Phylodynamics of HIV-1 Subtype B among the MSM Population in Hong Kong

via pubmed.gov, by Jonathan Hon-Kwan Chen, Ka-Hing Wong, Kenny Chi-Wai Chan, Sabrina Wai-Chi To, Zhiwei Chen, and Wing-Cheong Yam

Abstract

The men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) population has become one of the major risk groups for HIV-1 infection in the Asia Pacific countries. Hong Kong is located in the centre of Asia and the transmission history of HIV-1 subtype B transmission among MSM remained unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the transmission dynamics of HIV-1 subtype B virus in the Hong Kong MSM population. Samples of 125 HIV-1 subtype B infected MSM patients were recruited in this study. Through this study, the subtype B epidemic in the Hong Kong MSM population was identified spreading mainly among local Chinese who caught infection locally. On the other hand, HIV-1 subtype B infected Caucasian MSM caught infection mainly outside Hong Kong. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis also indicated that 3 separate subtype B epidemics with divergence dates in the 1990s had occurred. The first and latest epidemics were comparatively small-scaled; spreading among the local Chinese MSM while sauna-visiting was found to be the major sex partner sourcing reservoir for the first subtype B epidemic. However, the second epidemic was spread in a large-scale among local Chinese MSM with a number of them having sourced their sex partners through the internet. The epidemic virus was estimated to have a divergence date in 1987 and the infected population in Hong Kong had a logistic growth throughout the past 20 years. Our study elucidated the evolutionary and demographic history of HIV-1 subtype B virus in Hong Kong MSM population. The understanding of transmission and growth model of the subtype B epidemic provides more information on the HIV-1 transmission among MSM population in other Asia Pacific high-income countries.

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[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Targeting the Invisible World Of Men Who Have Sex With Men

via Outwords, by Peter Carlyle-Gordge

Ask any outreach worker in the fight against HIV transmission and you’ll find one of the hardest at-risk groups to reach is MSM, or men who have sex with men.

Men in this group don’t necessarily identify as gay. Some may be married to women and have families. Some may simply avoid defining their sexual orientation and it is often hard to pinpoint where they gather or connect.

Now, if reaching the MSM group is challenging here, consider its near impossibility in such homophobic places as Africa, a place still plagued by superstition, repression and an outright burning hostility to any sexual practices beyond the vanilla heterosexual variety. In many Islamic countries such as Iran and Iraq, being attracted to the same sex may bring instant death by a mob, or less instant death after a shameful “trial” in an Islamic court, which may sentence you to be hanged, often in public.

Attitudes to same-sex attraction in Africa aren’t much better, with a nasty, often violent reaction to same-sex couplings – an official kind of homophobia that is encouraged by the Neanderthal and ignorant Catholic and Anglican churches. Indeed, the current worldwide Anglican communion is deeply split on same-sex rights, thanks largely to the Archbishop of Canterbury kowtowing in fear to the outspoken black African bishops who despise homosexuality and claim God does, too.

You don’t need to go far to stack up evidence of this official homophobia. The president of Iran famously came to the U.S. and told a university audience that same-sex dalliances did not exist in Iran. The evidence in the form of beatings and hangings of gay men tends to undermine his insane statement.

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[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

HIV and MSM: Asia Takes Action

via 7th Space Interactive


About 140 overseas and local experts working in the AIDS sector are meeting in Hong Kong over three days (December 7 to 9) to discuss the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), and also how to enhance efforts towards the treatment, care and support in the participating cities.

The event, entitled "Action Planning Meeting of Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Populations Multi-City HIV Initiative", is jointly organised by the Department of Health (DH), the United States Agency for International Development, organisations under the United Nations system, the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health, the Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS and regional partners.

The three-day meeting is being attended by about 140 participants from 12 countries and 30 regional organisations, with major participants from six Asian cities, namely Bangkok, Chengdu, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila and Yangon. They are joined by local experts and observers.

It is the first time an action meeting of this kind has gathered in the Asian region to review the current HIV epidemic trends, examine municipal response and identify innovative initiatives to step up efforts in HIV prevention, treatment, care and support amongst MSM and transgender populations in the six cities.


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[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Rise in Husband-to-Wife HIV Infections Expected

From Myanmar Times, by Khin Myat

Experts from non-government organisations working in the HIV prevention field say the proportion of new HIV infections attributed to husband-to-wife transmission is likely to increase over the next five years. Dr Khin Zar Li Aye, a monitoring and evaluation officer at the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said that by 2015, nearly half of all new HIV infections would occur among women infected by their husbands.

UNAIDS estimates about two-fifths of all new infections in 2010 are the result of husband-to-wife transmission. However, while the number of new infections among sex worker clients and injecting drug users is expected to fall over the next five years, husband-to-wife transmission is expected to rise slightly, UNAIDS says.

Dr Sid Naing, country director of Marie Stopes International, said because Myanmar received relatively little funding to prevent new HIV infections from international donors, NGOs had to target only high-risk groups, such as sex workers and drug users. "Married women are a neglected group when it comes to HIV prevention activities," he said. He said it is also difficult to raise awareness among married women because most trusted their husbands and believed they would be always be faithful. "We see some cases of women who are about 40 years old contracting HIV -- women who have no history of drug use or having sex outside marriage," he said.

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Laws Driving HIV Prevention Underground

from iRIN News


In a region where carrying a condom has been construed as evidence of illicit activity, 10 million women sell sex to 75 million men, who then have sex with another 50 million people, according to the multinational Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia. 

"The technology is there to prevent infections, but punitive laws get in the way," said Steve Kraus, regional director of UNAIDS Asia Pacific. 

Asia's AIDS epidemic is linked primarily to unprotected paid sex, according to the commission, but policies outlawing sex work are undermining HIV/AIDS prevention efforts by fragmenting and stigmatizing the sex workers and turning condom possession into an act that could lead to jail time, NGO officials say. 

Until recently, Cambodia was praised by the international community for its implementation of the 100 percent Condom Use Programme, which allowed for selective enforcement of anti-sex work laws and required condom availability and use for sex workers. But a national anti-trafficking law introduced in 2008 broadly criminalized sex work, and sent sex workers into hiding.


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Read a report from Human Rights Watch on the subject