AIDS researchers found that HIV, instead of becoming the worst pandemic in human history, as suspected, may actually be growing weaker over time.
Scientists compared HIV specimens from 1986 to 1989 as AIDS showed up into the scene against viruses from 2002-2003 to determine which one “shaked things up” more. They found that the 1980s specimens were fitter than their newer counterparts 75 % of the time. This is the first study in which virus generations were compared.
With newer techniques scientists are trying to confirm whether HIV has evolved into a less virulent virus 24 years after first cases were recognized.
One of the doctors explains the theory like this: “if you let a virus sit still long enough, it will eventually attenuate because the virus' intention is not to kill its host but to survive."
It has been shown that the 1980s specimens replicated faster than the current-day specimens. However, it is still early to say whether the weaker viruses mean they are less virulent or transmitted less easily.
One thing is unfortunately certain. Less fit HIV viruses will still be killers.