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Africa: Why More Africans Get HIV
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The Nation (Nairobi)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 17 July 2008
Gatonye Gathura
Nairobi
Scientists may have finally found out why HIV infection is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, than other regions of the world.
American and British scientists say a gene which apparently evolved to protect people from malaria increases their vulnerability to HIV infection by 40 per cent.
Africans have a variation of the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) gene which may interfere with their ability to fight HIV in its early stages. The study says the gene accounts for millions of extra HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa.
Although scientists have always attributed the high incidence of HIV in Africa to differences in sexual behaviour, or that Africans are more promiscuous, they have also suspected that there may be genetic reasons to the phenomenon.
The gene influences the levels of chemicals called chemokines which play a role in the body's defences against viruses, and a variation is held by approximately 90 per cent of Africans.
The origins of the variation are unclear, but it is thought to have evolved in response to malaria by offering protection against that disease.
The research, published on Wednesday in Cell Host & Microbe, was co-authored by Professor Robin Weiss of the UK, who worked with colleagues in the US to analyse data from a 25-year study of thousands of Americans of different ethnic backgrounds.
Discussing the study with Science News Professor Weiss said: "The big message here is that something that protected against malaria in the past is now leaving the host more susceptible to HIV."
Lead author of the study, Professor Sunil K. Ahuja, from the University of Texas Health Science Center, added: "It turns out that having this variation is a double-edged sword. The finding is another valuable piece in the puzzle of HIV-Aids genetics."
HIV affects 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa today, an HIV burden greater than any other region of the world.
Around 90 per cent of people in Africa carry the genetic variation. The authors observe that sexual behaviour and other social factors do not fully explain the large discrepancy in HIV prevalence in populations around the world.
Dr Ade Fakoya, from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, has been quoted by BBC Online saying the findings could explain why some countries had a much higher prevalence of the disease.
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"There has always been this myth that people in sub-Saharan Africa were more likely to get HIV because of differences in their sexual behaviour, or that they are more promiscuous," he said.
I can't believe that in 2008, people actually believe this garbage. There is no unique gene, nor is there any truth about being more promiscuous (nor is there any way to measure it even though it is still accepted in some parts of the continent to have more than one wife at the same time). Africans get AIDS the same way anyone can: unprotected sex with a carrier, infected needles, by birth, or through breast milk.
The main reasons why there is a greater prevalence of Africans with AIDS and/or suffer the most with AIDS is because of poverty, miseducation,... [Read Full Text]
Omnivir kills HIV, Fights AIDS, Protects Immune System and Prolongs Life
Omnivir is a medical device that generates humidified active oxygen in the form of a very energetic oxygen singlet (O) , pure oxygen (O2) and triatomic oxygen (O3, also known as medical ozone). Omnivir is used at home or clinics to care for HIV by reducing viral load, boosting immune and detoxifying the body.
How Active Oxygen works on HIV and Immune System: Active Oxygen deactivates and eventually kills HIV by destroying its protective skin. OzoneÂ’s destructiveness nature on HIV, virus and bacteria is partly attributed to the... [Read Full Text]
Ablie, I find your writing not only narrow minded but also defensive! We in Africa take the most hit from HIV, gonorrhea, siphilis, and herpes because of one reason; Lust For Sex. What is the main reason behind polygamy? certainly it is not to help raise a healthy family neither is it to do with helping to resettle a widow. Check this out---in the West dating a lady simply means taking her out for dinner, a walk,attending church together or even meeting the man's parents. All this with one condition- no sex. But in our beloved Africa, it... [Read Full Text]
"We in Africa take the most hit from HIV, gonorrhea, siphilis, and herpes because of one reason; Lust For Sex." Lust doe NOT impart HIV/AIDS. I suppose you mean the act itself.
Yet, how does the rest of the world get it - spontaneously from the god(s)?
[You are forgetting that the virus is also transmitted in non-sexual ways - like during blood transfusion or child birth.]
Buddy, if you are African, then you suffer from an extreme case of inferiority complex. You have access to the internet. Find out which countries have more people engaging in sex... [Read Full Text]
CHOKOOORA, Sorry, is that the right spelling? I know it is the right sound, hah, hah! what is the meaning in Swahili? I understand why you feel trashed by my message. It is indeed meant for hard-core stubborn,typical fellow African men like you. Original thinking like yours is in fact, the problem. Why are you worried whether I live in the west or east? another typical mind-set approach to your personal problem? North or South, West or East, there are two things known as `Morality and immorality; Lust has obviously something to do with one of them-make your choice... [Read Full Text]
Why HIV infection is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, than other regions of the world ? Because this region received much more ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, than other regions of the world. HIV / AIDS are caused by ultraviolet and its interaction with local radiation. For AIDS treatment, please do it to terminated or eliminated radiation. Sincere yours, Gatot Soedarto.
Dude, seriously you must be the most uneducated person I have ever met. The reason the HIV rate is so high in this area of the world is because of the following reasons: 1. No one gets tested 2. No one has monogomous relationships here. 3. No one uses protection, i.e. condoms 4. Ampent drug use in some ares, people sharing needles for example. 5. High rate of prostitution, and people using prostititues. 6. People are uneducated on what prevents and what causes HIV. 7. Infected mothers pass it to their children when they are conceived and during the pregnancy.
Well it is quite obvious why people get HIV/AIDS. Science has been in this area of expertise since years back. No mumbo jumbo with some tribe Whichcraft is ever gonna change that fact.(Sun rays, ha,ha) But the most frightening thing about this statistical survey was the cost of it all. My Buddah, 400 Million KSh ! Now you know why there is no money for schools or roads or health care. The civil servants are ripping you blind people ! A survey like that would normally cost a tenth of that ! Anywhere in the world. And for WHAT... [Read Full Text]
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