A new variant of HIV known as the VB variant has been discovered by scientists in the Netherlands. According to scientists, this variant can be detected by the existing HIV tests. Experts say this newly discovered VB variant is potentially dangerous and has more virulence than the other known variants.
Due to the widespread of medicines, the total global HIV cases has fallen sharply. Although this new variant VB is just as treatable as normal HIV and can be detected using the same tests used for other variants of HIV, scientists are still concerned about the new variant.
Until now, 109 confirmed cases of VB variant have been reported, Among them two living in the Netherlands. So far there are 109 confirmed cases but there can be more who are not aware of it.
According to experts, People with HIV – whether the VB kind or not, if they take regular treatments, can live a normal lifespan. Even viruses remain undetected from their blood and body fluids. Some experts believe that infected people who take proper treatments cannot pass the virus during intercourse even without a condom. Normal people who are not infected with HIV can also take the same drugs to avoid getting infected with the virus.
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This new variant was discovered in a Beehive project and the project aimed to understand the links between disease severity and HIV genetics. The database of HIV sequences was collected from Uganda and other eight countries in Europe. Initially, 16 people were found infected with VB In the Netherlands, one in Belgium and one in Switzerland. On further investigation, more cases of VB were found in the Netherlands.
After studying DNA samples, it was found that this variant arose in the Netherlands in the 1990s. The viral spread was quick in 2000 and then fell from around 2008. At that time immediate treatment was not recommended and the infected people were left untreated.
Without treatment, HIV target more and more immune cells and a specific type called CD4 cells, T-helper cells, or T4 cells. The falling count of these special immune cells reduces the capability of the immune system to destroy the infectious particle and they develop AIDS. People infected with VB proceeded faster to a stage called advanced HIV. when the CD4 count falls below 355 cells per milliliter of blood, which indicates that the variant is more dangerous.
According to scientists, other variants of HIV take around 3 years for the 30s to develop advanced HIV but VB variant takes only 9 months, this again shows that the variant is more virulent. While transferring from person to person this virus does not evolve much which shows that the process is happening more rapidly than usual,” says Wymant. “So they’re more infectious. “The [VB] virus is going from person to person without evolving much, which is indicative that that process is happening faster than usual,” says Wymant. “So they’re more contagious.” Though, The scientific analysis doesn’t reveal why this VB variant is more contagious.
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