In the debate over HIV as the sole "cause" of AIDS, I have come to the conclusion that, in addition to HIV, there are many other influences playing upon the immune system of patients. I believe that it is essential that we avoid being doctrinaire on the basis of evidence that is still incomplete.
My views on these matters have been tempered by the fact that, as shown by my colleagues Robert F. Garry at Tulane University, Marlys H. Witte at the University of Arizona, and others (R.F. Garry, M.H. Witte, et al., Journal of the American Medical Association, 260:2085-7, 1988), HIV infection had occurred in the United States as early as 1968. In all likelihood, others were also infected at that time, but the infection did not result in epidemic pathogenicity in the U.S. until the early 1980s.
Why was this so? We really do not know the answer ...
