#90-90-90

With a major new HIV vaccine trial under way, cautious optimism is stirring that the vaccine will prove effective enough for a rollout.

The 90-90-90 targets are likely unattainable because of the high proportion of those living with HIV in remote areas in Africa.

With a likely increasing proportion of the HIV population virally suppressed, addressing disparities, especially racial ones, is vital.

A look at the most notable HIV-related studies presented at the 2017 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle.

Widespread surveys show Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia are approaching the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.

Voluntary medical male circumcision is associated with a 60 percent reduction of female-to-male HIV transmission.

Nearly half of those living with HIV in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia are on treatment and have a fully suppressed virus.

Meeting the “90-90-90” target rates of HIV diagnosis, treatment and viral suppression is key to ending the epidemic in individual nations.

CD4 and viral load monitoring instruments are also underused.

A roundup of the major presentations on HIV science at the international conference held July 22 to 28 outlines many exciting developments.

But will there be enough money to keep pushing the dial?

The program also boosted the rates of HIV diagnosis and treatment.