A Future Without AIDS

Between 1981 and 2005, AIDS killed more than 28 million people. As of June 5th, it’s been 30 years since the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first identified a group of anomalous infections in LA. Over the decades AIDS spread across the planet, infecting people from all walks of life. Due in large part to a lack of awareness, social stigma and lack of access to treatment, the disease has thrived in developing countries.

But there’s good news — possibly. According to the HIV Prevention Trials Network, a trial called HPTN 052 indicates that anti-retroviral therapy may lower the chances of transmission, meaning that an HIV-positive person taking anti-retroviral medication may be significantly less likely to pass the disease on to an HIV-negative partner.

Unfortunately, it’s not a cure. But, after years of discouraging news, it is a huge step forward. Through preventing the spread of this disease, it’s possible to dramatically lower the global transmission rate of HIV. Yet there are several huge obstacles that must be addressed for this strategy to work. First, more HIV-positive individuals must have access to anti-retroviral therapy. Although the cost of this medication has decreased over time, it’s still a daunting expense for the world’s poor. Generic drugs have made an enormous impact on the cost, but for this sort of strategy to work the world would have to come very close to providing universal access to HIV-positive patients.

We’d all love to add AIDS to the list of diseases cured in the 20th century. Could we do it in the near future? As of now, the stakes are high. Sure, we have encouraging data from ongoing research and a downward trend in the price of medicine, but these factors alone aren’t enough. What’s the next step? Comment below and let us know what you think. In the meantime, check out this clip on the history of humanity’s struggle with HIV.