December 1, 2008

Mathematical Model Says HIV Could Be Halted in a Decade

In a World AIDS Day editorial, The New York Times weighs the pros and cons of a new World Health Organization mathematical model that suggests a possible end to the global AIDS epidemic within the next few years.

Analysts estimate that if most adolescents and adults were tested once a year for HIV and if those who tested positive were immediately treated with antiretroviral drugs, the transmission of AIDS could be nearly eliminated within a decade.

Though the impact could be remarkable, the Times affirms that persuading people to get tested every year and paying for the cost of testing and treating so many people are among the problem areas that the model has yet to resolve.

WHO researchers believe that the approach suggested by the model could be cheaper than the current practice of waiting to treat HIV until the virus has progressed to an advanced stage.

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Previous Comments:

(DrTeddy)Tewodros teketel, San Francisco, 2010-01-14 15:10:30
Yes ANONYMOUS testing should be possible! I don't understand why testing oneself for HIV is not possible yet. It is the only way we can know without anybody else knowing! Oral saliva tests make it even easier and are FDA approved!

Tewodros W Teketel, San Francisco, 2009-01-12 17:06:29
Public health in general needs new global initiatives and committments than new ideas. The basic facts behind this proposal are not new,i.e. transmission can be very much lowered by early detection & ART, especially combined with other prevention efforts. Technology is also ready for this massive attack of HIV by humans for the first time, i.e. testing currently can almost be done by anyone untrained, current drugs can be given onetablet perday and have almostno side effects. what r we waiting 4

Antonio, Nueva York, 2008-12-10 15:47:00
Para el señor SantizoÑ El uso de palabras como ¨inmoralidad¨ y ¨lícitas¨ solo sirven para marginalizar a esas personas que necesitamos alcanzar con ayuda y educación. Eas palabras son profundamente relgiosas y no tienen ningún sentido ni ningún lugar en una conversación científica y razonal.

Robert, fayetteville, 2008-12-04 13:17:57
Sounds to me that by doing away with everyone that has aids or hiv will die causing a cure for aids.

J. Santizo, Guatemala, 2008-12-04 12:10:10
No creo que tal cosa sea posible. En realidad la solución no es viable, a menos que las personas abandonen por completo los hábitos malos, especialmente la inmoralidad sexual, que son tan comunes en nuestro tiempo. Así, también habría que esperar que los que ya están infectados cambien su estilo de vida y no se conviertan en vectores de contagio para otras personas, incluso para aquellas que se envuelven en relaciones sexualmente lícitas.

nvhorseman, , 2008-12-02 14:42:45
UH, DUH!!! Ya' think so?!! Of course it would help eradicate HIV if the above steps were taken. However, it will never work unless the testing is done anonymously, not confidentially, ANONYMOUSLY! You can be assured of losing your insurance, your privacy, your job, your family, your friends and about anything else you value if not done anonymously. State clinics could dispense the proper drugs,tests with medical supervision at lowest cost basis. Why is AZT still$250/month? Big Pharma ripoff!!

Michael Buitron, Long Beach, 2008-12-02 13:43:12
Public Health has known for years about the equilibrium between transmission and disease prevalence. It would be easy to test this theory in the United States by requiring every person who renewed their driver's license to provide evidence that they were tested and received up their result, and at the same time offering treatment to everyone regardless of their CD4 count.