Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International - October 25, 2005
The South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases study, reported in the Public Library of Science Medicine, arrived at its conclusion based on nearly 3,300 South Africans recruited in Paris.
In the 21 months they were followed, 20 members of the circumcised group tested positive for HIV while 49 of the uncircumcised group tested positive.
Circumcision is "equivalent to what a vaccine of high efficacy would have achieved," The Guardian reported of researchers' findings.
The World Health Organization had a muted response.
"This will not mean that men will be prevented from becoming infected with HIV during sexual intercourse ... nor does male circumcision provide protection for sexual partners against HIV infection," WHO said.
"If (circumcised men) don't practice safe sex, they'll still be at risk. It's just a lower risk," said Peter Cleaton-Jones of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg
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