Revising HIV's history

[Dachshund]

I was going to post this in research, but I didn't want it lost in the um, er, well let's just say I didn't want it lost. It's a fascinating, easy read on how how long HIV has been around. http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/625/1

[John2038]

There are many theories over the HIV Origins

Depending on whom you ask, the origin of HIV lies with monkey hunters in Africa or with a polio vaccine given to people in the Congo in the 1950s.

Others theories includes at least:

- The Contaminated Needle Theory
- The Colonialism Theory
- The Conspiracy Theory

There is also a theory about the mass spreading of HIV - Patient Zero (*)
(*) repudiated four years after the publication of Randy Shilts article by Dr. Darrow

Etc..

[Dachshund]

Thanks for the history lesson of theories John. We're quite familiar with Randy Shilts. For your own history lesson I suggest you read his book And The Band Played On.

[John2038]

No your suggestions thanks.

[BT65]

John, did you even read the article the link provided?  It was very interesting.  Also, I have to agree with Dachsund.  If you're going to talk about Randy Shilts, you really should read his book "And The Band Played On."  I own the movie, and it's one of the best.

[OutOfDarkness]

I think John might think that Daschund was being sarcastic, which caused John to become defensive, as he has had difficult times here in the past.  That's just my view, maybe I am confused.

[Matty the Damned]

 

MtD

[Dachshund]

I think John might think that Daschund was being sarcastic, which caused John to become defensive, as he has had difficult times here in the past.  That's just my view, maybe I am confused.

Yes, yes you are, but thanks ever so much for explaining what I meant. Now that's sarcasm. Dripping with it.

John knew exactly what he was doing and his difficult times are of his own making.

Now if you would like to discuss the article in Science Magazine, I would be more than happy to oblige.

[DanielMark]

"By comparing the two sequences with more recent ones, Gemmel was able to show that HIV-1 first entered humans about 1908, not 1931, as earlier analyses with just the 1959 sample found. Her analysis also indicates that the virus existed in low levels in humans until the middle of the 20th century. "That matches the rise of population centers," Gemmel explained, suggesting that urbanization around that time paved the way for the AIDS epidemic."

Great find, Dachshund. Thanks for posting the link.

Daniel

[Ann]

~wanders down the corridor with her med trolly full of chill pills~

ahem....

[redhotmuslbear]

It's great to see science vindicating indigenous oral histories!  One of my favorite professors as an undergraduate was a researcher on the oral history of East African women, particularly as passed down in brothels and elsewhere among sex workers.  She had asserted in the early 1980s that "slim" was not uncommon in that population by World War II and had appeared during World War I.

[darwin]

Wait... so... according to the latest and greatest.... this year is HIV-1's 100th birthday!  HIV is a centenarian! 

It's an interesting narrative...  to think of HIV, "slim", quietly navigating human societies for much of the 20th century, until the age when cities became more crowded, needles became popular, and weak mucus barriers became widely exposed.