Trials of 2,000 HIV-infected people in Tanzania found that the mycobacterium vaccine (MV) vaccine reduced the rate of definite tuberculosis (TB) by 39%

Dr Charles Ford (of Datmouth Medical School, United States), stated that the new vaccine is a major health priority for patients suffering with HIV infection.

The test conducted in collaboration with MUHAS (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences), supported by NIH (National Institute of Health), United States showed that the immunization had no harmful effects on HIV patients.

Dr. Ford von Reyn, director of the DarDar International Programs for the infectious disease and international health section at Dartmouth Medical School, in Hanover, N. H. described the results of the clinical trials as significant milestone to treat TB among people in developing countries who have HIV/AIDS.

"Since development of a new vaccine against tuberculosis is a major international health priority, especially for patients with HIV infection, we and our Tanzanian collaborators are very encouraged by the results", said von Reyn.

The next step involves improving manufacturing methods to produce sufficient quantities of the MV vaccine as people newly infected with HIV risk contracting TB almost immediately. The MV vaccine should be given before they take antiretroviral drugs to fight the HIV infection.