Highly Resistant HIV Found in Washington State

The key to stopping HIV and AIDS infection is to prevent infections in the first place. The only way to prevent infection is to practice safe sex and educate others on practicing safe sex.

AIDS is not over! These new mutations are increasingly resistant to treatment and according to the World Health Organization HIV & AIDS will be the number one cause of sickness and disability by 2030!

2030: The bleak future of HIV

AIDS will be the number one cause of sickness and disability in the world by 2030, the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicted in a recent report. HIV-related sickness will disable more than twice as many people as the next-worst chronic illness, depression.

And YES! 2030 is within your lifetime or the lifetime of someone you know and love.

You Can Help!

Support your local AIDS organization, the Spokane AIDS Network. You can support prevention efforts with a donation of any amount or you can have fun with your donation and attend the SAN Oscar Gala.

Highly-resistant HIV found in King County

SEATTLE - The Seattle-King County Health Department says tests have confirmed four men have forms of HIV that are highly resistant to drugs.

One was tested in 2005 and the other three last year, but recently researchers identified a link between all four.

The cluster is a concern to health officials because this HIV is difficult to treat.

From the King County Public Health site:

Four-case cluster of highly-resistant HIV found in King County

“We are still working to learn more about these individuals and the virus they have contracted,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “We are concerned for these individuals and their partners, and are continuing our investigation and heightening our monitoring of HIV drug resistance in our area.”

“It’s likely these infections are related to one another, but we still don’t know how easily the virus is transmitted or how rapidly the condition might progress to AIDS,” said Dr. Bob Wood, HIV/AIDS Program Director for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Men who have sex with men need to know that drug resistant strains can and are being transmitted, and may be much less treatable. If you aren’t practicing safer sex now, use this news as one more reason to reduce your risks.”

This is why all gay men MUST protect themselves! Condoms are cheap!