New technique may change understanding of how diseases spread

The rates of HIV in Pakistan are on the rise, even in groups that were traditionally not considered "high risk" in that area, such as women and children. Researchers have set out to determine how the disease is spreading, and their data could help create a clearer understanding of how other conditions get passed on in every country in the world.

Scientists have taken DNA samples from infected people and compared the HIV strain they found to those discovered in other areas. This is a good way to track the behavior patterns of patients, as in certain countries some residents are hesitant to talk about their sexual activity.

"Genetic evidence can be used to test how different populations are intersecting. As you can imagine, behavioral data is difficult to get in some countries and this is why molecular tools are important," said researcher Marco Salemi.

This process could lead to new ways of tracking the journey of a disease, without having to rely on people to provide personal information that may not be accurate.