the disease continues to claim victims and of the 39 million infected worldwide, more than 9 million do not have access to treatment

December 1st is World AIDS Day. 40 years after its discovery, HIV still affects 39 million people worldwide. The progress recorded in recent years is considerable and makes us dream of an end to AIDS, but the disease continues to claim victims.

Putting an end, if not to AIDS, at least to its transmission, is now possible, according to UNAIDS, the United Nations body fighting the disease, in Geneva. For the 6th time, a patient was declared cured after receiving a bone marrow transplant. But unlike the five other ex-patients, his cure does not come from a rare genetic mutation originating from the donor and which protects against AIDS. His case therefore opens many new doors for researchers.

The number of new contaminations has never been so low since the 1980s. The number of deaths has decreased significantly, falling by 70% in 20 years. Five countries, all in Africa, are even close to ending the epidemic. Ensuring that AIDS is no longer a public health threat by 2030 – an objective set by the UN – is therefore largely possible.

New saliva test to screen yourself

But be careful, every minute in the world, someone dies from AIDS or an infection-related illness. 1.3 million people were still infected in 2022. More often women than men. More often in sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere. Out of 39 million patients, more than 9 million do not have access to treatment, despite reduced costs.

If a new saliva test exists to facilitate screening, we must not let our guard down on prevention campaigns. This saliva self-test, used since 2012 in the United States, has also been sold in France since last year and is in the process of arriving in Canada. It works a bit like a Covid test: you have to pass the end of the test on your teeth and gums and wait around twenty minutes to find out if you are positive or not for HIV.

More women than men

In South Africa, the country in the world most affected by HIV, we have observed a first significant decline in five years. Researchers are delighted to observe a reduction in the number of people carrying HIV of 1.3%, it is not much but it is a first. The reasons are multiple: less contamination and more babies born to HIV-positive mothers, without being carriers of the virus themselves.

This decline should not obscure the fact that there are still more than seven million South Africans living with HIV. This study also shows that women are twice as infected as men, the black community is also the most affected and rural regions are more affected. Another fact is that men take less care of themselves and resort to treatments much less. Another downside is that condom use is declining and this is obviously a cause for concern.

However, South Africa is approaching the target it has set for 2025, in terms of screening and treatment of infected people.