AID's is not caused by HIV

204.210.34.199 writes:

I do! I do! The kind that discovered the human imunodeficiency virus, the sort that came up with the transmission modes, the type that discovered AZT, a comparatively inexpensive way to save countless babies from HIV infection, the people who discovered flow cytometry for measuring CD4 lymphocytes, those who developed all the new and highly effective viral inhibitor cocktails... uh... can I stop for now?

I've been following AIDS developments since the disease first appeared, and I remain far from convinced that AIDS is caused solely by infection with the HIV virus - ie, that there are no other factors involved which have yet to be identified.

Could you be more clear and specific? Do you think a chemical is involved? A physical process? Mental attitude> Evil spirits? Past lives? Concurrent infections? WHAT and WHY? Already many host factors which contribute to HIV transmission (such as intercurrent bacterial genital infections) and genetic factors have been clearly identified as affecting both the transmission efficiency AND the virulence of the HIV. Did you mean something else? If so what?

I certainly don't think it's fair to characterise researchers (and others) who do not accept mainstream thinking on AIDS as "woo woos".

We agree- that isn't fair and I didn't do it. I called out one particularly putrid collection of festering bullschitt for ridicule and it deserves it richly.

It's worth bearing in mind that the medical establishment has been wrong about AIDS at almost every turn

Hmmm... must've been psychics who made all the discoveries in this field so far.

... in particular their prediction that it would quickly spread into the heterosexual population.

Well, it wasn't a prediction so much as a concern. And in fact, in Africa, HIV is mainly a heterosexual infection, though the reasons for this are unclear. The lack of clarity is probably due to the difficulty of studying epidemiology in a population which is both highly superstitions and hypocritical "moral". It is very hard to determine what they are doing but poor hygiene, infection with other venereal diseases, widespread practice of unprotected anal intercourse, and lack of consistency in sterilizing needles and other medical equipment, ALL probably play a role.

Go here [original message has link] for a discussion of the various arguments for and against the proposition that AIDS is caused by the HIV virus.

"Here" turns out to be a rather scholarly and extremely kind point by point refutation of a notorious crackpot called Dr. Peter Duesberg and his anti-HIV AIDS causation theories. I would have put it much less courteously.

Take this choice bulldokey morsel for instance:

Duesberg also notes that while over 400,000 thousand AIDS patients have been medically treated between 1983 and 1993, there is "not even one case in the scientific literature of a health care worker who ever contracted presumably infectious AIDS from a patient".

Unfortunately many health workers without any risk factors have indeed sadly contracted HIV from needle-stick injuries and even cuts through surgical gloves. The incidence of infection, when last I looked at those data, was 1:600 needle sticks. Not overwhelming but a significant statistic nonetheless.

In his book "Inventing the AIDS Virus", Duesberg suggests a concept he calls "the first epidemiological law of viral and microbial diseases".21 Although I have not been able to find other references to this law in scientific literature, it's premise is logical: no disease causing agent can discriminate between the sexes.

This is probably the DUMBEST part of the whole segment. OF COURSE viruses discriminate by gender! Excuse me but infecting through a penis, with its long, tight, protected urethra, is MUCH different from infecting a vagina which is more likely to have mucous membrane damage, intercurrent infection with open lesions, and a short, direct urethra. And then there's the issue of different practice! Homosexual MEN practice anal intercourse, a primary pathway for HIV spread because the fragile membrane protecting the rectal mucosa is easily disrupted permitting semen to blood contact.

Oh, the arguments presented in THAT web site are outdated by about ten years. Koch's postulates have all been met for HIV causing AIDS. Other factors may be present but that in no way degrades the relationship between the AIDS syndrome and the HIV virus.

Now... back to the champagne and the noisy people. Sorry no time to proof read-- not this year anyway.

Pierre (hat and noise maker in hand)

pierre