Second HIV patient cured in major AIDS breakthrough

An HIV-positive man in Britain has been cleared of the AIDS virus, making him only the second known adult worldwide to be free of the disease that has killed about 35 million people so far. An Australian medical expert is viewing this as a proof that scientists will one day be able to end AIDS, but says it does not mean a cure for HIV has been found.

An activist paints his hand with AIDS awareness message during a campaign on the eve of World AIDS Day in November 2018 Source: AAP

HIV-positive man in Britain seems to have become the second man to be cleared of AIDS after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.  The so-called "London patient", who wishes to remain anonymous, has been free of the virus for a total of 34-months.  

In 2012, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma - a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.  He underwent aggressive treatment with multiple chemotherapy drugs.  Then as a last option he had a bone marrow transplant.  He was found a donor with the CCR5 gene mutation - a mutation proven to give people a natural resistance to HIV infection.

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