Omicron originated in an HIV-positive person? Scientists receive death threats

South African scientists who discovered the omicron variant of the coronavirus are investigating the hypothesis that the origin of that strain is related to HIV

Izvor: B92

Tuesday, 21.12.2021.

08:28

Omicron originated in an HIV-positive person? Scientists receive death threats
EPA-EFE/ZOLTAN BALOGH HUNGARY OUT

Omicron originated in an HIV-positive person? Scientists receive death threats

Although this is a hypothesis, their starting point is that mutations in the virus have occurred in people who are HIV positive, since their immunity is "suppressed" by many years of fighting HIV.

Researchers already claim that the COVID-19 virus can survive in an organism that is infected with another virus, in this case HIV, for several months. This is especially true for those people who do not treat HIV.

"Under normal circumstances, the body would get rid of the virus as quickly as possible, if it is fully functional," said Professor Linda Gail Bekker, who heads the "Desmond Tutu" HIV Foundation in Cape Town.

"But if the immune system is suppressed, then we see that the virus survives in that organism. And not only does the virus 'sit' there, it multiplies in that organism, which means a great possibility of new mutations. The more the immunity is suppressed, the longer the virus stays in it, for months, which again means that it just continues to multiply," she pointed out.

South African scientists have "living" evidence for their claims, i.e. patients who have been positive for coronavirus for months and who have contracted HIV. On the other hand, as the investigation into the connection between the omicron variant and HIV leads to new discoveries, there is also a fear of stigmatizing people living with HIV.

The scientists point out that this is not their intention, but that they have investigated the connection between virus mutations in immunosuppressed organisms, stating that the Alpha variant of the virus originated in the body of a person being treated for cancer.

The BBC states that scientists who discovered the Omicron variant have already started receiving death threats on social platforms, especially since Omicron has closed many countries.

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