HIV and AIDS: Questions of Scientific and Journalistic Responsibility

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HIV AND AIDS

blood test is not infallible.
Furthermore, Duesberg has brought to my attention scientific papers
showing that antibodies to the influenza virus, tuberculosis bacillus,
and leprosy bacillus have each been shown to give false HIV positive
tests.2 Such findings were also reported in the London Sunday Times
("Research disputes epidemic of Aids", 22 May 1994, p. 24), where its
science editor Neville Hodgkinson wrote:
An authoritative new study has uncovered powerful evidence
that the 'Aids test' is scientifically invalid, misleading millions
into believing they are HIV positive when they are not infected
with the virus.
The findings, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases,
provide practical evidence that HIV tests may be triggered by
other factors, such as leprosy and tuberculosis. They have
heightened concerns that the spread of Aids in Africa has been
wildly exaggerated.
The discovery was made by a team headed by Dr. Max Essex of
Harvard University's School of Public Health and a highly
respected Aids expert. One of the originators of the hypothesis
linking HIV with Aids, Essex was also a leading exponent of the
theory that the virus originated in Africa.
2Duesberg gives the following references:
- for the flu, Mac Kenzie, W. R., Davis, J.P., Peterson, D. E., Hibbard, A.,J.,
Becker, G. and Zarvan, B.S., "Multiple false-positive serologic tests for HIV,
HTLV-1, and Hepatitis C following Influenza vaccination," J. Am. Med. Assoc.
268 (1992) pp. 1015-1017
- for tuberculosis, Pitchenik, A. E., Burr, J., J., Suarez, M., Fertel, D., Gonzalez,
G. and Moas, C., "Human T-cell lymphotropic virus-III (HTLV-III)
seropositivity and related disease among 71 consecutive patients in whom
tuberculosis was diagnosed: a prospective study," Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 135
(1987) pp. 875-879
- also for tuberculosis, St. Louis, U. E., Rauch, K. J., Peterson, L. R. et al.
"Seroprevalence rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection at sentinel
hospitals in the United States," N. Eng. J. Med. 323 (1990) pp. 213-218
- for leprosy, Kashala, 0., Marlink, R., Ilunga, M., Diese, M., Gormus, B., Xu,
K., Mukeba, P., Kasongo, K. and Essex, M., "Infection with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) and Human T Cell Lymphtropic
Viruses among Leprosy Patients and Contacts: Correlation between HIV-1
Cross-Reactivity and Antibodies to Lipoarabinomannan, J. Inf. Dis. 169 (1994)
pp. 296-304.