NIH News: "Mississippi Baby" Now Has Detectable HIV, Researchers Find

[Firestormm]

This was big news in March but unfortunately for the baby and for medical science the 'cure' has not turned out to be as was first reported:

July 10, 2014


"Mississippi Baby" Now Has Detectable HIV, Researchers Find

The child known as the “Mississippi baby”—an infant seemingly cured of HIV that was reported as a case study of a prolonged remission of HIV infection in The New England Journal of Medicine last fall—now has detectable levels of HIV after more than two years of not taking antiretroviral therapy without evidence of virus, according to the pediatric HIV specialist and researchers involved in the case.

“Certainly, this is a disappointing turn of events for this young child, the medical staff involved in the child’s care, and the HIV/AIDS research community,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “Scientifically, this development reminds us that we still have much more to learn about the intricacies of HIV infection and where the virus hides in the body. The NIH remains committed to moving forward with research on a cure for HIV infection.”...
Read more: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2014/Pages/MississippiBabyHIV.aspx

BBC News:

10 July 2014
HIV re-emerges in 'cured' Mississippi girl

A baby girl in the US born with HIV and believed cured after very early treatment has now been found to still harbour the virus.

Tests last week on the four-year-old child from Mississippi indicate she is no longer in remission, say doctors.

She had appeared free of HIV as recently as March, without receiving treatment for nearly two years.

The news represents a setback for hopes that very early treatment of drugs may reverse permanent infection.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told US media the new results were "obviously disappointing" and had possible implications on an upcoming federal HIV study.

"We're going to take a good hard look at the study and see if it needs any modifications," he said...

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28257768

The BBC and many other news outlets reported this story back in March along similar lines (below) although as you might expect, several were far more sensational in their reporting:

3 March 2014
Analysis: A cure for HIV?

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21653463

 

[barbc56]

I heard this on NPR when driving home last night. The doctor was being interviewed. Fortunately, even though the HIV antibodies have returned it sounds like she is doing well.

Thanks @Firestormm

Barb

ETA I haven't had a chance to read all of the above articles so apologies if I am repeating information.

 

[taniaaust1]

This is a good example I guess too of how viruses can hide out in the body for a long time without showing themselves but always there ready to flare up.