Why HIV and AIDS should no longer frighten us

In the past century, AIDS has been a terrible monster that killed 40 million people worldwide. But things are changing, and now HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - is no longer a death sentence. Most HIV-positive people with access to modern medicines, will live quite a normal life. Scientists have found a few more reasons to rejoice, how the struggle with a terrible disease:

have a patient who recovered

One of the biggest breakthroughs. Timothy Ray Brown was diagnosed with HIV in 1995, and he immediately began taking antiretroviral therapy to suppress. In 2006 he was diagnosed with "leukemia" and had two bone marrow transplants. The new stem cells were resistant to HIV, so that after the treatment, he stopped taking antiretroviral therapy. It's been 10 years, and his condition remains stable, and most importantly - no sign of the virus in his body.

HIV is no longer a death sentence

Between 1988 and 1995, 78% of virus-infected died from causes directly related to AIDS. However, by 2009 the figure dropped to 5 per cent! Today, taking the therapy, it is possible to calculate the average life expectancy.

AIDS is no longer gay disease

One of the biggest misconceptions is that HIV and AIDS - a disease of gay men, in particular because it is more commonly found in men. The earliest cases of HIV infection among the citizens of the USSR have occurred as a result of unprotected sex with African students in the '70s, and the most high-profile occurred after an outbreak among gay men in the early 90s. But now people know that anyone can get HIV, this is absolutely not necessary to engage in unprotected sex with a man, and not all gay people will certainly sick.

It is possible to find the point where you do not infect anyone

If an HIV positive person is taking medication as prescribed, it can reach the point, which is called "undetectable viral load". This means that there is no active virus in his blood, which significantly reduces the risk of disease transmission: it remains, but tends to zero.

Now, this is not ashamed to discuss

Stigma and taboos associated with HIV, hindered the fight against the destruction of the virus. For example, written in the media that it is "a disease common in the West among prostitutes, homeless people and homosexuals." Now any teenager is aware of the fact that the virus can be picked up even at a reception at the dentist.

Of course, the statistics in Russia is not on our side: in 2016 was recorded at 5, 3% more new HIV cases than in 2015 - 103, 4000. Some officials still associate with the virus having sex and drug use, and prohibit to discuss these topics.

However, due to large-scale campaigns, as well as the work of charities, a new generation is well versed in what is true and what is false. Knowledge about treatment options increase, and people around the world realize that anyone can be at risk, and regularly tested. By the way, maybe that's why the numbers and different: more and more people become aware of how important it is checked regularly.

will soon grow a generation that does not know about this disease

Because countless advances in treatment, as well as the complexity of the transmission of the virus makes the phrase "AIDS, the end will come" quite a realistic goal. The UN has already published a report that is required to complete the epidemic by 2030. As for me, it is quite successful as possible:

We want 2020 to know about their diagnosis, and 90% have access to treatment, 90% of newly infected with HIV. Patients with HIV can not infect other people if they are aware that they are carriers of the virus, and will adhere to treatment.

Hour free state information hotline on prevention and treatment of HIV / AIDS, 8-800-200-5555 (toll-free)