Scanning electron micrograph image of HIV-1 (Picture Wikimedia Commons)

A new ‘aggressive’ form of HIV develops into AIDS so quickly patients can develop symptoms before they realise they are infected.

The new variant can progress to AIDS in just three years, say scientists from Belgium’s KU Leuven.

Writing in the journal EBioMedicine, the researchers say that the aggressive new form has been seen in patients in Cuba.

The researchers believe that the deadly new strain was ‘born’ inside the bodies of patients infected with multiple strains of HIV.


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The new strain attacks patients bodies far faster than other strains of HIV as it ‘skips a stage’ in the normal infection process.