According to new studies in Uganda, Kenya, circumcision cuts chance of catching lethal virus in half. Top doctors say circumcision could be preventative strategy

Two recent studies that were conducted in Africa revealed that circumcision cuts the chance of catching the HIV virus in half. These studies were conducted in Uganda and Kenya on thousands of participants.

In the Kenyan study, 2,784 people tested negative for the deadly virus. This study showed a 53 percent difference in the rate of contagion between those who have been circumcised and those who have not.

The Ugandan study tested 4,996 people and the difference here between the circumcised and the non circumcised came to 48 percent.

According to the study's results, the chances of the circumcised examinees catching the disease during sex decreased significantly compared to those who had not been circumcised.

The studies began in 2005 and were meant to continue until next year, but were cut short in light of the significant results already reached.

United States' National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who was responsible for conducting the study, said that these findings would be of great importance in regards to the public plans for preventing the epidemic.

Zerhouni expressed that performing circumcision in a safe environment could merge with the other preventative strategies, especially in Africa.

According to Zerhouni, 2.8 million Africans catch the AIDS virus each year.

'Sensational findings'

Director of the World Health Organization's Department of HIV/AIDS Dr. Kevin De Cock, agreed that these findings are sensational, and said that circumcision could possibly save millions of people from catching the disease in the coming years.

With that said, he was careful to warn that the public should not take this to mean that circumcised men are completely immune to the disease.

These new findings support the findings of a similar study done in Africa that was published over one year ago.

According to that study, circumcised men have a 70 percent lower chance of catching the disease than uncircumcised men.

Another study conducted in Uganda found that circumcision also protects the woman from catching AIDS. It was found that circumcised men carrying the virus have a 30 percent lower risk of infecting their partner with the disease.