Rochester, NY - Researchers from Johns Hopkins University said a baby born with the HIV infection, which causes AIDS, now shows no signs of the virus.
The baby was born in Mississippi two years ago and was not given any prenatal therapy for the HIV virus, but was aggressively treated at birth.
Scientists say it now appears the child has been "functionally cured" and has been off medication for about a year.
The landmark case was announced Sunday at the 2013 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta.
Dr. Deborah Persaud of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore was one of the lead researchers and author of the report, which was released by The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
Doctors treated the baby with three aggressive drugs, including AZT, after birth.
While Pediatric HIV Specialists at the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester call this news "encouraging," they also say it is too soon to call this a miracle or a cure.
Dr. Geoff Weinberg said more time is needed to make sure the virus doesn't redevelop later in the child's life.
Even so, Dr. Weinberg said this case will provide a lot of good information for doctors and researchers and could help in treatment of other infants born with the HIV virus.
