MS SC578

Recognizes Dr. Hannah B. Gay, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and research teams at UMMC and Johns Hopkins Children's Center for achieving the first documented "functional HIV cure" in an infant, announced March 3, 2013.

Documents the case of an HIV-positive baby born in rural Mississippi in fall 2010 who was treated with aggressive three-drug antiretroviral therapy starting approximately 30 hours after birth, resulting in undetectable viral loads within one month.

Notes that viral levels remained undetectable even after the mother discontinued treatment for 5 months, suggesting the early aggressive therapy may have prevented the virus from establishing a persistent reservoir.

Emphasizes that prevention of mother-to-child transmission remains the primary goal, with proven strategies capable of preventing 98% of newborn HIV infections through identification and treatment of HIV-positive pregnant women.

Directs that this resolution be presented to Dr. Gay and the CEO of the University of Mississippi Medical Center and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.