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To: Calpernia
I understand that HIV existed in Leopoldville (of the Belgian Congo, now Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1958. The Belgian government recently tested blood samples (apparently required for residency or some such) from that era and found a couple HIV-positive people. The prevailing theory is that it initially spread from other primates via consumption of infected flesh in the 1930s.

As for Ebola and Marburg, dramatic changes in culture and demographics put people in areas previously uninhabited (deep jungle, for example, fleeing invading armies). Or perhaps some previously harmless virus mutated. It happens all the time. These diseases are (as I understand; I'm not a virologist) members of a group of viruses to which humans lack immunity because so few infect or cause illness in humans.

Perhaps the method of spread of the Asian influenza might be instructive. The Chinese government ordered the use of a human antibiotic in chicken water. Although the antibiotic proved utterly ineffective in birds, it effectively helped people recover from the 1997 Hong Kong flu. Now the virus is immune to the antibiotic.
16 posted on 06/18/2005 8:53:17 PM PDT by dufekin
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To: dufekin

Your post is reminding me of Guandong

They had a documented outbreak of Hiv in 2001.

It actually made our (NJ) papers.

I have a few more links to justify your statement to my thoughts..But I am leary and want more insight before I post.


18 posted on 06/18/2005 8:59:34 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: dufekin

Thanks for posting. I agree.


19 posted on 06/18/2005 9:03:15 PM PDT by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: dufekin

"Now the virus is immune to the antibiotic."

Viruses don't respond to antibiotics in the first place.

Antibiotics, Viruses and Bacteria
Dr Jay Gordon
http://www.drjaygordon.com/faqs/virusbact.htm

Antibiotics and the Common Cold
Are antibiotics appropriate therapy for the common cold?
Emilie Osborn
http://www.drgreene.com/21_562.html

"Antibiotics do not work at all in treating the common cold."

Healthnotes (via the Kroger website)
http://www.kroger.com/hn/Concern/Influenza.htm

"Prescription antiviral medicines available include those taken orally, such as amantadine (Symmetrel®), rimantadine (Flumadine®), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), or with an inhaler such as zanamivir (Relenza®) and ribavirin (Virazole®). Antibiotics are sometimes recommended to prevent secondary bacterial infections 1 2 such as pneumonia.3 Otherwise, antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Although early intervention with antibiotics may effectively prevent pneumonia 4 and reduce costs associated with influenza outbreaks,5 some doctors believe the use of antibiotics to prevent (rather than to treat) bacterial infections is ill-advised6 and should be limited to people who are most at risk of developing a secondary infection, such as the elderly and those with compromised immune function (as in AIDS). This is because overuse of antibiotics may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that are more difficult to treat.7"


26 posted on 06/19/2005 7:06:07 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (FR profiled updated Tuesday, May 10, 2005. Fewer graphics, faster loading.)
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