Researchers found a new variant of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that existed for years in the Netherlands, bringing a more infectious and harmful strain. The newfound virus dubbed the "VB" variant is more deadly than the original HIV and has been around for decades, say the researchers, escaping the watchful eye of those studying it.
New HIV Strain in the Netherlands: What is the 'VB' Variant
An article published last Thursday, February 3, on Science's platform may be a bearer of bad news because it saw a new HIV strain in the Netherlands. The strain is one of the earliest strains in the history of HIV, and the researchers discovered that it has existed in the region for more decades already and only addressed now.
The researchers called this the "VB" variant and are now in the study entitled "A highly virulent variant of HIV-1 circulating in the Netherlands." The study focused on how the region already has the virus and that it is highly virulent, meaning it has more viral loads found on it, most likely to infect and kill the cells it comes to affect.
The study initially saw the VB variant in 17 people before discovering that it existed in 109 subjects.
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HIV VB Variant: Is It Curable, Responds to Treatment?
According to the researchers, the virus variant still responds to treatment and cures, including pills and injections that help the body control its spread. Nevertheless, the virus' spread significantly saw a decline and lower percentage throughout the years.
HIV and the Virus it Brings the World
HIV is not a virus that comes from sexual activity but can be transmitted through the act, and other bodily fluid transfers like saliva and blood transfusions. It is a virus that has plagued the world for a long time, and it brings nothing but depression and sickness to those that infect, having a low to medium chance of recovering from it.
However, there are already pills and shots that help in treating the virus and help in giving a person the chance to fight against it as it runs its course.
Of course, there are other experimental ways of curing the virus, and it is through the CRISPR technology that researchers from China have tried already.
The world is fighting against HIV, and it is not limited to creating a drug or cure against it, but by also having immunization for it. Moreover, most people are campaigning for its knowledge and awareness amongst the public, which is a massive help to eradicate it soon.
Despite the new variant, the researchers believe that they can control this and treat it, meaning that the public should not panic despite its discovery and confirmation. The study is opening up a new focus for HIV research, and it might be so that a cure will be made to address it soon.
Related Article: 2nd HIV Patient Clears of Virus Naturally and Researchers Think Their Biology is Key to Finding a Cure to the Illness
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Written by Isaiah Richard
