Experts Hopeful Of Beating A.I.D.S. (Press, 27 June 1986)

At the conclusion of a three-day international A.I.D.S. conference in Paris on 26 June 1986, scientists expressed cautious optimism regarding the fight against the disease, although no significant breakthroughs were reported. Dr Robert Gallo, a leading U.S. specialist and pioneer in A.I.D.S. research, highlighted the good understanding that scientists have developed about the virus in a relatively short time, indicating that by the following year, they should be ready to implement effective strategies to combat its spread. Jean-Claude Chermann from France’s Pasteur Institute, which initially identified the A.I.D.S. virus in 1983, echoed the hopeful sentiment, asserting that the possibility of a vaccine hinges on the allocation of substantial resources. Numerous studies presented during the conference investigated potential treatments, focusing on drugs that could impede the virus, known for attacking the immune system and remaining dormant in some individuals. One notable advancement came from a group of French scientists who reported promising outcomes from the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine. Additionally, American researcher Anthony Fauci shared an experimental approach involving bone marrow transplants, antiviral medication, and blood transfusions that successfully revitalised the immune system in one A.I.D.S. patient. However, experts urged moderation in expectations, emphasising the limited scope of Fauci’s findings due to the small patient population involved. The conference highlighted an alarming projection indicating that over 300,000 individuals worldwide could be infected with the virus by 1991, particularly if trends in the United States continued. James Curran, head of the A.I.D.S. task force at the Atlanta Centre for Disease Control, warned that about 270,000 Americans might contract the disease in the next five years, resulting in nearly 180,000 deaths. With the current 25,000 diagnosed cases primarily in the U.S. — where the number has been doubling annually — Curran expressed concern that the global situation could soon mirror that of the U.S., with A.I.D.S. emerging as a major international health crisis. Furthermore, the conference underscored the severe proliferation of A.I.D.S. in Africa, where the World Health Organisation reported that approximately 6 per cent of the population may already be infected, with estimates suggesting up to 50,000 individuals could be affected. Research suggested that the virus's rapid transmission in Africa can largely be attributed to heterosexual contact, contrasting with the predominately homosexual and drug user demographics in Europe and the U.S. In Europe, the rise of A.I.D.S. among intravenous drug users, particularly those sharing needles, was identified as a growing concern. Statistics presented showed a sharp increase in infection rates among these users, with 76 per cent of intravenous drug users in Italy testing positive in 1985 compared to just 6 per cent five years earlier. In Spain, the rate was 48 per cent, while Switzerland's figures had more than doubled to 37 per cent. However, the infection rate among British drug users remained relatively low at 6 per cent. Curran highlighted the effectiveness of enhanced blood screening measures and public information campaigns in American communities to reduce transmission risks.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand