The HIV virus, which has probably killed over 30 million people worldwide so far, is not as aggressive as it used to be, say researchers from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium.
The researchers took 24 samples of HIV-1 from two periods, 1986-1989 and 2002-2003. They found that three quarters of the 2002-2003 samples were weaker than those that were around in the late eighties. This means they spread less easily and damage infected people less severely than they used to.
If the virus goes on weakening it may eventually become something a human can host without becoming ill.
You can read about this study in the Journal of the International AIDS Society.
This could be good news for countries like China and India where the number of HIV positive people is growing and could eventually have a very negative impact on economic growth.
The scientists in this study said more research is needed, with a larger more international study.
To quote one email we received this morning : ?It would be ironic if after 20 years of trying to find a vaccine, our salvation were to be offered by the virus itself.’
Written by : Christian Nordqvist
Editor : Medical News Today