HIV-2 discovered

Scientists report on the isolation of a new virus in two AIDS patients from Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. They note that the virus is distinct from what is being witnessed elsewhere, but undoubtedly related to LAV/HTLV-III (now known as HIV). They call the new virus LAV-II. The following year, they conclude that this new virus is a cause of AIDS. Compared to its East and Southern African neighbours, West Africa has not been as affected by the epidemic, which some attribute to the fact that HIV-II is less virulent than HIV-I (the main driver of the global HIV epidemic).