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The new paper “COVID-19 is ‘Airborne AIDS’: provocative oversimplification, emerging science, or something in between?” in AJPM Focus addresses why some researchers have compared COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS.
Both viruses can drive long-term immune dysfunction, tissue persistence and systemic impact.
1/ajpmfocus.org/action/showPdf…
The new paper “COVID-19 is ‘Airborne AIDS’: provocative oversimplification, emerging science, or something in between?” in AJPM Focus addresses why some researchers have compared COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS.
Both viruses can drive long-term immune dysfunction, tissue persistence and systemic impact.
1/ajpmfocus.org/action/showPdf…
SARS-CoV-2 isn’t just a short-term respiratory virus. For many, it leaves lasting immune changes and systemic impacts. Both Covid and HIV viruses can lead to immune dysfunction, tissue reservoir persistence, accelerated aging and neurological impacts.
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Both viruses can:
- Deplete or exhaust T cells
- Drive chronic inflammation
- Weaken immune defenses
- Increase vulnerability to opportunistic infections
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- Deplete or exhaust T cells
- Drive chronic inflammation
- Weaken immune defenses
- Increase vulnerability to opportunistic infections
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They both persist in the body. HIV integrates into the DNA while
Covid has been detected in the brain, gut, lungs and other tissues months after infection
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Covid has been detected in the brain, gut, lungs and other tissues months after infection
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They both accelerate aging in the body. HIV leads to gradual immune exhaustion over years. Covid can trigger aging markers within months and repeat infections may compound the effects
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Both trigger neuro inflammatory processes that can cause cognitive decline
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There are also important differences:
- HIV is bloodborne. COVID is airborne.
- HIV acts slowly. Covid can disrupt immune systems within weeks.
- Long COVID involves vascular and clotting pathology not seen in HIV.
- HIV has effective treatments. Long COVID does not.
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- HIV is bloodborne. COVID is airborne.
- HIV acts slowly. Covid can disrupt immune systems within weeks.
- Long COVID involves vascular and clotting pathology not seen in HIV.
- HIV has effective treatments. Long COVID does not.
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Calling it “airborne AIDS” underscores the urgency of dealing with COVID- a highly transmissible airborne virus capable of immune disruption that can reshape public health.
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The authors call for
- Ongoing infection control
- More research on viral persistence and immune dysfunction
- Better recognition of chronic post-viral illness
- Applying lessons learned from the AIDS epidemic to COVID
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- Ongoing infection control
- More research on viral persistence and immune dysfunction
- Better recognition of chronic post-viral illness
- Applying lessons learned from the AIDS epidemic to COVID
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HIV taught us a lot about stigma, inequity and the consequences of delayed action.
COVID calls for the same level of attention and urgency, with the hope that we can respond with more wisdom, clarity and empathy this time
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COVID calls for the same level of attention and urgency, with the hope that we can respond with more wisdom, clarity and empathy this time
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