Health officials warn of new HIV threat found in King County (Seattle)

The Seattle Times ^ | Feb. 2, 2007 | Warren King

[FairOpinion]

Four men in King County have been diagnosed with a strain of HIV that is extremely hard to treat, and health officials are concerned it could spread further.

At least two types of HIV drugs don't work against the strain, and another type has limited effectiveness, officials from Public Health — Seattle & King County said Thursday.

"It's conceivable there can be more infections, and the gay community is at highest risk," said Dr. Bob Wood, the HIV/AIDS program director for Public Health.

All the men were diagnosed with the strain as soon as they tested positive for the virus — unlike other HIV patients who develop drug resistance over time, often from taking medications inconsistently, Wood said. But there is no evidence the strain is rapidly spreading.

The four known cases were found over the course of more than a year. These were the only such cases reported in the state.

Wood said all of the infected men are gay and have had multiple partners, most anonymous. They also used methamphetamine, which tends to increase sexual activity.

[RetiredArmy]

It strikes again in Sodom on the Sound.

[maryz]

From what I read, the indicia for diagnosing AIDS in Africa are pretty, well, lax. Symptoms such as fever, weight loss, persistent cough, etc. are counted as AIDS without any blood test. Blood tests aren't readily available in large swathes of Africa, but every AIDS diagnosis is worth $$.

[wintertime]

Quarantine sought for harsh TB strain

I am sure they wouldn't possibly consider the same in the case of virulent, untreatable HIV infections.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

HIV and TB are commonly found together.

While HIV does not infect the general public, the threat of antibiotic resistant TB is a deadly threat to ALL of us. Antibiotic resistant TB recently turned up in South Africa.

So,,,image what HIV-TB infected homosexuals are going to do in promiscuous groups? Yes! They will infect each other with TB. Then imaging what the HIV-TB homosexual will do to the rest of us? Yes! Infect the general population with TB.

Antibiotic resistant TB is high fatal.

[wintertime]

Please read post #23.

HIV and antibiotic resistant TB often travel together.

TB infects those in the promiscuous group, and it also infects the rest of us.

Extreme multi-antibiotic resistant TB is highly fatal. ( Please do Google: South Africa extreme MRA TB.)

[Kozak]

TB is not easily spread. It usually requires close long term contact to spread.

[ndt]

"From what I read, the indicia for diagnosing AIDS in Africa are pretty, well, lax."

There have been numerous studies that have tested large swaths of the population. The rate is well confirmed.

[ndt]

I just have to say, the misinformation on this thread is appalling. It is threads like this that cause Conservatives to be legitimately portrayed as willfully ignorant dolts.

[ndt]

"TB is not easily spread. It usually requires close long term contact to spread."

And sometime it only requires walking by the wrong guy one time. The point is that infection happens at a distance, not the case with HIV.

[napscoordinator]

Yes we are because we are Christian and goodness if Jesus forgave the freaks who killed him by putting nails in his body and a crown of throrns on his head, we can certainly at least pray for their sins.

[napscoordinator]

I can understand his thinking. He was raised in another time and probably never faced such a thing. Although his Hollywood days should have given him a clue I guess.

[tillacum]

You don't understand those spreading the disease are special, so they should be treated special./sarc

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[ViLaLuz]

"Children infected per day 1,700 "

I'm very surprised. The way society screams and cries about AIDS, you'd think that number would be higher than then number of children aborted per day.

[BADROTOFINGER]

WA State Ping...JFK