More contagious, but easily treatable HIV variant discovered in the Netherlands
The variant has been found in samples from the late 1980s through the 10s. As time progressed, the circulation of VB in the Netherlands decreased. Most infections in our country were identified in the research, but it has now also been used afterwards via lab research in, for example, a number of other European countries.
It is not possible to say with certainty of the variant that is still circulating in the Netherlands. This can only be found with a blood test. But in patients who take HIV suppressants, the virus can no longer be found in the blood.
“So even if you tested everyone regularly now, you wouldn’t be able to find that variant,” Reiss says. He estimates the chance that the variant is still going around is low.
Ten million people
VB by name constitutes one for people who do not have access to proper care from testing facilities. According to Reiss, there are still 10 million people worldwide who must be designed to be HIV.
This is especially dangerous if those people do not know that they carry the virus. They will also become ill more quickly and will be able to transfer the VB variant more quickly to others, who will also become sicker than with the usual HIV variant. But in connection with the new mutation circulating in poorer countries, has not become clear from this research.
To test
The new variant is also a risk for the group of patients in whom HIV inhibitors do not work. This is the case for a small part of the population. “The chance here is therefore not great and in the Netherlands doctors will always look for another way to get the virus,” says Reiss.
There are also people in the Netherlands who have HIV without knowing it. According to Reiss, this group is small, but they too can get AIDS if they don’t get treatment in time. He therefore calls on everyone to be tested for HIV. “We also don’t put our spinning hand around sticking a cotton swab up our nose for a corona self-test.”