Dangerous New AIDS Strain Identified

On Saturday, Feb. 12th, New York City Department of Health in New York said they had found a new strain of highly drug-resistant HIV in a city resident. This new strain of the AIDS virus -- named 3-DCR HIV -- was resistant to 19 of the 20 licensed anti-retroviral drugs used to treat HIV.

Also very alarming is that this new strain of HIV quickly transforms into AIDS within months rather than years.

The infected man, gay and in his 40's, tested negative for HIV in May 2003, then tested positive in December (2004), health officials said. Investigators believe he may have contracted the virus in October 2004 when he engaged in unprotected anal sex with multiple partners while using crystal methamphetamine.

Today it is being reported that a version of a drug resistant HIV has also been found in Massachusetts and San Diego. More testing and investigation is needed to see how far the new AIDS virus has spread.

Resistant HIV in Mass. [Newsday, Feb. 14, 2005]
Scientists urge calm over fears of new HIV strain [Guardian, Feb. 14, 2005]
Scientists trying to find source of possible HIV strain [Newsday, Feb. 14, 2005]
AIDS strain's a threat - Mayor Bloomberg [NY Daily News, Feb. 13, 2005]
Drug-resistant HIV strain found [BBC, Feb. 12, 2005]
New York Warns of Fast, Resistant Strain of HIV [Reuters, Feb. 12, 2005]
Vicious new AIDS strain [NY Daily News, Feb. 12, 2005]