The world’s first case of HIV transmission via a knife wound has now been scientifically established, scientists from Taiwan reported March 10.
The researchers said their findings have been published by the AIDS Research and Human Retrovirus Journal, one of the world’s leading journals on AIDS research.
The case stems from a violent encounter in 2008 between a man in his 70s and a 42-year-old hoodlum, who demanded money from the elderly citizen. When the man refused to comply, he was attacked with a watermelon knife.
Although the old man fought back valiantly with his cane to resist the criminal's ferocious assault, he ended up in a pool of his own blood. Blood from the hoodlum, who was also wounded during the attack, gained entry into the old man as a result of his open wounds.
The old man was hospitalized for three months. Six months after the attack had occurred, he was informed that he had become a carrier of HIV.
The Centers for Disease Control subsequently got involved in investigating the HIV transmission case. After ruling out a sex or a blood transfusion-related transmission, the CDC determined, via gene sequencing technology, including advanced molecular biology cross matching and HIV antibody concentration analysis, that he had contracted HIV from his assailant.
When the investigation was concluded, the CDC, along with research teams from National Yang Ming University and National Taiwan University, submitted a report of the case to AIDS Research and Human Retrovirus Journal.
Researchers from the CDC confirmed that this was the first article to be published internationally showing that antibody concentration analysis and molecular biology tests could be used to confirm the path of AIDS infection.
The report stated the most common paths for passing the virus to another person are sexual activity, followed by the sharing of needles and blood transfusions.
A few sporadic cases of HIV transmission through deep kissing or fist fights have also been documented. But chances of contracting HIV through these means or by knife wounds are miniscule, the CDC stressed.
(This article originally appeared in The Liberty Times March 10.)