40 years after its discovery, the virus is still circulating

In March 1981, a mysterious illness struck the United States. It manifests itself by the appearance of spots on the skin and quickly leads to death. It also appears in France. “We were helpless because we were trained for almost nothing. We announced 11 months of survival, it was extremely complicated”, describes Gilles Pialoux, head of the infectious diseases department at Tenon hospital in Paris. It is the beginning of a massacre. No treatment, and unanswered questions about the mode of transmission. “Usually, they got sick and ended up in the hospital. They reached what is considered today, now that we know everything, as the final stage”remembers Hugues Fischer, former president of Act-Up Paris.

Screenings increase, seropositivity decreases

In 1983, a French team from the Pasteur Institute led by researcher Montagnier discovered the AIDS virus. The disease is scary and the sick are singled out. The only way to protect yourself: a condom. If the French adapt, the 90s are the deadliest, until the arrival of triple therapies. 30 years later, it is estimated that around 200,000 HIV-positive people are living with the disease thanks to effective HIV treatment.

Screening is increasing: between 4,200 and 5,700 people discovered their HIV status in 2022, less than in 2019. We are also observing a drop in HIV status among men who have sex with men and born in France. This can be explained in particular by the growing adoption of PreP, taken preventatively and intended for anyone with risky sexuality. Its use increased by 31% in one year. Associations are warning of the progression of HIV among the most deprived people and those far from prevention systems.