A new strain of the HIV-1 virus was discovered among 14 individuals with HIV-1 living in Cyprus, Philenews said on Tuesday.
“The molecular research carried out at the University of Cyprus in collaboration with the Gregorios AIDS Clinic at Larnaca General Hospital, led to the discovery of the new strain of HIV-1,” according to an announcement.
The joint announcement was by scientists from the University of Cyprus and the Los Alamos National HIV Laboratory in New Mexico, USA.
Specifically, this work was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus.
As well as by the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts through internal funds awarded to Professor Leondios G. Kostrikis.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the nationwide statistics demonstrate that in Cyprus there was an approximately 30% increase in the incidence of new HIV-1 infections in 2019 (n = 100) relative to 2018 (n = 78).
And a 5% increase in 2020 (n = 105) relative to 2019. Thus, there is an evident increasing trend in new HIV-1 infections in Cyprus each year.
