HIV has gone rampant in sub Saharan Africa, in fact too rampant to explain epidemiologically, based on the hetero sexual mode of infectivity.
This has thrown some of the scientifically minded physicians into disarray as they try to explain the spread in ways other than what we presently know, even after allowing for condom washing claims of Charlize Theron and African outreach program on CNN this morning.
This has thrown some of the scientifically minded physicians into disarray as they try to explain the spread in ways other than what we presently know, even after allowing for condom washing claims of Charlize Theron and African outreach program on CNN this morning.
HIV is very difficult virus to spread, if you compared it to flu for example. It is present in most body fluids including blood. The virus will survive for only a few minutes if it is exposed to elements outside of the body.
Once in the blood, rectum or vagina, it needs to attach to CD4 receptors on the cell surface before it can cross to the inside of that cell.
It will otherwise be wiped out of the blood by the immune system if doesn’t quickly hide inside the immune cell (lymphocyte) let alone if left outside on the body surface.
If it was swallowed, (even a mouthful of sperms from an HIV positive client) the acid that has been doing just as efficient a job on sperms for millennia would deal with the virus.
With the CD4 cell as cover though, it’s basically lights out for the defense system of the infected person.
Once in the blood, rectum or vagina, it needs to attach to CD4 receptors on the cell surface before it can cross to the inside of that cell.
It will otherwise be wiped out of the blood by the immune system if doesn’t quickly hide inside the immune cell (lymphocyte) let alone if left outside on the body surface.
If it was swallowed, (even a mouthful of sperms from an HIV positive client) the acid that has been doing just as efficient a job on sperms for millennia would deal with the virus.
With the CD4 cell as cover though, it’s basically lights out for the defense system of the infected person.
If you have to compare this to influenza virus in contrast, a sneeze from one child in a class of 100 could infect the rest in one hour.
How then is it possible that such a poorly infective virus can have such an impact as to reverse positive population growth in many parts of the continent?
How is it that we can have as many as 200 aids orphans a school in some instances?
Do we as Africans entertain that much when lights gets switched off that a mediocre virus like HIV can be made such a superstar in viral terms.
Is it possible that the virus that we have is totally different from the original HIV of Californian homosexuals of early 1980?
If it was African to begin with, why did it start Californian?
Is it possible that the virus that is so prevalent in animals including apes where we supposed to accept it mutated from, has gone from such a stable, non fatal species to GDP slowing mammoth it’s grown to be?
How then is it possible that such a poorly infective virus can have such an impact as to reverse positive population growth in many parts of the continent?
How is it that we can have as many as 200 aids orphans a school in some instances?
Do we as Africans entertain that much when lights gets switched off that a mediocre virus like HIV can be made such a superstar in viral terms.
Is it possible that the virus that we have is totally different from the original HIV of Californian homosexuals of early 1980?
If it was African to begin with, why did it start Californian?
Is it possible that the virus that is so prevalent in animals including apes where we supposed to accept it mutated from, has gone from such a stable, non fatal species to GDP slowing mammoth it’s grown to be?
With so many kids affected, how can we hope for any better than 35% of what is expected of an African kid school performance reported recently?
It is upon us the scientifically minded professional few to keep the research burner lit, to find possible gaps in our understanding of HIV so as not to let the rest of the population down.
Charlize or CNN is as relevant to the scientific debate as Mbeki and Zuma is; a drop in the sea.
If we could only use them more positively because of their public influence, they could be an asset rather than a liability status they assumed.
Those who attach blame on the research groups of earlier war fare viral research or vaccine failures help just as little in overcoming this. We need to be empowered with knowledge.
It is upon us the scientifically minded professional few to keep the research burner lit, to find possible gaps in our understanding of HIV so as not to let the rest of the population down.
Charlize or CNN is as relevant to the scientific debate as Mbeki and Zuma is; a drop in the sea.
If we could only use them more positively because of their public influence, they could be an asset rather than a liability status they assumed.
Those who attach blame on the research groups of earlier war fare viral research or vaccine failures help just as little in overcoming this. We need to be empowered with knowledge.
If biochemistry and"> physiology of beauty and health are the elements of every mix, then results are assured
Good for you Charleze. I speak up for many causes. View www.handpaintedportraitsmadisonwi.com
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