Earlier this week, doctors at the University of Mississippi center were shocked to find that a baby they treated 18 months prior with aggressive anti-viral drugs, tested negative for HIV.
Initially, the mother of the baby was unaware that she was HIV positive at the time of her pregnancy; therefore doctors had not been treating her baby during the pregnancy to reduce mother to baby HIV transmission. Thirty hours after the baby's birth, doctors administered the antiviral medications and within a month the baby had no detectable signs of HIV. Over time, the mother began missing doctor's appointments and when she return with the 18 month baby, doctors were surprised to find that the virus had not spread.
Such findings bring new hope and optimism to the way we see the future of HIV. This opens new doors and paths for researchers in understanding how to combat the virus. Though this isn't a cure for HIV, it is a stepping stoning towards it. The article, A baby now free of HIV has doctors talking about 'cure', accompanied by the quick NBC newscast, goes into further details about the recent development. Also, the following video sums up the story and simplifies the complexity of these findings.
Doctors Cure Baby of HIV
by DNewsChannel
