Treating genital herpes may slow the progression of HIV, the AIDS virus, in those infected with both viruses, researchers reported Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The test

involving 140 women in the West African country of Burkina Faso found that when herpes was being treated with 500 milligrams of the drug valacyclovir twice daily for three months, the women

were less likely to spread the AIDS virus. In addition, the treatment reduced the levels of HIV in the blood, the research group led by Dr. Nicolas Nagot of the London School of Hygiene and

Tropical Medicine found.