A new HIV variant, called the VB variant, was initially detected in 17 patients in the Netherlands. This variant, which is defined as being very dangerous, has different characteristics from other strains of HIV.
According to the research carried out, the blood plasma sample of people infected with this variant, show that the quantity of viral molecules was 3.5 to 5.5 more than the others.
The VB variant was initially detected in 17 HIV-positive patients in the Netherlands. This variant, which is defined as being very dangerous, has different characteristics from other strains of HIV.
According to scientists, the VB variant probably appeared in the Netherlands in the 1980s and 90s, and then spread rapidly during the 2000s. However, thanks to antiretroviral treatments, infected people received the necessary care during the year 2010.
Recently, the number of infected people increased from 17 to 109. After extensive research and analysis of these 109 cases, initiated by the Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford, and the BEEHIVE project, it was noted that the VB variant destroys white blood cells in the body twice as fast. The study also indicated that 82% of people infected with the VB variant were primarily men who have sex with men. Moreover, those infected were in the same age range. Other similar factors is their place of birth, ie, in Western Europe, but no information was provided regarding their ethnicity.
It is worth noting that HIV treatment is equally effective against the VB variant and according to research undertaken this variant does not pose a severe threat at present.
HIV: Variant VB detected again in the Netherlands after 22 years
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