Late diagnosis of HIV occurs in A Coruña, accounting for about 60 new diagnoses per year.

More than 42 million deaths worldwide, some 60,000 in Spain, represent the dramatic balance left by HIV over more than four decades. This disease, caused by an unknown virus that attacked drug addicts and homosexuals in the early 1980s, is today a chronic illness that, with proper treatment, allows one to lead a normal life, although it continues without treatment. An effective vaccine has also not been created, and the heavy burden of the disease still falls on those affected. brand.

Next Sunday, like every December 1 is World AIDS Day.under the motto of the UN on AIDS Let’s follow the path of rights, and from A Coruña AIDS Committee (Casco) They use this date to remember that, according to the organization, “more than 39.9 million people” were living with HIV in 2023, of which “1.3 new diagnoses.” In addition, over the past year, “630,000 people have died due to complications associated” with this infection, Casco warns, but claims that “antiretroviral therapy has significantly increased the life expectancy” of those affected because “it manages to reduce the viral load, thereby reducing the possibility of transmission of infection. In the last closed year, “50.7 million people were able to access it,” they remind, before suggesting that in 2025 the number of deaths from this cause “is expected to be less than 250,000.”

Figures for the region of A Coruña

In the health area of ​​A Coruña and Cee, 1,480 people are living with HIV and 300 are receiving PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) treatment. to reduce the risk of infection, according to data provided by Casco Department of Infectious Diseases-HIV. Dr Alvaro Mena, a specialist physician at the hospital service, recently commented to this newspaper that “the PrEP program is working well and many people are accessing it”, which is “having a positive impact on reducing the number of infections caused by this virus.” Dr. Mena emphasized that “in general, in Galicia there is a tendency towards a progressive decrease in the incidence of HIV”.

“The trend in Galicia is towards a decrease in the number of new HIV infections,” says Dr. Mena, who admits that in the A Coruña area the decline is “usually smaller” than in the community as a whole.

“Indeed, over the past two months (meaning September and October) we have had a significant increase in the number of diagnoses,” said a specialist from Infectious diseases department – HIV, who acknowledged that in the health district of La Coruña, the number of new infections “tends to decrease less” than in the Galician community as a whole.

“We had about 60-70 diagnoses a year, and in 2024, I don’t think we’re going to be down from 2023. I believe that we will be the same, we may even increase a little. It’s true that The number of late diagnoses has decreased, which is good news. Between PrEP, that awareness is higher and that many social agents among migrants and in certain situations help us get closer to people for screening… With all our efforts, it is likely that we will detect earlier, arrive earlier. This has an undoubted personal benefit, but also a benefit for the population, because The earlier you diagnose people with HIV, the lower the risk of transmitting HIV to others.“, he emphasized.