More than 40 years after the start of the HIV pandemic in the world, technology and science have advanced to the point of ensuring different forms of virus prevention and effective treatments, which prevent the development of AIDS.
Furthermore, the treatments available today guarantee the end of transmission of the virus by people living with HIV.
A CNN List below the main scientific advances and the changes they have brought about in the fight against this virus.
Medications and their results
There are 22 antiretroviral medications in Brazil, in 38 different pharmaceutical presentations, which can be used by people living with HIV.
These medications help prevent the weakening of the immune system and, consequently, the development of AIDS, which is the disease that the HIV virus can cause.
When taken correctly by people living with the virus, it is common for them to reach the “undetectable” level, when tests can no longer detect HIV in their bodies.
By becoming undetectable, these people stop transmitting the virus. To maintain the condition, it is necessary to keep the treatment up to date.
Vaccination?
Many studies and tests on animals and humans have been carried out in recent decades in favor of creating a vaccine against HIV.
The company Moderna, for example, announced in January 2022 that the first participants in a Phase 1 clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine were vaccinated.
In August of this year, a scientific trial promised the creation of the new vaccine. Called PrEPVacc, the trial is testing two vaccines alongside two forms of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
First cases of cure
In the meantime, alternative treatments have already guaranteed a cure for at least six people around the world.
In July this year, a man in Switzerland, nicknamed the “Geneva Patient”, experienced remission of the HIV virus after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
Before him, five other patients had similar results after transplants previously.
In May, scientists had already managed to eliminate HIV from the bodies of animals by combining long-acting antiretroviral therapies and a new gene editing technique.
Means of preventing HIV infection and AIDS
Testing
Carrying out testing frequently (from six months to a year) is a way to prevent the spread of various sexually transmitted infections.
This is because knowing your health status means being able to be referred as quickly as possible for appropriate treatment.
Tests to diagnose possible HIV infection can be done by oral fluid or blood collection.
In Brazil, there are two types:
- rapid testing (done by SUS or with a pharmacy test, which can be done at home); It is
- laboratory tests.
They detect the presence of antibodies that act against HIV in about 30 minutes.
Condoms
The popular ones condoms are classified by the Ministry of Health as the most effective method to protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
There are two models, one to cover the penis before sexual intercourse and the other to be used internally in the vagina. They must not be used at the same time.
Protection occurs by preventing direct contact with the skin, body fluids and microcracks.
PEP
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is an urgent measure to prevent HIV infection that can be used after risk exposure.
PEP are two tablets (one with tenofovir and lamivudine and the other with dolutegravir — all called antiretrovirals) that must be taken for 28 days, without interruption, under medical guidance and evaluation.
The start of treatment should preferably begin within the first two hours after risk exposure and within a maximum of 72 hours.
The following are understood as risk situations:
- sexual violence;
- unprotected sexual intercourse;
- occupational accident (with sharp instruments or direct contact with biological material).
PrEP
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), in turn, should be used before risk situations for HIV infections arise.
PrEP reduces a person’s chances of becoming infected with HIV by more than 90% when exposed to the virus.
The medication, which combines two antiretroviral drugs (tenofovir + emtricitabine), can be taken in a few ways:
- regular oral (one dose per day);
- oral on demand or intermittent (two pills between two and 24 hours before the scheduled sex and, in case of sexual intercourse, one more pill up to 24 hours after the act and one more the following day);
- injectable (with injections administered by the SUS every two months).
Combined prevention
Health professionals and agencies indicate that it is possible to increase protection against HIV, and also other STIs, by combining more than one prevention technology.
The use of PrEP and condoms, for example. The possible combinations are varied and depend on each person’s individual characteristics and moment in life.
VIDEO – Why is there still no vaccine against HIV?
General information about HIV and AIDS
Since the 1980s, more than 1 million cases of HIV infections have been recorded in Brazilaccording to the Ministry of Health and Unaids.
The states with the highest rates are, respectively: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and Santa Catarina.
By 2022, Unaids counted 39 million people living with HIV worldwide.
Last year, 1.3 million new cases of infections were recorded, of which 46% were girls and women of all ages.
Of the total number of people living with HIV, 29.8 million (76%) were on antiretroviral therapy in December 2022. In 2010, the number of people on treatment was 7.7 million.
From 2007 until June 2023, 489,594 cases of HIV infection were reported on Sinan in Brazil, 203,227 (41.5%) in the Southeast region, 104,251 (21.3%) in the Northeast region, 93,399 (19.1%) in the South region, 49,956 (10.2%) in the North region and 38,761 (7.9%) in the Central-West region.
In 2022, 43,403 cases of HIV infection were reported, of which 15,064 (34.7%) in the Southeast region, 11,414 (26.3%) in the Northeast, 6,900 (15.9%) in the South, 6,200 (14, 3%) in the North and 3,825 (8.8%) in the Central-West.
In the historical series, 345,069 (70.5%) cases were reported in men and 144,364 (29.5%) in women. The sex ratio has changed over time: in 2007 it was 14 men for every ten women and, as of 2020, it was 28 men for every ten women.
Source: CNN Brasil
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