Baby Girl Cured of HIV, Local Health Experts Weigh In

MARCH 4, 2013- It's being called a game changer in the fight against HIV, a baby cured of the virus.

            This baby girl in Mississippi is being called a miracle baby.

            Local health experts and doctors here in ErieCounty say it's an exciting time, but the formula still needs to be perfected.

            The mother of the "Mississippi Miracle baby" was HIV positive.

            She did not receive any prenatal care.

            Doctors treated this baby before she was confirmed HIV positive. 

            Doctors used what local health experts here in Erie say were a heavy approach to treatment using three antiretroviral drugs.

The adult sized doses were given immediately after birth, as opposed to waiting.

            The baby responded well to the drugs, but then doctors lost touch.

            Two years later, there was no evidence of HIV.

            The baby was functionally cured.

            Local experts say this is a very rare finding, almost accidental.

            Charlotte Berringer of the Erie County Health Department says this is an exciting discovery, but a major part of this is prevention.

Berringer says it is important to begin treating mothers with HIV before they give birth.