Vaccine Cuts HIV Infection Risk

The vaccine - a combination of two earlier experimental vaccines - was given to 16 000 people in Thailand, in the largest ever such vaccine trial. Photo by BGNES

An experimental HIV vaccine has for the first time cut the risk of infection, researchers say.

The vaccine - a combination of two earlier experimental vaccines - was given to 16 000 people in Thailand, in the largest ever such vaccine trial, the BBC reported.

Researchers found that it reduced by nearly a third the risk of contracting HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS.

It has been hailed as a significant, scientific breakthrough, but a global vaccine is still some way off.

The study was carried out by the US army and the Thai government over seven years on volunteers - all HIV-negative men and women aged between 18 and 30 - in some of Thailand's most badly-affected regions.

Half of the volunteers were given the vaccine, while the other half were given a placebo - and all were given counselling on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Participants were tested for HIV infection every six months for three years.

The results found that the chances of catching HIV were 31.2% less for those who had taken the vaccine - with 74 people who did not get the vaccine infected and 51 of the vaccinated group infected.

Some 33 million people around the world have HIV.

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!