Tue 2 Apr 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The New Zealand AIDS Foundation says it’s too early for talk of an “HIV cure”, after a child born with the virus now has no evidence of it in her blood. The baby was given high doses of three antiretroviral drugs within 30 hours of her birth. Doctors knew the mother was HIV positive and administered the drugs in hopes of controlling the virus. Two years later, there is no evidence of HIV in her blood. Doctors say the Mississippi girl is the first child to be "functionally cured" of HIV. In its latest newsletter the NZAF says while it's an encouraging case, it would be irresponsible to claim the situation is indicative of a cure for HIV. “Although the toddler is showing no detectable levels of HIV, it is yet to be determined, among other things, whether the virus is completely out of her system. There are many medical questions and answers still being sought in this case, which we will be following with close attention. “Until a reliable and consistent cure can be developed for HIV, NZAF will continue its HIV prevention and health services as usual, and continue to promote condoms as the best protection against sexually transmitted HIV.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 2nd April 2013 - 2:06pm