In fact, as the basis of a new human blood substitute – Hemopure - cow’s blood is now being seen in some quarters as the key to the alleviation of the African Aids crisis.

With the continent registering the world’s highest levels of HIV infection, the amount of non-infected blood available to doctors in Africa is shrinking, with a consequent increase in deaths from anaemia and other blood diseases. Backers of Hemopure, developed by the American biological drug company Biopure, say the new product could save lives across the continent by providing doctors for the first time with a safe, man-made substitute for blood.

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