Genetic Characterization of Full-Length HIV Type 1 Genomes From 3 Infected Paid Blood Donors in Henan, China

Abstract

China is facing increased danger of a widespread HIV-1 epidemic in high-risk populations such as injecting drug users (IDUs) and paid blood donors (PBDs) and of further dissemination from these high-risk populations to the general public. The virus has spread to every province and autonomous region and the government estimates about 840000 infections of which only 89067 have been reported. However prevalence and incidence studies are woefully inadequate and the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS projects that there may be as many as 10 million infected people by 2010. Among all high-risk activities linked to HIV-1 transmission IDU appears to play the most important role in the epidemic thus far. Many of these HIV-infected IDUs reside in southwest provinces such as Yunnan Guangxi and Sichuan which is close to the Golden Triangle where 70% of the worlds heroin is produced. HIV-1 infection through illegal blood collection practices and blood transfusions in the central province of Henan constitutes a second important high-risk activity in China and it has recently generated a tremendous amount of media attention. (excerpt)