Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Infection in the United States
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Public Health Implications
- Thomas R. O'Brien, MD, MPH;
- J. Richard George, PhD;
- Scott D. Holmberg, MD, MPH
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
WITHIN the past year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed two combined human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)/human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for screening donated blood and plasma. The FDA has also mandated that by June 1, 1992, US blood centers must implement testing for antibodies to HIV-2 in addition to testing for antibodies to HIV-1. Implementation of this policy and reports of HIV-2—infected US residents have raised important public health and clinical questions about HIV-2 infection in the United States. This article summarizes current information regarding the epidemiology and diagnosis of HIV-2 infection and discusses public health considerations that arise from the presence of HIV-2 in the United States.
BACKGROUND: WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION, TRANSMISSION, AND NATURAL HISTORY Infection with HIV-2 is endemic in many countries in West Africa, but generally much rarer elsewhere in the world.1,2 The highest prevalence of HIV-2 infection
Footnotes
-
The use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Public Health Service or by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
-
Reprint requests to Centers for Disease Control, Mailstop E45, Atlanta, GA 30333 (Dr O'Brien).
