Paula Gordon, STAR Writer

Doctors are saying that the doors for AIDS research in Jamaica and around the world have been opened further, after a 45-year-old man was cured of the deadly disease.

Dr Jephthah Ford from the Jamaica AIDS Support told THE STAR that while the recent reports are true, the circumstances under which the man, who has since been dubbed 'The Berlin Patient' was cured, was unique based on the fact that he suffered from another disorder while he had HIV.

tested positive

It was reported in the CBS News that Timothy Ray Brown who tested positive for HIV back in 1995, was cured because of the discovery of an apparent HIV immunity gene. Brown has now entered scientific journals as the first man in world history to have the virus completely removed from his body in what doctors are calling a "functional cure."

In 2007, doctors in Germany gave Brown a bone marrow stem cell transplant. THE STAR understands that the procedure has given hope to many people however, according to Dr Ford, it cannot be generalised.

While Brown may have been cured, the practice may not be applicable to many other persons affected by the disease. This is as a result of the difficulty in doing stem cell transplants and finding the right donor.

According to Dr Ford, even though Jamaica is nowhere near ready to try a procedure of that nature, it has opened the door for more research to be done.

less-extreme procedure

"This only means that a less extreme procedure can be discovered," he remarked.

In the meantime, he explained that because of the advancement in treatment, HIV is no longer seen as a fatal disease; rather it is a chronic illness. He is encouraging all Jamaicans to get tested and know their status in order for doctors to intervene early. With medication, he says, people could live longer lives because it brings down the viral load.

"It (the procedure) is not possible in Jamaica now, we are nowhere near that, but what people can do is to get treatment so that their viral load will be zero," he said.

When the viral load is zero the disease is not seen in your *la*hd, THE STAR understands.