The early stage of HIV can be difficult to recognise due to the fact that the infection causes non-specific symptoms. Many people will have no signs of infection whatsoever. As a result, the best way to determine whether someone is HIV-positive is to get tested in an accredited medical facility.
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The dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR) HIV Prevention For Women
Three quarters of the women who are HIV-positive live in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is why UNAIDS is putting a lot of work and effort into the research and development of a preventative option for these women. New announcements suggest that the efforts are likely to pay off in the near future.
Continue readingGetting a Close Look at HIV Shows Us How It Eventually Causes AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises the functioning of the immune system. This is the main reason why healthcare professionals have expressed a lot of concern about the way HIV-positive people could be affected by Covid-19. Have their fears of negative outcomes come true? Here’s what data shows so far.
Continue readingEverything You Need to Know About On-Demand PrEP
Studies show it’s very important to educate at-risk individuals about the basics of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). When such information is provided, effectiveness increases and the need to administer post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP goes down.
Continue readingStudy Shows Injectable HIV PrEP Delivers Better Results Than Oral Medication
A recent study has confirmed the fact that the way in which HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is administered plays a role in its effectiveness. The extensive trial involved 4,600 at-risk individuals who were given regular or injectable PrEP. The infection rate was significantly reduced in the event of injectable PrEP administration.
Continue readingSecond Person Becomes HIV-Free after a Stem Cell Transplant
A second person has gone back to having a HIV-negative status after a stem cell transplant. Known as the London Patient, the HIV-positive man received a transplant from a HIV-resistant person that helped for the complete eradication of the virus.
Continue readingAn HIV Prevention Roadmap for 2020 and Beyond
The world has made a massive leap forward when it comes to the management of HIV/AIDS. The condition is no longer a death sentence the way in was in the 1980s and 90s. Still, effective prevention strategies will be required to further slow down the spread of the virus in 2020 and the years to come.
Continue readingBreakthrough Research: New Medication Prevents HIV Transmission from Mother to Baby
Clinical studies focused on a new antibody-based treatment suggest that the medication is effective enough to prevent the passage of the HIV virus from pregnant mother to baby. While this is still a preliminary trial, the new treatment option is demonstrating a lot of promise.
Continue readingA Timeline of the HIV Crisis: The Scary 1980s and 1990s
The 1980s and 1990s were marked by the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 1981, there were 270 cases of the infection. By the end of 1984, the number of infections reached 7,699 in the US alone and 762 cases in Europe. The AIDS crisis marks a really dark time period but it has also given birth to life-saving research.
Continue readingNew HIV Strain Discovered for the First Time in Almost Two Decades
Researchers have discovered a new HIV strain for the first time since 2000. It belongs to the Group M of HIV – the subset that is responsible for the AIDS pandemic. This new discovery will help for the development of more accurate HIV tests to detect the new viral mutation.
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