, in a report by RT, Question More, adding,. "Not in the other two groups. We focused in on this variant [and] tried to find out what was different. And we saw it was a recombinant of three different subtypes."
The new HIV strain in Russia and Cuba has affected a number of individuals which has become an epidemic among newly infected individuals. So how can one stop the spread or not be infected? Engaging in unprotected sex increases the risk of acquiring HIV. In addition, blood transfusions with infected syringes also spreads the virus.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
