The epidemic of AIDS is still getting
stronger despite remedial measures. In a significant development researchers
including an Indian origin scientist have warned that drug-resistant HIV is on
increase in parts of sub-Saharan Africa in the recent decade.
The team that conducted this study on
26,000 untreated HIV-positive people in developing countries, observed that
resistance could build up if people fail to stick therapy and poor monitoring..
The researchers, from the World Health
Organization (WHO) and University College London (UCL) reached at the
conclusion that most rapid increase in drug resistance found in East Africa, at
29 percent per year. In Southern Africa, it was 14 percent per year.
Researchers found no change in
resistance over time in Latin America and in West and Central Africa.
"Without continued and increased
national and international efforts, rising HIV drug resistance could jeopardise
a decade-long trend of decreasing HIV/Aids-related illness and death in low-
and middle-income countries," researchers Dr Silvia Bertagnolio from the
WHO and Dr Ravindra Gupta at UCL have written in the Lancet.
Dr Gupta said the BBC: "Drug
resistance is a consequence of people not taking their medication properly.
"We do expect to see drug
resistance, and it's at around 10 percent in the UK and US. But here, we
monitor people regularly and switch people to different drugs if they develop
resistance," he has been quoted as saying.
Dr Gupta further added that quite
basic measures could help people to stick drug regimes in developing countries.
Facilities like food and clean water should be provided so that they can take
their drugs, and monitoring patients with effectiveness.
As per researchers no changes are needed
in drug regimes, but Dr Gupta told: "This work gives us an early-warning
that things could get worse."
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