CDC study of Indiana HIV cases shows most are same strain
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A top Indiana health official says a preliminary genetic analysis of HIV samples taken from about half the people infected in the state’s largest HIV outbreak shows nearly all of them have the same strain of the virus.
State epidemiologist Pam Pontones says the genetic analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preliminary but suggests that particular HIV strain was introduced in southeastern Indiana within the past year.
Indiana’s HIV outbreak tied to needle-sharing among intravenous drug users stands at 154 confirmed cases and one preliminary positive.
State health department spokesman Ken Severson says 69 of 72 people whose HIV specimens were analyzed by the CDC have the same strain of the virus.
CDC spokeswoman Donnica Smalls says the agency is working on a final genetic analysis.
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