South african child treated for hiv at birth now cured nine years after scientists

What an incredible story!

You're referring to the case of a South African baby who was born with HIV and received antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 30 hours of birth. Nine years later, scientists have announced that the child has been cured of HIV.

This remarkable case was published in the journal The Lancet HIV in 2019. The child, known as "The Mississippi Baby" (not to be confused with the famous case of the "Mississippi Baby" who was born with HIV in 2010), was born in 2010 in South Africa.

Here's a brief summary of the case:

• The baby was born to an HIV-positive mother who was not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy.
• The baby was diagnosed with HIV at birth and started receiving ART within 30 hours of birth.
• The child received ART for 18 months, but then stopped taking the medication due to a lack of access to healthcare services.
• Nine years later, in 2019, the child was re-tested for HIV and was found to be HIV-negative.

The scientists who treated the child believe that the early initiation of ART and the prolonged duration of treatment may have contributed to the child's cure. They also suggest that the child's immune system may have been able to clear the virus on its own, a phenomenon known as "spontaneous clearance."

This case has significant implications for the treatment and prevention of HIV in infants. It highlights the importance of early initiation of ART and the need for sustained access to healthcare services for children born to HIV-positive mothers.

The story has also sparked renewed interest in the concept of "HIV remission" or "HIV cure," which refers to the ability of the immune system to control the virus without the need for lifelong antiretroviral therapy. While this case is not a traditional cure, it does suggest that early and effective treatment may be able to induce a state of remission in some individuals.

Overall, this remarkable case is a testament to the power of early intervention and the importance of access to healthcare services for all individuals, regardless of their HIV status.