This year epidemiologists are voicing real frustration that HIV incidence figures continue to increase.
And worryingly, surveillance also shows that large numbers of HIV-infected individuals are undiagnosed. Doctors, patient advocates, and policy makers from across Europe recently met in Brussels to agree an action plan to cut the high rates of undiagnosed HIV in the continent.
Cutting the number of undiagnosed infections can make a real difference at both a community and individual level, and could contribute not only to a reduction in new HIV infections but would also help reduce the high levels of late diagnosis that characterise the HIV epidemics in many countries.
Western European countries offer some of the best healthcare in the world, and antiretroviral therapy, which can mean a near-normal life-expectancy for somebody with HIV, is free. But people still become ill and even die of HIV in western Europe because their HIV is diagnosed late. Such illness and death is entirely avoidable.
Hopefully this autumn’s unity of purpose to cut late HIV diagnosis will be maintained and the statistics that are released to mark World’s AIDS Day 2008 will be a little less grim.
most recent news
Nearly a third of HIV-positive people in London report discrimination, often from healthcare staff
Almost a third of HIV-positive individuals surveyed in London have experienced HIV-related discrimination, according to a study to be published in the December edition of AIDS and Behaviour (currently in press). Half of the individuals who reported discrimination said that it had involved healthcare staff.
Gay men's HIV prevention in the US and Europe is 'faltering'
Gay men’s HIV prevention in the United States is faltering and renewed efforts to stop the transmission of the infection requires leadership from gay community and public health officials, as well as the acceptance of the need for behaviour change at a personal level, according to a commentary in the November 28th edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Experts endorse European plan to reduce late HIV diagnosis
An international meeting of clinicians, patient advocates and policy makers has endorsed plans to promote earlier diagnosis of HIV infection throughout Europe, in order to reduce the numbers who are still diagnosed with AIDS or die from it in Europe.
HIV rate doubled in Europe between 1999 - 2006
The rate of newly diagnosed HIV infection in the European Union (EU) has almost doubled since 1999, according to EuroHIV data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Stephen Lewis damns UNAIDS over statistics revision; diverts from the tragedy of AIDS
In a passionate speech at the World Health Editors Network in London, a former United Nations Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa and Co-Director of AIDS-Free World, Stephen Lewis, warned that a recent UNAIDS document reporting decreased HIV infections has “undermined public confidence in the reliability of the figures, introducing completely unnecessary levels of doubt, contention and confusion”. Describing the UN as “stubborn and sloppy”, he expressed concern that the report does nothing to convince the world that we are “billions and billions of dollars behind, when it comes to funding all the components of the pandemic, from orphans to second line drugs.”
Are young people in the UK really as ignorant and prejudiced about HIV as a Red Cross survey suggests?
Young people in the UK generally have a good idea of how HIV is transmitted, but many have ‘stigmatising’ attitudes towards the illness, according to the results of an opinion poll commissioned by the British Red Cross in advance of World AIDS Day on December 1st.
HIV partner notification services work well for a mainly gay population in San Francisco
Professional partner notification is a successful and acceptable method of identifying new HIV infections, according to a study conducted in San Francisco and published in the December 1st edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Most of the patients whose partners were traced were gay men – a population where third-party partner notification is often difficult.
Abacavir hypersensitivity screening not a substitute for 'clinical vigilance' say investigators at UK's largest HIV clinic
HLA-B*5701 testing to predict which patients have a risk of developing an abacavir hypersensitivity reaction is not a substitute for clinical vigilance, a prospective UK study published in the November 30th edition of AIDS suggests.
Study finally backs up conventional wisdom: VCT does reduce risky sex in Africa
Kenyans attending rural and urban primary healthcare-based voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services reported significant reductions in the number of sexual partners, fewer sexually transmitted infection symptoms, and increased condom use – albeit from a very low base – six months following an HIV antibody test, according to the results of an observational study of behaviour change and life events published in Sexually Transmitted Infections, published online on 8th November.
When is the best time for measles vaccination in infants born to HIV-infected mothers?
Children born to HIV-infected Zambian mothers had lower levels of passively acquired maternal antibodies against the measles virus (MV) and an increased risk of measles before routine childhood vaccination, according to the findings of an observational study published in the December 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The authors and an accompanying editorial recommend administering the first dose of measles vaccine as early as six months of age in these children.
Intermittent preventive treatment against malaria during pregnancy in HIV-positive women: what is the best dosing frequency?
Monthly intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is comparable to the standard two-dose SP IPTp in protection against malaria in HIV-positive Zambian women, according to the findings of a study published in the December 1st edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Late diagnosis often involved in mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the UK
More can still be done to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the UK, according to an audit published on November 23rd.
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