AIDS IN AFRICA - DISTINGUISHING FACT AND FICTION

The data widely purporting to show the existence and heterosexual tran smission in Africa of a new syndrome caused by a retrovirus which indu ces immune deficiency are critically evaluated. It is concluded that b oth acquired immune deficiency (AID) and the symptoms and diseases whi ch constitute the clinical syndrome (S) are of long standing in Africa , affect both sexes equally and are caused directly and indirectly by factors other than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Seropositivity to HIV in Africans usually represents no more than cross-reactivity ca used by an abundance of antibodies induced by the numerous infectious and parasitic diseases which are endemic in Africa. The apparently hig h prevalence of 'AIDS' and 'HIV' seropositives is therefore not surpri sing and is not proof of heterosexual transmission of either HIV or AI DS.