Feel good: Union Minister tests goats to certify AIDS no disease

Relevant portions of the press note released by Patel yesterday, roughly translated, read as follows:

‘‘Shri Babashri ji revealed through his shri vani (exalted voice) that HIV positive and negative types in the blood are a creation of nature. The two types will be found in all creatures with blood when investigated. In this direction, the obedient followers of the Nirvakar path Prahlad Patel and Devendra Patel have been charged with the duty of testing the blood of animals for HIV which will yield both types of HIV blood. Through the skilful guidance and efforts of Prahlad Patel and the hard work of Devendra Patel, these effort are underway. After the testing in Bhopal, four out of the six samples submitted to Batra Hospital and Pathlab have been found HIV positive. On the advice of the doctor, we have sent these to the Ranbaxy Lab for a Western Blot test. We desire that for the service of humanity, to rid humans of the above-mentioned three demons (Ashanti, AIDS and malnutrition), the MP government and the Centre undertake a mission to test the blood of all animals in the state and the country.’’

Devendra Patel said that four positive cases have been found in the course of this month after 82 goats and 16 chicken have been tested for HIV virus by the Elisa method at various laboratories in the city. He said that nothing should be read into the timing of the press conference. ‘‘The intention is not to create a controversy. We have brought out the facts, now the government should follow up on this and test animals throughout the state,’’ he said.

‘‘I am writing letters to the Prime Minister, the President and the Health Minister. We have the reports and it is for the government to do further research on it. I am sending the letters on February 3,’’ Prahlad Patel told The Indian Express.

‘‘My aim to conduct the test in hens and goats is not to raise any controversy. I am a follower of the guruji and did the tests as a follower. He said the negative and positive HIV virus would be found in all the animals who have blood and his saying was proved right after the tests. All guruji wanted to say was that AIDS is not such a deadly disease as it is made out to be and the virus is found in all animals,’’ said the Union Minister.

Dr A.K. Batra of Bhopal’s Batra hospital, who also happens to be head of the BJP’s medical cell in Madhya Pradesh—when asked whether it makes any sense at all to test goat or for that matter chicken blood for this human virus—said the matter had been checked up with the research lab of the local animal husbandry department who had no method to check animals and then with the Animal Husbandry College in Mhow which said the kits are the same but that they had never done any such testing.

Experts are unanimous about the absurdness of the whole issue. Dr P.L. Joshi, additional project director, NACO says: ‘‘Human Immuno-deficiency Virus as the name suggests is not transmitted or found in any other animal except for human beings, otherwise why would we not name it just the Immuno Deficiency Virus. It’s not being present elsewhere is the one of the greatest problems in vaccine development as we cannot find a suitable animal model for testing.’’ ‘‘There are no scientific basis to the claims and we have even replied to the minister stating the same facts,’’ he adds.

Says Dr N.K. Ganguly, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): ‘‘There is no scientific evidence of presence of the strain in any other animal so far.’’ Office of the Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the minister cannot react until the letter is sent to her.

–with Toufiq Rashid