01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 24, 2005

It is harrowing news that New York health officials fear they have identified a new, drug-resistant "supervirus" form of AIDS. An unidentified male patient in his 40s, who admitted to having had unprotected sex with hundreds of men over the past six months, was discovered with the virus, which moved from infection to full-blown AIDS in a matter of months. He engaged in sex while using methamphetamine, also called "crystal meth," which is said to enhance sex.

Though health officials are debating whether a supervirus has indeed emerged, or whether special factors made this patient sicken so fast, the warning has fueled justifiable concern in health circles and the gay community. Over time, the miraculous drug "cocktails" that have helped keep HIV-infected people alive have led to complacency, a belief that this curse was under control. That, we know, is just not so.

The news comes as some health officials are recommending that virtually all Americans be tested for AIDS. One study that appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine this month suggested that the country's roughly 40,000 new infections each year could be cut by 20 percent with routine one-time testing of all patients. Others argue that such testing makes little sense for people who are celibate, or for heterosexuals in monogamous relationships. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are studying the matter.

Meanwhile, some gay leaders are redoubling their efforts to discourage risky behavior by homosexuals. In a free society, there are -- and should be -- limits on what government can do. But potentially deadly behavior -- such as sharing needles and having unprotected sex with multiple partners -- is taking a terrible human and financial toll, and the costs could grow significantly if, in fact, a supervirus is making an appearance. Part of that toll is continued prejudice against homosexuals.

It is thus crucial that society work to reach those who engage in dangerous behavior, and persuade them to better protect themselves and others. Human drives can be very self-destructive at times, and education can go only so far. But disseminating knowledge about AIDS, warning people of risks, and providing testing for at-risk communities are central to any effort to significantly reduce the rate of infection.