HIV VIRUS

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- A new, highly virulent strain of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been discovered in the Netherlands.

Concept-

HIV infection was originated in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) around year 1920 when HIV crossed species from chimpanzees to humans.
In 1959, the first known case of HIV in a human was confirmed in a man who died in Congo.
HIV is a ribonucleic acid virus. Therefore, it is in its nature to mutate.
HIV attacks CD4, a type of White Blood Cell (T cells) in the body’s immune system. T cells are those cells that move around the body detecting anomalies and infections in cells.
After entering body, HIV multiplies itself and destroys CD4 cells, thus severely damaging the human immune system. Once this virus enters the body, it can never be removed.
CD4 count of a person infected with HIV reduces significantly. In a healthy body, CD4 count is between 500- 1600, but in an infected body, it can go as low as 200.
Weak immune system makes a person prone to opportunistic infections and cancer. It becomes difficult for a person infected with this virus to recover from even a minor injury or sickness.
A person infected with HIV is likely to develop symptoms of AIDS over a period of time when his/er immune system is too weak to fight HIV infection. This is the last stage of HIV when the infection is very advanced and if left untreated will lead to death.
By receiving treatment, severe form of HIV can be prevented.
HIV is transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids and breast milk.

HIV-1 and HIV-2: There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2.

HIV-1 is considered the predominant type, representing the vast majority of infections worldwide, while
HIV-2 is far less common and primarily concentrated in the west and central African regions.
While both of these HIV types can lead to AIDS, HIV-2 is much more difficult to transmit and far less virulent than HIV-1.