Emerging Viruses-Aids & Ebola - By Leanard ... - preterhuman.net

HTLV-III publication in Francis's presence. Francis wasfrequently required to leave the room while Chermann and Galloconferred privately."The Pasteur scientists were astonished that one branch of theU.S. government should hold another in such low regard." [19]Ultimately, Don Francis determined from electron micrographshe had obtained from Europe that Montagnier's and Gallo'sretroviruses were the same. In light of the germ's dissimilarity tothe HTLV family of retroviruses, he argued in favor of theFrench naming the virus. Following intense negotiations,however, the naming issue remained unresolved, though the threeresearchers worked out an agreement to jointly announce thediscovery of the AIDS virus by the CDC, NCI and Pasteur.Shilts then chronicled Gallo's efforts to sabotage this agreementand claim the lion's share of credit for himself. Standingalongside Chermann in the pissoir, he offered, "We can do thistogether - just the Pasteur Institute and the NCI," he said. "Wedon't need the CDC." Chermann dismissed the proposal. The nextmorning, during breakfast with Don Francis, Gallo remarked thathe would probably get the most credit during the announcementbecause he maintained the most HTLV-III isolates. Then heoffered Francis the proposal Chermann refused the night before."We don't need the Pasteur Institute," he argued. "The CDC andthe NCI can announce this ourselves." [19]On April 23, 1984, the announcement was made by MargaretHeckler, Secretary of the Office of Health and Human Services,that Robert Gallo, essentially unaided by the French and COC,had discovered the AIDS virus."The doctors who accompanied Heckler to the podium blanchedvisibly," Shilts noted, "when she proclaimed that a blood testwould be available within six months and a vaccine would beready for testing within two years." The blood test had alreadybeen available for over two years, I reflected, but I understoodwhy they blanched with the announcement of a vaccine. [20]The Emperorʹs New VirusTen months later at a prestigious AIDS meeting in New York,Dr. Joseph Sonnabend revealed that Gallo's HTLV-III andMontagnier's LAV were "identical. . . to a degree that would notbe anticipated with two independent isolates from the samefamily.""Would you be brave enough to voice explicitly the implicationsof what you're saying here?" Sonnabend was asked by anattending physician."No, I wouldn't," Sonnabend replied. "I'm not the right person tobe saying that.""Neither am I," said the other doctor."What are you talking about here?" asked an Associated Pressreporter.