Researchers have completed a genetic study of a rare new strain of AIDS that was identified in a New York man last month. The study was published in the medical journal 'The Lancet' and concludes that this is a new strain of AIDS that is resistant to almost all known medications and is very aggressive.

The researchers were led by Dr. David D. Ho and Dr. Martin Markowitz. They hope that by publishing this information, researchers can be more aware of the new strain and can evaluate it more accurately.

Some gay activist groups have been skeptical of the claims that there is a new strain of AIDS and question the importance of the discovery of one case. They assert that public health officials are merely trying to frighten gay men into practicing safe sex.

The one known carrier of the new strain of AIDS is a gay man in his late 40s who had unprotected sex with over 100 partners, often while high on crystal methamphetamines. New York City health officials are trying to contact as many of his partners as oossible but because he was often high while having sex, the man does not remember all of them and cannot necessarily recall their names.

The fears about this rare strain of the disease center on how quickly it develops into full blown AIDS after initial exposure and how it is resistant to known forms of drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS.

'The public health ramifications of such a case are great,' the study concluded.

The study showed how this strain of AIDS was different. It was especially effective at penetrating human immune cells by latching onto them at two places rather than one.

The Lancet's editorial on the article commented, 'This case serves as a reminder that HIV remains a frighteningly versatile foe, one that can mutate to escape immune attack or to acquire drug resistance with surprising speed.'