HIV cases reach low

According to a report released yesterday by the agency United Nations (UN)last year historic low of HIV cases as they began to skyrocket in the 80s.

This is a small step towards the goal – to cross this viral infection off the list public health emergencies by 2030. However, this will require accelerating the reduction by three times as much as has been done so far.

It is true that cases of HIV are declining significantly worldwide but there are countries in which they continue to be a very serious problem. And, unfortunately, this is a social problem for which science cannot do much more than it has done so far. Regardless, this week’s news is good news for the world. All that remains is to fight for the rights of those who cannot be treated according to the rules. the stigma of homosexuality.

40 years of HIV cases

HIV did not appear in the 80s, but it was then that it was discovered and the number of patients began to grow. The first cases of an unknown disease that would later be given a name acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

They were discovered in 1981. However, the virus that caused them was not discovered until 1984.

Since then, the virus has spread throughout the world like a plague. Syringe use by drug addicts, blood transfusions and sexual relations, especially between people of the same sexhave become one of the main routes of transmission. Patients were surrounded by a terrible stigma. Nobody wanted to get close to them. Some parents began campaigning in schools to ensure their children did not have to share classes with sick children, who were usually born infected to their mothers. No one wanted to shake hands or kiss a sick person, even though the disease is only transmitted through fluids such as blood or semen. Princess Diana of Wales herself caused a stir after shaking hands with an AIDS patient. The controversy and stigma were resolved, and the number of HIV cases continued.

It is assumed that before its discovery there existed only from 100,000 to 300,000 people infected throughout the world, but by 1985 HIV was already spreading like wildfire. The peak was reached in 1995 when 3.3 million patients. Fortunately, there were more and more prevention measures, so HIV cases began to decline until they reached a minimum. 1.3 million new cases in 2023.

Measures to stop the virus

The measures to stop the virus were mainly 3. On the one hand, if we wanted to reduce the number of HIV cases and at the same time end the stigma, this was necessary raise awareness among the population on transmission and protection paths. Campaigns have been launched to disseminate information about the use of condoms and the dangers of sharing syringes. Some countries have provided syringes to drug addicts. Ideally, they should not take drugs; but since they did so, they at least prevented infection.

On the other hand, measures have begun to be developed so that the virus, even if not cured, is no longer fatal. Today there is antiretroviral drugswith which patients can lead a more or less normal life. Moreover, with these drugs, the viral load can become undetectable while taking them, which eliminates the possibility of infections.

Finally, measures pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)which also significantly reduced HIV cases. Now, if all of this is working so well, why aren’t the cases dropping faster?

Social stigma against science

Thanks to science, the number of HIV cases could be reduced significantly until it reaches only 1.3 million new infections in 2023. In reality, this figure could be lower if the decline were uniform; but unfortunately there is 28 countries where HIV cases have actually increased.

This may be due to several reasons. On the one hand, the stigma of homosexuality. As explained in the article Science Alertat the moment there is 63 countries in which relationships between people of the same sex are punished. AIDS is not a homosexual disease, and this is very important to clarify. But heterosexual people can take preventive measures before coming out without fear of arrest or stigma. For homosexuals, everything is more complicated. In the past, this was the case almost all over the world, and today especially in countries like Uganda, where there are very strict laws against homosexuals.

These are all countries where the number of HIV cases is increasing. It is assumed that in some of them only 15% of people who will need PrEP They get it. In some cases this may be due to logistical problems and lack of financial resources, but in many other cases it is due to social stigma. It is clear that if we want to achieve the UN’s 2030 goals, a quick solution must be sought in this regard.