Enjoy ten pieces of good news on World AIDS Day

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is still a major public health problem, with more than 37 million people infected around the world, according to data from the World Health Organisation. However, although no cure has been discovered for the infection, antiretroviral treatments now allow those infected to lead a long, normal, healthy life.

Being HIV positive is different from having AIDS. The virus affects the immune cells that protect us from illnesses. Because of this, a person with HIV may not have symptoms for years. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which develops when the HIV infection is in the advanced stages, having seriously damaged the immune system.

To prevent new infections, institutions insists on the importance of preventive measures, early detection and compliance with the prescribed medications. Thanks to these measures, in countries where there is access to medications the number of cases of AIDS diagnosed is falling year on year.

The good news about AIDS

1. Fewer infections: Between 2000 and 2016, the number of new HIV infections fell by 39% and the mortality rate fell by one third. This was achieved with national anti-AIDS programmes, and cooperation from civil society and development associations.

2. Quick diagnostic test: HIV infection is usually diagnosed with a quick test that detects the presence or absence of viral antibodies. Most of the time, the results are obtained on the same day, which makes it possible to start treatment.

3. ART protects the immune system: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) stop the virus from proliferating in the body. They do not kill the HIV virus, but they do help to stop it from weakening the immune system.

4. Longer life expectancy: If patients comply with the treatment and start early, their life expectancy is practically the same as the rest of the population.

5. Affection isn’t infectious: HIV is transmitted through some of an infected person’s bodily fluids, such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions. It is not transmitted by kisses, hugs, and cuddles, or by sharing objects, water or food.

6. Partners who are not infected: When an HIV-positive person follows an effective ART regime, the likelihood of transmitting the virus to his or her sexual partner is reduced by 96%.

7. Fewer mother-child transmissions: In an increasing number of countries, the mother-child infection rate is very low, and some of them, like Armenia, Belarus, Cuba, and Thailand, have received official validation that this route of infection has been eliminated.

8. Prevention is in your hands: Prevention is the best weapon against infection. Use condoms for sexual relations, and unused, disposable needles and get regular tests.

9. Access to medication: More than 20 countries have started the transition to new antiretroviral therapy options, which is expected to allow for longer-lasting treatments and high-quality care for infected people.

10. The vaccine of the future: For the first time, a clinical trial for a vaccine for HIV has controlled the virus in five people, without antiretroviral therapy, by strengthening the immune system. According to the researchers, this trial was an enormous success, because it allowed patients to prevent the virus from bouncing back during the first four weeks.

“We don’t protect ourselves from people, we protect ourselves from AIDS.”

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)