No new virus found in 'HIV-negative' saga
By Wang Qingchu |
May 11, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NO new virus was discovered in a group of patients who believe they have AIDS but are HIV-negative, the Health Ministry said yesterday.
The conclusion, based on tests by domestic and overseas authorities, was consistent with an earlier study by a prominent medical expert who followed 60 volunteers who complained about AIDS-like symptoms, but were HIV-negative, ministry spokesman Deng Haihua told a press conference.
In the earlier study, Zhong Nanshan, respected for his work in China's fight against the SARS virus and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, found two-thirds of the "HIV-negative AIDS patients" were infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBv). Zhong previously examined the urogenital system of the group as they were involved in highly risky behavior like unsafe sex.
Yesterday's study found that over 80 percent of the volunteers had one or several types of infectious agents, the China News Service reported.
The patients all said they had displayed symptoms very similar to AIDS, such as swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous bleeding, joint pain, fatigue, night sweating and weight loss. Although around 55 percent of the volunteers contracted EBv, the virus didn't necessarily cause their symptoms, Deng said.
EBv is a common virus existing in the body of healthy people. Over 90 percent of children aged three to five contract the virus and carry it for their whole life.
Normally the virus won't cause the symptoms these people complained of, the report said, quoting Zeng Yi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who has studied the virus for 50 years.
The so-called "HIV-negative AIDS" group live in fear and suspect they have AIDS despite repeated tests showing negative results.
Medical experts believe all symptoms are in their mind and they are suffering from a psychological phobia of the disease. Such people may have indulged in highly risky behavior, causing them extreme mental pressure, experts said.
From 2009 to 2010, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention tested 59 volunteers from the group and found no evidence of any infection, Deng said earlier.
The conclusion, based on tests by domestic and overseas authorities, was consistent with an earlier study by a prominent medical expert who followed 60 volunteers who complained about AIDS-like symptoms, but were HIV-negative, ministry spokesman Deng Haihua told a press conference.
In the earlier study, Zhong Nanshan, respected for his work in China's fight against the SARS virus and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, found two-thirds of the "HIV-negative AIDS patients" were infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBv). Zhong previously examined the urogenital system of the group as they were involved in highly risky behavior like unsafe sex.
Yesterday's study found that over 80 percent of the volunteers had one or several types of infectious agents, the China News Service reported.
The patients all said they had displayed symptoms very similar to AIDS, such as swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous bleeding, joint pain, fatigue, night sweating and weight loss. Although around 55 percent of the volunteers contracted EBv, the virus didn't necessarily cause their symptoms, Deng said.
EBv is a common virus existing in the body of healthy people. Over 90 percent of children aged three to five contract the virus and carry it for their whole life.
Normally the virus won't cause the symptoms these people complained of, the report said, quoting Zeng Yi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who has studied the virus for 50 years.
The so-called "HIV-negative AIDS" group live in fear and suspect they have AIDS despite repeated tests showing negative results.
Medical experts believe all symptoms are in their mind and they are suffering from a psychological phobia of the disease. Such people may have indulged in highly risky behavior, causing them extreme mental pressure, experts said.
From 2009 to 2010, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention tested 59 volunteers from the group and found no evidence of any infection, Deng said earlier.
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