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View Full Version : Aids: Origin of pandemic 'was 1920s Kinshasa'

DJofSD
10-05-2014, 02:02 PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29442642

The origin of the Aids pandemic has been traced to the 1920s in the city of Kinshasa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, scientists say.

Interesting read especially in light of the current Ebola crisis.
TJDave
10-05-2014, 02:32 PM
Radiolab did a segment about this. Fascinating stuff.

Worth a listen.

http://www.radiolab.org/story/169885-aids/
DJofSD
10-05-2014, 02:43 PM
Radiolab did a segment about this. Fascinating stuff.

Worth a listen.

http://www.radiolab.org/story/169885-aids/
Thanks, I just started to listen to it.
Greyfox
10-05-2014, 02:45 PM
That is an interesting article, but I still have some scepticism about it's findings.
If the HIV virus really originated in the 1920's, I'm wondering why it took so long to develop as an AIDs pandemic.

Previously I'd read where it was suspected to be a result of American experimentation in germ warfare. Rhesus monkeys were the subjects.
How it jumped from monkeys to humans raises interesting speculations.

At any rate, the Journal Science, has some credibility and the article has to be considered as having found a possible source.
DJofSD
10-05-2014, 02:51 PM
That is an interesting article, but I still have some scepticism about it's findings.
If the HIV virus really originated in the 1920's, I'm wondering why it took so long to develop as an AIDs pandemic.

Previously I'd read where it was suspected to be a result of American experimentation in germ warfare. Rhesus monkeys were the subjects.
How it jumped from monkeys to humans raises interesting speculations.

At any rate, the Journal Science, has some credibility and the article has to be considered as having found a possible source.
Good question. In part, I would guess it had one foot in the sexual revolution of the 50's/60's which was, as I recall , mostly hetrosexually oriented and then the follow on by the gay community. Another part was probably the rise of jet airliners and international travel.
TJDave
10-05-2014, 03:16 PM
Thanks, I just started to listen to it.

The last 5-10 minutes were especially chilling. That there are 11 more versions of the virus, some which have already made the jump, with the potential to become just as deadly.