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Mutated strains of HIV circulating in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan are leading to faster-developing AIDS-related illnesses in the Indigenous population, a new study
After hearing anecdotal evidence from people in Saskatchewan, where HIV rates rank among the highest in North America, scientists from Vancouver's Simon Fraser University decided to investigate.
"Physicians have been saying, 'There's something going on here that is not right, people are getting sick very, very fast,'" Zabrina Brumme, lead author of the study, told the CBC adding, that it was almost as if the virus was "nastier."
The findings, published in the journal AIDS journal, looked closely at Saskatchewan, where HIV rates in 2016 exceeded the national average by tenfold in some places. The researchers badyzed 70 mutations and discovered that more than 98 percent of HIV sequences were collected in the area at least one major immune-resistant mutation. The mutations do not make the virus more transmissible, but instead of influenza, the virus is more likely to be infected.
New HIV strains in Saskatchewan lead to faster progression in Indigenous peoplehttp: //t.co/KZluHmKDR7 pic .twitter.com / F1fCYSQi9e
– CBC NL (@CBCNL) July 27, 2018
The virus disproportionately affects the indigenous population, with about 80 percent of those infected in the province being indigenous. However, the symptoms of HIV strains in Saskatchewan are more likely to be more severe than those of other people, regardless of ethnic background. Previous research in Japan explained to a similar phenomenon by pointing to resistant strains (19659002) "This is not a specific issue of people. This is news that there's a pathogen. Strains are nastier in this location, "she said. However concerning the news may be, HIV treatment is fully active against these strains. Jeffrey Joy, a researcher with the British Columbia Center for Excellence in HIV / AIDS, told The Guardian; "If people get on treatment, they're going to have the same outcome as anyone else," he said. "
The concern about HIV rates in Saskatchewan has long been the result of these conditions. and most of them are getting HIV through injection drug use, "Trevor Stratton of the Canadian Aboriginal Aids Network told the Guardian last year. "1965, 2004" Julio Montaner, Director of the BC Center for Excellence in HIV / Aids, hopes for a cure for action. The epidemic, in which the infection is the most marginalized, "said he said in a statement.
After the release of their findings, the researchers hopefully back to the Canadian province to encourage testing for early detection and treatment
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