MOSCOW (Russia Herald) — Researchers say they have traced the predominant strain of the AIDS virus in the United States and Europe to the Caribbean country of Haiti.
They believe their research provides conclusive proof that the strain was introduced into the U.S in the late 1960s.
To reach their conclusion, scientists examined archived blood samples from five early AIDS patients and analysed genetic sequences from another 117 AIDS patients from around the world.
With this data they recreated a family tree for the virus, which they believe shows conclusively that the strain was introduced into the United States via Haiti around 1969.
It is the same strain of HIV which predominates in the United States, Europe, large parts of South America, Australia and Japan.
______