HIV dissidents - continuing crackpottery causes untold harm in Africa

I have written before about the unprofessional conduct of a small group of scientists insisting that HIV isn't the cause of AIDS, that AIDS isn't an infectious illness and importantly that medication proven to keep people with AIDS alive actually causes AIDS.

Well, these folks pretty much lost their battle for the professional and public opinion in the developed world, so they shifted their lunatic campaign to the developing world. You can find a pretty detailed analysis of their activities in Southern Africa here. South Africa in particular carries one of the highest HIV disease burdens in the world. I don't want to spend too much time dwelling on the reasons for that, except to say that this is caused by a mix of poverty, education and importantly a government propagating these minority views until very recently. The ANC government as a trusted source of information spent years sending out misleading, confusing and outright false information on HIV/AIDS.

A few days ago I received this message from an outfit in Kwazulu Natal:

The subject heading of the email ... 'HIV not a real problem its [sic!] the sugar'

The spam-type email continues:

'Dear friends,

You believe in HIV because you did not know the real facts.

We make a juice (UMLINGO WAMANGCOLOSI) that lets any one start their life again, strong and healthy.

All you have to do is stop the following food, drinks and stress:

1. SUGAR

2. Chemicals

3. FACTORY FARMED MEAT

4. MILK

5. CHEMICAL MEDICATION

6. PROCESSED FOOD

7. ALCOHOL

8. STRESS

Visit us every monday and thursday between 9 and 16.00pm at the KwaNgcolosi Court House and you will be healthy with in weeks.

KwaNgcolosi is under Hillcrest/Waterfall by the Inanda Dam just 40Km from Durban.'

I wonder how many, mostly Black, South Africans will fall for this nonsense and die a preventable death from AIDS due to this quackery!