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Parasitic worms may help fuel AIDS epidemic: study

reuters.com — People infected with parasitic worms may be much more susceptible to the AIDS virus, according to a study published on Tuesday that may help explain why HIV has hit sub-Saharan Africa particularly hard.

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dagorret 131 days ago, made popular 130 days ago

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FuryOfThor, on 07/23/2008, -0/+13And once again, the failure to provide basic necessities--clean water, in this case--continues a cycle of destruction. (Schistosomiasis is a parasite that lives in freshwater snails until it migrates outward to find a human host bold enough to enter infested waters.) But of course, even providing basic water is challenging, because there are economic, cultural, social, and political barriers. Sigh.
moun10addict, on 07/24/2008, -2/+8What's sad is that most North Americans think that parasites only exist in third world countries.
- Kyrgizion, on 07/24/2008, -1/+4They'd be mighty surprised what they could find in, say, cat feces right outside their homes. And subsequently, their brains.
- kinerry, on 07/24/2008, -0/+4Wrong, I caught a massive tape worm when I was a kid from eating a fish from the rockies
- sodade, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2Go look up pinworm on wikipedia and read about that ***** and how common it is. Every time you scratch your nuts in the middle of the night, you will be thinking you have it.
tufftugg, on 07/24/2008, -2/+7 Shouldn't there be a huge civilization built in Africa now, with all the money sent there over the last 40 years? Oh, right supporting Military junta's at home and abroad.
- rrc7cz, on 07/24/2008, -2/+2Africa is a welfare state; aid keeps them in their current state. Medieval Europe was in a similar state long ago (dicators [kings], extreme poverty [peasants, indentured servants], lack of basic necessities). How did Europe come out of this state? Through internal change/revolutions/reform. Nobody cut the whole continent a big check.
  
  The problem, I think, is that humans are too compassionate to just say "hands off for the next 100 years" as many people would die before the proper reforms come FROM THE INSIDE.
crazyjake, on 07/24/2008, -0/+4that would be a horrible doctors appointment!

"I am sorry to inform you that you have parasitic worms inside you... and AIDS"
trumpcard, on 07/24/2008, -3/+4Africa should again be colonized,its a mess.
- jknevitt, on 07/24/2008, -2/+3It was colonization and the subsequent abrupt decolonization after WWII that put them into this mess.
  - rrc7cz, on 07/24/2008, -2/+4That isn't entirely true - Zimbabwe was a much richer country while a colony than it is today. Same with South Africa. Colonization brought infrastructure and knowledge. Of course it also screwed up social ties and caused lots of anger and corruption. Anyway, change needs to come from the inside...
kinerry, on 07/24/2008, -0/+8Or it could be the catholic church telling them that condoms are evil
SHuisman, on 07/24/2008, -0/+4So we should learn people how to boil something?!?
ASSASSYN360, on 07/24/2008, -0/+3Those parasites are here in the U.S. also despite available clean water. Even in this modern society people have these problems.
fx666, on 07/24/2008, -0/+3The scientific value of this discovery, even if it is true, is zero because the AIDS virus has spread far beyond the African continent. Abstinence is not an answer either, but the condoms are. The Catholic Church is wasting its money and time on promoting the abstinence, instead they should be distributing condoms.
insonh, on 07/24/2008, -2/+5if you cure everyone of everything and people live to be over 100 than your just asking for trouble

if people cause global warming then why are we curing diseases?

diseases are natures population control
- diceau, on 07/24/2008, -2/+2Sad but true.
  
  Over population is a real worry.
- mchisari, on 07/24/2008, -1/+1
  Malthusianism is outdated and racist.
  - insonh, on 07/24/2008, -2/+1So is Darwinism outdated and racists?
    
    Survival of the fittest. Law of the jungle, nature works best when left alone
    
    What will be outdated and racists when everyone lives to be 150 years old? When the birth rate is 100 times the death rate?
    
    in the year 0 the world population was ~200,000,000
    by 2000 it was 6,045,953,000
    by 2080 it will be 24,000,000,000
    and by 2120 it will be 48,000,000,000
    
    at what point are we eating each other and will some one like you point out that eating other people because that’s all there is to eat, is outdated and racists
  - mchisari, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2
    Don't conflate Darwinism and Malthusianism, first of all. Second of all, Darwin never took poverty and corrupt social systems, including poor distribution of resources and food, into account when he formulated his theories. Further, the concept of birth control, women's rights, and social efficacy are also absent in his theories. Even further, the concept of resource recycling, increased food production through scientific advancements such as indoor agriculture and renewable energy never fit into the "theories" of Malthus.
    
    So don't do Darwin a disservice by drawing false correlations between the basic biological concepts of Darwin and the discredited, racist social concepts of Malthus. You also might want to start by *reading* both authors first before spouting off.
Justinv5, on 07/24/2008, -1/+1So we have a life ending disease that is spread by sexual encounters and drug use, but abstaining from pre-martial sex and avoiding drugs isn't the answer? Why must we think that people aren't capable of making intelligent decisions? If you know that doing a certain thing can infect you with a debilitating disease and you choose to do it anyway, don't you deserve the consequences? What would the world be like if everyone took responsibility for their actions?
- CryRightardCry, on 07/24/2008, -1/+1What would it be like if dumbasses didn't come up with retarded plans, like giving up premarital sex?
  Do you have any idea what life is like out there?
  They don't have cable. Sex is pretty much one of the few enjoyments dirt poor people have.
  I find it utterly moronic to then say they should give that up, rather than working for a cure.
colosis, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1digg - curing AIDS and Cancer since 2001
TruthTeller50, on 07/25/2008, -0/+1Read out of pure curiosity.
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Parasitic worms may help fuel AIDS epidemic: study

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