SANAC: 'New' HIV strain won't affect current regimens in SA
The South African National Aids Council (SANAC) says they do not see any major challenges, on hearing that scientists have discovered a new strain of HIV.
SANAC CEO, Sandile Buthelezi says officials say the new strain has been classified as HIV-1 Group M, subtype L. Group M is the strain of HIV-1 responsible for the global HIV pandemic.
"A new strain has been discovered, but it's not really a new strain. It is a strain that has been in circulation. However, it is only now that we have advanced technology that we are able to pick it up."
"Why we are saying this is because it was picked up in the blood that was collected in the 80s and in the 90s and early 2000 in the blood that has been kept but the technology was not up to that level to find the strain," he said.
Buthelezi says since the new strain forms part of a known major group of HIV groupings, they do not see a major challenge with current HIV regimens currently in use.
"We just want to let the community know that this doesn't have much clinical significance at this stage and we don't think there will be any problem with the current treatment regulars that we have in the country."
"But what is positive for us as a country is that we are happy that our scientists are working day and night to understand the virus more," he said.
