Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site wivax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!dyer
From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.motss
Subject: Re: AIDS Breakthrough
Message-ID: <19433@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Apr-84 10:18:48 EST
Article-I.D.: wivax.19433
Posted: Tue Apr 24 10:18:48 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 25-Apr-84 01:18:18 EST
References: <232@iwu1c.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 21

The discovery of the HTLV-3 virus (human T-cell leukemia virus, strain 3) 
associated with AIDS patients *IS* a breakthrough, but one which presently
has more promise for public health than for those striken with the disease.

A couple of facts:

1.) It has not yet been shown in vivo that HTLV-3 causes AIDS in experimental
    animals.

2.) It does seem to promise a screening procedure for blood and blood
    products with a year or so.

3.) Once HTLV-3 can be shown to cause AIDS in animals, it should then be
    "easy" to start developing a vaccine (meaning 2-3 years away.)

4.) Nothing mentioned in the reports addresses how to treat patients with
    AIDS.  As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
decvax!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbncca