HIV vaccines in Zambia leaves 46 women infected with the virus
By Andrew Moran.
Jan 14, 2010
After conducting HIV trial vaccines in Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, at least 46 Zambian women have been infected with the deadly virus.
Controversy has risen in the African continent after Microbicides Development Programme trial (MDP), which was testing if the gel PRO2000 would prevent HIV infections, took place between 2005 and 2009 with 9,385 participants and actually infected at least 46 Zambian women with the virus, according to allAfrica.
HIV negative women were recruited but it was revealed that at least between 46 and 50women that participated in the clinical trials became infected with HIV despite taking the PRO2000 gel before sexual intercourse. However, the National Aids Council of Zambia, a government mandated organization that oversees HIV/AIDs programs, did confirm that 50 of the 1,332 women did contract HIV.
The Ministry of Health did not want to comment on the results that occurred because of the consequences of the issue.
Principal Investigator for MDP, Dr. Maureen Chisembele, said, reports Daily Nation, “Some participants did become HIV positive because the study was conducted in the normal environment. Women who became infected during the study were given further counseling and referred to local health services for ART (antiretroviral therapy).”
The former president of Zambia Medical Association, Dr. Macha, stated, “The largest international clinical trial to date into a preventive HIV gel has found no evidence that the vaginal microbicide, PRO2000, reduces the risk of HIV infection in women,” and added that no microbicide has proven to be effective against HIV infections.
"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music"
