HIV Is Weakening, Causing Fewer Cases Of AIDS

A new study of 2,000 women in Africa is showing that the evolution of the HIV virus is weakening it, reducing its ability to cause AIDS. Scientists said that their research suggests a less virulent HIV could be one of several factors that turn the tables in the fight against this deadly pandemic, eventually leading to its demise.

“Overall, we are bringing down the ability of HIV to cause AIDS so quickly,” said Philip Goulder, a professor at Oxford University who led the study. “But it would be overstating it to say HIV has lost its potency. It’s still a virus you don’t want to have.”