China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Epstein-Barr virus infection and reactive arthritis

[alert]

Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various known illnesses suspected

This article is from Guangzhou, and inidcates the virus found in 33 of the patients is Epstein-Barr, not the genetic condition above (which would also be called EB). Epstein-Barr is spread through casual contact, so the original story would not be completely wrong.

http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=91199968736cf210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=China&s=News

Viruses found but 'negative Aids' ruled out among patients
Mimi Lau in Guangzhou
May 07, 2011

Leading Guangzhou doctor Zhong Nanshan says his researchers found no evidence to support claims that a group of patients suffered from so-called negative Aids.

But he did not entirely concur with government findings that the group was basically healthy apart from psychological issues.

"Our finding is largely consistent with that of the Ministry of Health," Zhong said in Guangzhou yesterday. "We've found these patients were not HIV carriers and that their conditions were exacerbated by psychological factors such as depression."

He headed a team of medical researchers at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College that collected more than 260 samples from 60 patients from March 31 to Tuesday. After clinical observation, they decided to test the patients for six common viruses. Their studies found 80 per cent tested positive for at least one of the six viruses.

Of these 48 patients, 33 tested positive for the Epstein-Barr virus, a form of herpes. The other five viruses were related to high-risk sexual contact. He said 12 patients agreed to sit psychological tests and seven were found to have abnormal conditions.

"We are of the opinion that their conditions could be made worse due to psychological factors," he said. "However, we do not agree that there was nothing wrong with the patients. We have found them carrying viruses that could be contracted via unprotected sex. A large majority of these patients had extramarital sex and their symptoms were triggered or became obvious right after the sex act."

Zhong said he could not conclude they were simply suffering from sexually transmitted diseases. There was also no evidence suggesting there was a new, unknown virus affecting the patients and further studies and tests would be needed before they could confirm a diagnosis.

Zhong urged people to avoid unprotected sex and stop sharing dishes in order to prevent contact with such viruses.

The health ministry began receiving reports about "negative Aids" in June 2009 but could not conduct research because the reports were anonymous. The national Centre for Disease Control and Prevention established contact with a group of people on the internet from September 2009 to January last year and conducted research among 59 volunteers. The patients tested negative for HIV and another virus that can cause fatigue, but the centre's findings were not accepted by the 59 volunteers. The centre sent their blood samples to a laboratory in the United States for testing, which confirmed they had not contracted HIV.

Since then, the ministry ordered Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang , Jiangsu , Hunan and Guangdong to study the problem in February and March, covering 40 people, including 15 who took part in the first round of research.

Results of the blood tests were basically normal, there was no indication of any contagious disease and their immune systems were normal.

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Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various known illnesses suspected

A bit about Epstein-Barr. Sounds right...

The above article indicates that 33 of 60 cases have tested positive for this virus.

I can't help but think that if this diagnosis is correct, everyone is right - the patients win (it's not "all in their head" and is actually treatable), the dissident sources win (a virus was actually spreading in the method indicated by the articles), and the Chinese officials win (it's not novel, it's not AIDS, and it's not deadly).

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm

Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISEASE INFORMATION

Epstein-Barr virus, frequently referred to as EBV, is a member of the herpesvirus family and one of the most common human viruses. The virus occurs worldwide, and most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives. In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. Infants become susceptible to EBV as soon as maternal antibody protection (present at birth) disappears. Many children become infected with EBV, and these infections usually cause no symptoms or are indistinguishable from the other mild, brief illnesses of childhood. In the United States and in other developed countries, many persons are not infected with EBV in their childhood years. When infection with EBV occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes infectious mononucleosis 35% to 50% of the time.

Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis are fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. Sometimes, a swollen spleen or liver involvement may develop. Heart problems or involvement of the central nervous system occurs only rarely, and infectious mononucleosis is almost never fatal. There are no known associations between active EBV infection and problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages or birth defects. Although the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis usually resolve in 1 or 2 months, EBV remains dormant or latent in a few cells in the throat and blood for the rest of the person's life. Periodically, the virus can reactivate and is commonly found in the saliva of infected persons. This reactivation usually occurs without symptoms of illness.

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Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various known illnesses suspected including Epstein-Barr virus

33 out of 60 is 55%, so this confirms the finding above.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-05/10/c_13867976.htm

No new virus found in China 'HIV-Negative AIDS' group: ministry

English.news.cn 2011-05-10 17:24:55 FeedbackPrintRSS

BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhua) - A spokesman with China's Ministry of Health (MOH) said Tuesday that no new or unknown viruses has been found so far in the country's self-proclaimed "HIV-Negative AIDS" group, and the cause of their AIDS-like symptoms had yet to be determined.

The statement, according to ministry spokesman Deng Haihua, was based on tests by domestic and overseas authoritative facilities.

The "HIV-Negative AIDS patients" said they had displayed symptoms very similar with AIDS, such as swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous bleeding, joint pain, fatigue, night sweating and loss of weight.

They termed it "HIV-Negative AIDS," thinking they might have been suffering from a mutation of the AIDS virus, or a new unknown virus.

On Tuesday, Deng, citing the latest test on 60 such "patients," said no evidence suggested they were suffering from an infectious disease.

The new tests, conducted by a team led by Zhong Nanshan, a renowned medical expert, showed that these people had not been infected with the HIV virus.

The MOH first received reports of "HIV-Negative AIDS" in June 2009.

However, Zhong's tests found the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a very common virus of the herpes virus family, in 55 percent of the patients, according to Deng.

"Further research needs to be conducted in order to determine whether the EBV is the cause of the group's symptoms," Deng said.

While some medical experts believe that the "patients" might suffer from some kind of psychological AIDS phobia, others said the possibility of finding a new virus in the future could not be ruled out.

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Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various known illnesses suspected including Epstein-Barr virus

This is a week ago, and presumably refers to the study that has now been released.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7370154.html

Expert: AIDS-like disease is not just phobia
08:20, May 05, 2011

An outspoken health expert, known for exposing the SARS cover-up in 2003, claims a mysterious infectious condition dubbed "negative AIDS" is more than a mental health problem, citing an independent study he led.

Zhong Nanshan told the Guangzhou-based New Express Daily: "The condition was not simply caused by mental problems," adding more information will be publicized soon at a coming seminar.

He also revealed that most of the alleged sufferers involved in his study suffered reactive arthritis.

His remarks appear to contradict the findings of a government investigation led by the Ministry of Health.

In mid April, the ministry dismissed media reports on the existence of the so called "negative AIDS" virus citing results from their probe.

Wu Zunyou, an AIDS expert with Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said no new virus have been found among the alleged sufferers and they were most likely just suffering from a mental health problem called AIDS phobia.

Starting in 2009, media reports stated that sufferers display AIDS-like symptoms, including swollen lymph glands and bleeding under the skin, but repeatedly test negative for HIV.

In response, Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, held the country's first government-initiated study of the issue, which involved experts in infectious diseases and mental health professionals.

A total of 59 sufferers were interviewed and examined, the report said.

Many of the people with the condition were engaging in high-risk behavior and had a strong fear of contracting AIDS/HIV, according to Zeng.

"The conclusion was reached that there was no such thing as a new AIDS-like virus or so-called negative AIDS," he said.

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Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various known illnesses suspected including Epstein-Barr virus

Putting the pieces together (reactive arthritis in the above article with the knee and eye symptoms above) suggests that the cases positive for Chlamydia (12 out of 60) and Gonorrhea (7 out fof 60) may have this condition that explains their symptoms very well. This also explains the puzzling references to knee and eye problems, and the bleeding under the skin. While this is caused by infectious disease, it is not actually contagious.

IMO, we seem to quickly be moving towards the truth now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_arthritis

Reactive arthritis

Diagnosis revealed that the rash on the bottom of this individual’s feet, known as keratoderma blennorrhagica, was due to Reiter's syndrome.
ICD-10 M02.
ICD-9 099.3
DiseasesDB 29524
eMedicine med/1998
MeSH C01.539.100.500

Reactive arthritis (Reiter's Syndrome or Reiter's arthritis), is classified as an autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection in another part of the body. Coming into contact with bacteria and developing an infection can trigger the disease.[1] It has symptoms similar to various other conditions collectively known as "arthritis". By the time the patient presents with symptoms, often time the "trigger" infection has been cured or is in remission in chronic cases, thus making determination of the initial cause difficult.

Reactive arthritis has also been known as Reiter's Syndrome, arthritis urethritica, venereal arthritis and polyarteritis enterica. It is a type of seronegative spondyloarthropathy. The original name "Reiter’s syndrome", named after the German physician Hans Conrad Julius Reiter for his contributions to identification and description of the disease, has become unpopular in the past decade as Reiter's history of Nazi party membership, allegations of experimentation in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and prosecution in Nuremburg as a war criminal, have come to light.[2]

The manifestations of Reactive arthritis include the following triad of symptoms: an inflammatory arthritis of large joints including commonly the knee and the back (due to involvement of the sacroiliac joint), inflammation of the eyes in the form of (conjunctivitis or uveitis), and urethritis in men or cervicitis in women. Patients can also present with mucocutaneous lesions, as well as psoriasis-like skin lesions such as circinate balanitis, and keratoderma blennorrhagica. Enthesitis can involve the Achilles tendon resulting in heel pain.[3] Not all affected persons have all the manifestations, and the formal definition of the disease is the occurrence of otherwise unexplained non-infectious inflammatory arthritis combined with urethritis in men, or cervicitis in women.

Reactive arthritis is an RF-seronegative, HLA-B27-linked spondyloarthropathy[4] (autoimmune damage to the cartilages of joints) often precipitated by genitourinary or gastrointestinal infections. The most common triggers are sexually transmitted Chlamydial infections and perhaps, less commonly, Neisseria gonorrhea; and Salmonella, Shigella, or Campylobacter intestinal infections.

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Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various causes suspected including Epstein-Barr virus and reactive arthritis

It is increasingly looking like the reactive arthritis is the main cause of this "outbreak"...

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=471213&type=National

RSS | MMS Newspaper | Newsletter National

No new virus found in 'HIV-negative' saga
By Wang Qingchu | 2011-5-11 | NEWSPAPER EDITION

The story appears on Page A7
May 11, 2011

NO new virus was discovered in a group of patients who believe they have AIDS but are HIV-negative, the Health Ministry said yesterday.

The conclusion, based on tests by domestic and overseas authorities, was consistent with an earlier study by a prominent medical expert who followed 60 volunteers who complained about AIDS-like symptoms, but were HIV-negative, ministry spokesman Deng Haihua told a press conference.

In the earlier study, Zhong Nanshan, respected for his work in China's fight against the SARS virus and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, found two-thirds of the "HIV-negative AIDS patients" were infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBv). Zhong previously examined the urogenital system of the group as they were involved in highly risky behavior like unsafe sex.

Yesterday's study found that over 80 percent of the volunteers had one or several types of infectious agents, the China News Service reported.

The patients all said they had displayed symptoms very similar to AIDS, such as swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous bleeding, joint pain, fatigue, night sweating and weight loss. Although around 55 percent of the volunteers contracted EBv, the virus didn't necessarily cause their symptoms, Deng said.

EBv is a common virus existing in the body of healthy people. Over 90 percent of children aged three to five contract the virus and carry it for their whole life.

Normally the virus won't cause the symptoms these people complained of, the report said, quoting Zeng Yi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who has studied the virus for 50 years.

The so-called "HIV-negative AIDS" group live in fear and suspect they have AIDS despite repeated tests showing negative results.

Medical experts believe all symptoms are in their mind and they are suffering from a psychological phobia of the disease. Such people may have indulged in highly risky behavior, causing them extreme mental pressure, experts said.

From 2009 to 2010, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention tested 59 volunteers from the group and found no evidence of any infection, Deng said earlier.

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Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various causes suspected including Epstein-Barr virus and reactive arthritis

This is a huge find. Lots of information here, including the fact that the doctor in Guangdong with a low CD4 count who claimed to have been infected by a patient was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr and has fully recovered.

Zhong Nanshan is known to many as a hero for his work during the SARS outbreak, but this might be his finest work, IMO.

http://www.zyynb.com/admin/Article_Show.asp?ArticleID=9142

EB virus can be transmitted kissing known as "kissing disease"

时间:2011-05-09 10:13:00 Time :2011-05-09 10:13:00


The afternoon of May 6, Zhong Nanshan, China Academy of Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College (hereinafter referred to as Canton Medical a hospital) Conference Room news conference to announce his research team on 60 cases of "suspected AIDS" the latest research results. He said, "negative AIDS" is without basis, half of the patients with mental disorders, of which 80% of people found one or more pathogens, but the disease is known, can be symptomatic treatment.

Zhong Nanshan, urged the public not to discriminate against these people, and recommended to avoid high-risk sexual behavior, greater use of chopsticks, because the human body in such a variety of viruses detected, can be transmitted through sexual contact and saliva.

48 people have extramarital sex

Zhong Nanshan, as early as the beginning of this year, he received many calls and SMS patients, claimed that they suspected infection "negative AIDS", caused the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College's attention. In the health administrative departments with the support of a set up by Guangzhou Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease virus chambers of special study groups.

Study Group on March 31 this year to May 3 between voluntary testing for a total of 60 officers carried out a systematic clinical observation and pathogen detection, and some relief for the poor people of the testing costs. In these 60 people, 50 people suspected of HIV infection who readme, and another 10 people claiming to be infected family members. This 50 "patients" average 34.2 years old, from 16 provinces, of which 42 males, 8 females, 50 out of 48 person had had extramarital sex.

Common symptoms of their readme fever, rash, skin insect bites flu, skin desquamation, dizziness, headache, tongue long hair, joint swelling, joint ring, etc., history of from 3 months to 10 years, had acute attack, claiming to have contact, communication between the family and colleagues.

Jiangsu experts: commonly known is the "kissing disease"

Zhong Nanshan said "EB" virus, say the words, "an expert in the European population has been called the kissing disease." Ask the Experts reporter that, in fact, "kissing disease" is a common disease. But experts in the mouth of the common diseases, we are not familiar with, and EB virus is even more strange.

What is the "kissing disease"?

Just a gimmick to say

Baidu Encyclopedia of the argument is, "kissing disease" (KissingDisease) is caused by the EB virus infectious disease of acute self-limited, mainly because of close contact such as kissing, sharing food or transmitted by coughing, is common in young people.

Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital ENT compete with director, told reporters that kissing can actually spread disease. If one has a virus kissing, and weak resistance to the other party, then there would have been "kissing disease", causing mouth sores, throat inflammation.

"But as 'kissing disease' can only be considered a little gimmick to say, this world is not exactly a disease called 'kissing disease'." Compete with director, said all transmitted through the saliva of oral diseases can be called the "kissing disease." Through the mouth, saliva has a lot to spread the virus, EB virus is just one of them, hepatitis B virus, Helicobacter pylori, also can be spread through saliva.

What is the kissing disease symptoms?

Do with AIDS, fear of AIDS like disease

"Kissing disease" symptoms are sore throat, fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, such as physical fatigue, disease severity heavier than cold. Fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, fatigue, swollen lymph glands, usually located in the neck, armpit or groin, spleen enlargement, liver enlargement, jaundice, yellow skin, headache, general body pain. The early symptoms of acute HIV infection with symptoms exactly like the period. Caused by psychological factors, and also the "fear of AIDS disease" like symptoms.

These symptoms all point to one fact: low immunity. Kissing disease prevalence is high, it was introduced more than 90% of people have been infected with the disease, but the real incidence of people who did less, because the disease is self-healing.

What is the EB virus?

Closely related with mucosal disease

As strange EB virus, compete with director said, EB virus is a herpes virus, "very" common. Understanding of medical terms from the current, EB virus and associated with mucosal lesions are linked. Such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and the ED is closely related to the malignant virus. However, ED is still unable to prove that the virus is the only cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In addition to NPC, some gynecological mucosal lesions such as cervicitis, but also closely related with the EB virus. But that does not mean to carry EB virus will be infected.

How common is EB virus in the end?

Our 9-year-olds into a positive 3-5

Nanjing Children's Hospital experts told reporters, EB virus is widespread in the population, according to serological survey of children aged 3 to 5 EB virus vca-lgg antibody positive rate was 90%. But most children had no symptoms of infection, may show mild pharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infection, usually as a cold treatment, but the disease is self-limited disease, without complications, usually 1-2 weeks to will be recovered. However, hospital admissions have also been "body-type EB virus infection" cases, a 12-year-old boy fever 12 days, was as cold treatment. After a CT examination, the child's body found in multiple organ damage. This is a special case, analysis may be related to the child's own immune system defects.

Why do children infections?

Kiss a child because the parents like

As the name implies, "kissing disease" to infection through kissing, young people should be the most vulnerable people, and Asians than Europeans and Americans more open, and the "kissing disease" a higher incidence. ED caused by the virus in fact the "kissing disease" view, children are also susceptible EB virus. Why? Because many adults like to hold the baby and pro and.

How to prevent "kissing disease"?

Put chopsticks on the table, kiss Do not be frequent

When the oral damage when infected with EB virus, so prevention "kissing disease", we should pay attention to their oral condition. "Because the Chinese people in Europe and America on oral health is not as much attention, so the Chinese people's oral problems may be more common. Compete with Director said that when the bleeding when brushing your teeth, gums, mucosa damage means, we should note that this time, kissing Do not be too frequent. Also note that public food hygiene. "Chinese people are often a large table in a bowl Jian dish, this habit is very bad. Chopsticks or necessary. ? "

33 were found with the EB virus

In more than a month, these personnel receive a comprehensive physical examination. Thematic research group focusing on white blood cells of these officers, plasma, prostatic fluid, vaginal discharge, saliva, paraurethral glands, such as 7 types of urethral swab samples were a total of 258 DNA fluorescent PCR, these tests for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT ), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), EB virus, chronic infection may be formed of 6 or latent infection of pathogens.

After testing, access to the following preliminary results:

First, 60 people have been tested, HIV antibody screening test and white blood cells

Detection of HIV nucleic acid fluorescent PCR were negative.

Second, 60 people have been detected, the total number detected in 48 patients with positive pathogens, accounting for 80%. In this 48-positive pathogens in infected, EB virus-positive were detected in 33, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) detected a total of 12 were positive for Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) were detected positive for a total of 9 people, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) were detected positive for a total of 7, cytomegalovirus (CMV) detected a total of 8 positive, herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 showed positive. Of which 16 were detected in more than 1 pathogen.

Why these subjects who infected more than a number of pathogens? Yesterday afternoon at the "readme suspected diagnosis of HIV infection among Conference", the experts have different views, some people think they are in sexual contact or other close contacts are also infected with a variety of pathogens, but also with a view of their infection with an pathogens after decreased immunity, so as other pathogens are susceptible.

Subjects psychological stress

Zhong Nanshan said, can be seen from these data, they have certainly not AIDS, "HIV negative" argument has no basis, he also not in favor of such a formulation. However, these subjects do have the disease and have formed their problems. These diseases are not only unknown viral infection, but caused by known pathogens. According to test results, Canton Hospital of Infectious Diseases, part of a hospital personnel were targeted therapy, the symptoms have been alleviated, the public no cause for alarm.

Interestingly, there are 12 people accepted the psychological test, the exception of 7 cases, including suspected disease in 5 cases, one case of anxiety, mild depression in 1. Zhong Nanshan said that the psychological pressure of this group is very large, some people are very afraid. In the first meeting, how some people are afraid to shake hands with him. Where there is a young man to burst into tears at the sight of Zhong Nanshan, said his family is full of guilt, that their dirty sex incriminate his own family.

Zhong Nanshan said that the patients themselves are very painful psychological, medical staff should patiently explain to eliminate the panic, the public not to discriminate against. As to whether these people are "fear of AIDS disease," Zhong Nanshan responded that the reference to foreign countries do have such, but the symptoms of these patients is not caused solely by psychological factors, but there are specific pathogens. These pathogens can be subjected to sexual contact or close contact with infected leukocytes can be in chronic or latent in the presence and impact on human immune function related to form part of the staff to review complaints symptoms, such as reactive arthritis or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhong Nanshan said that as the cases are mostly young adults, and there are mostly high-risk sexual behavior prior to the onset, some people describe the symptoms more and pathogen infection, but also did not receive timely, relevant standard treatment, which also suggest that we should try to avoid high-risk sexual behavior , good protection, problems in a timely manner to the formal medical institutions, specialized institutions for treatment. Sexually transmitted diseases are preventable and curable, no need to back the heavy psychological burden.


EB virus can be transmitted kissing

According to reports, the positive detection of pathogens in hospitals are more than 2 / 3 EB virus infection, and a number of family members, while positive, which EB virus infection is often high-fat characteristics. EB virus is no stranger to readers of Guangdong, which is considered closely related to the pathogenesis of NPC, in fact, the virus can also cause infectious mononucleosis syndrome, the disease commonly known as "kissing disease" refers to the EB virus through intimate contact such as kissing, sharing food or cough infection, and cause some symptoms similar to the common cold. EB virus infection is most acute, but individual cases can become chronic, the clinical manifestations were fever, lymph nodes and other symptoms.

Zhong Nanshan suggested that the public in the family dining out and have to use chopsticks when eating, to avoid cross infection.

Zhong Nanshan team dialogue

Unknown virus not found

Q: Why focus on detection of the 6-related pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases?

A: The main description from the patient's symptoms, suggesting that they should be chronic, sexually transmitted pathogens, in particular, their symptoms and the "reactive arthritis" is similar to the disease often associated with pathogen infection.

Q: In the past many countries, why not check out the detection of these diseases?

A: First, because the starting point is different from the previously mentioned fear of AIDS patients are mostly "negative AIDS", so the focus is AIDS-related testing; Second, means testing and sampling methods are also different, mainly blood samples detected previously, this sub-sampling, including saliva, genital secretions.

Q: Can you say that they have a STD?

A: You can not be said to be sexually transmitted diseases, first of all these viruses are spread through sexual contact may be, but not the only way to sexual contact; other detection method is the use of nucleic acid fluorescent PCR, this is not a routine test, and some pathogens white blood cells in the subjects to check out, not the genital tract, do not meet health standards for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases.

Q: They are not infected with unknown virus might be?

A: As far as we know, the United States to find a lot of "primer" are not transferred out of the unknown virus. We are the body from these subjects detected EB virus, and domestic strains of the virus highly homologous, it is not a new virus.

Q: our country have the ability to detect unknown viruses?

A: Our country is the ability to detect, if the concentration of these subjects is a local outbreak, such as SARS have detected the value of these subjects are distributed, there is no need for testing.

Experts say

Will continue to be transmitted

For such test results, subjects are able to accept? Medical conference in a hospital wide infection in liver disease research director Dr Tseng Wen-ting, said he left his own QQ subjects, most people agree that the pathogen was detected, but a few people still worry about actually infected with an unknown virus, leading to decreased immunity, which in turn contracted the virus, few people believe it does not solve their problems.

In the conference site, a number of subjects also came to the scene. Q & A session in the media, a man wearing a blue striped shirt emotional, said Zhong Nanshan, Academician on behalf of the patient to ask questions, "Do we have are not infectious." State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease researcher Zhou Rong said, these subjects are indeed infected by dirty sex, but when they have now become chronic later, to be studied whether there are infectious.

Another interview subjects when asked, for the academician Zhong Nanshan results are satisfactory. The subjects said, "We can not say satisfaction, Zhong Nanshan, Academician of only gratitude. Helpless in our situation around, he offered for us to test. But if we do not recognize the Ministry of Health patients ill, we may continue to petition on. "

[alert]

Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Various causes suspected including Epstein-Barr virus and reactive arthritis

Oh, no. This is only going to add to the confusion.

This illness is NOT a phobia of AIDS (at least in the sense used in this thread). ProMED has unfortunately put an incorrect title on this post. It is infection with Epstein-Barr virus and reactive arthritis due to chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other sexually transmitted infections.

I think we need a correction out of ProMED; it was the errant labelling of this illness as AIDS phobia that produced a two-year investigation.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/apex/f?p=2400:1001:2190766223387266::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,90448

Archive Number 20110927.2927
Published Date 27-SEP-2011
Subject PRO> Undiagnosed debilitating illness - China (03): AIDS phobia

UNDIAGNOSED DEBILITATING ILLNESS - CHINA (03): ACQUIRED
IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME PHOBIA
************************************************** **************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[1]
Date: Sat 7 May 2011
Source: China Daily [edited]
<http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-05/07/content_22514610.htm>


Studies solve mystery of 'HIV-negative AIDS'
--------------------------------------------
The 60 people who had claimed they were suffering from a mysterious
infectious condition dubbed "HIV-negative AIDS" [human
immunodeficiency virus-negative acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]
have been cleared of the disease, but 48 of them tested positive for
several types of pathogens.

The research was done by a team of the No 1 Affiliated Hospital of the
Guangzhou Medical University and the State Key Laboratory of
Respiratory Disease, between 31 Mar and 3 May 2011. 60 patients,
including 52 males, whose average age was 34.2 and who came from 16
provinces and municipalities, were examined, said Zhong Nanshan,
director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, who
directed the research.

The sufferers had shown symptoms for periods ranging from 3 months to
10 years. Among the 48 who tested positive for pathogens, 33 tested
positive for epidermolysis bullosa, 12 positive for _Chlamydia
trachomatis_ (CT), 9 for _Ureaplasma urealyticum_ (UU), 7 for
_Neisseria gonorrhoeae_ (NG), 8 for cytomegalovirus [infection] and
one for herpes simplex virus [infection]. 16 tested positive for more
than one of those pathogens, which are mostly related to sexually
transmitted diseases.

In the 24 examined for knee diseases, 10 showed abnormalities in their
knees, and in the 38 examined for eye diseases, 20 were diagnosed with
conventional eye diseases. 12 underwent psychological tests and 7 were
found abnormal.

Since 2009, media reports have stated that sufferers had displayed
symptoms very similar to AIDS, such as swollen lymph nodes,
subcutaneous bleeding, joint pain, fatigue, night sweats, and
emaciation. The Ministry of Health stated in April [2011] that there
was no evidence that those people were infected by the AIDS virus.

Wu Zunyou, an AIDS expert with the Chinese Center for Disease Control
and Prevention, said no new viruses had been found among the alleged
sufferers and they were most likely just suffering from a mental
health problem often called AIDS phobia.

There is no fundamental difference between results of the research led
by Zhong Nanshan and that by the Ministry of Health, said Hao Yang,
deputy director of the bureau of disease prevention and control at the
ministry, on Friday [6 May 2011]. Zhong Nanshan said his team agreed
with the ministry on the conclusions based on its research. Many of
the people involved in Zhong's research had indulged in highly risky
sexual behavior before showing the symptoms. Most of the pathogens
were not detected with routine tests but with the more advanced
fluorescent PCR tests, Zhong said. Some sufferers had not received
sufficient treatment before the research. With the number of AIDS
cases increasing in China, the phobia over the disease has heightened,
which has frustrated clinical treatments, Zhong said.

A patient in the research project, said he had never thought he was
infected with HIV but had been wrongly labeled as an HIV-negative AIDS
or AIDS phobia sufferer. He said he was grateful for the research that
confirmed he suffers from _Neisseria gonorrhoeae_.

--
Communicated by:
Ronan Kelly
for FluTrackers.com
<ronankelly@comcast.net>

******
[2]
Date: Tue 10 May 2011
Source: Xinhua News Agency [edited]
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-05/10/c_13867976.htm>


No new virus found in China 'HIV-negative AIDS' group: ministry
--------------------------------------------------------------
A spokesman with China's Ministry of Health (MOH) said Tuesday [10 May
2011] that no new or unknown viruses has been found so far in the
country's self-proclaimed "HIV-negative AIDS" group, and the cause of
their AIDS-like symptoms had yet to be determined. The statement,
according to Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua, was based on tests by
domestic and overseas authoritative facilities.

The "HIV-negative AIDS patients" said they had displayed symptoms very
similar to AIDS, such as swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous bleeding,
joint pain, fatigue, night sweating, and loss of weight. They termed
it "HIV-negative AIDS," thinking they might have been suffering from a
mutation of the AIDS virus, or a new unknown virus. On Tuesday [10 May
2011], Deng, citing the latest test on 60 such "patients," said no
evidence suggested they were suffering from an [that is, the same]
infectious disease. The new tests, conducted by a team led by Zhong
Nanshan, a renowned medical expert, showed that these people had not
been infected with the HIV virus. The MOH first received reports of
"HIV-negative AIDS" in June 2009.

However, Zhong's tests found the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a very
common virus of the herpes virus family, in 55 percent of the
patients, according to Deng. "Further research needs to be conducted
in order to determine whether the EBV is the cause of the group's
symptoms," Deng said. While some medical experts believe that the
"patients" might suffer from some kind of psychological AIDS phobia,
others said the possibility of finding a new virus in the future could
not be ruled out.

--
Communicated by:
Ronan Kelly
for FluTrackers.com
<ronankelly@comcast.net>

[ProMED-mail thanks Ronan Kelly for drawing attention to these 2
reports which appear to have resolved this controversy. FluTrackers
has maintained a thread with other corroborating reports at
<http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=405397>. -
Mod.CP]

[The reports were published in May and we are sorry we did not become
aware of them earlier. - Mod.LM]

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: China - Mystery disease in 6 provinces - HIV/AIDS ruled out - Epstein-Barr virus infection and reactive arthritis

I'm surprised by the conclusion! I would have thought that given 55% of the patients had EBV, and 80% in all tested positive for a variety of pretty serious pathogens the notion of "AIDS phobia" would have been put to rest. These people were sick with medically identified diseases.