A Norwegian man just became the 10th person ever cured of HIV, and the story behind his recovery is nothing short of a medical miracle. After living with the virus for over a decade, he received a stem cell transplant from his brother to treat a rare blood cancer. What doctors didn’t expect was that the transplant would also wipe out his HIV — thanks to a genetic mutation in his brother’s cells that made them resistant to the virus.
According to the NY Post, the procedure took place at Oslo University Hospital, where researchers kept a close eye on the patient, now known in medical circles as the “Oslo patient.” Five years and countless tests later, the results are in. The man shows no signs of active HIV, making him the latest in a tiny group of people who’ve achieved long-term remission from the virus.
