Came across an awesome news story, published today, about HIV/AIDS in British Columbia, but the take away messages apply to anywhere.

Only 84 new cases were diagnosed in the province in 2013, down from 253 in 1997; that’s a 67-per-cent drop. The number of AIDS-related deaths fell to 44 from 241 in the same period, a 72-per-cent reduction.

“What the numbers tell us is that our approach – treatment as prevention – is working by minimizing mortality, morbidity and HIV transmission,” Viviane Dias Lima, senior statistician at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), said in an interview.

The concept is that by diagnosing HIV early, with near-universal testing, then treating aggressively with cocktails of antiretrovirals, the amount of virus circulating in a person’s body can be suppressed to the point of being undetectable. This, in turn, dramatically decreases the likelihood of spreading HIV (even if an infected person does not practice safer sex), and it improves longevity and quality of life by reducing HIV-related symptoms.

There are a few myths and pieces of misinformation out there that this article and the research speak to and here is how I see them:

1. Some people are afraid to get tested because they don’t want to know that they’ve become infected. Because then it is too late. But in reality, the earlier you are diagnosed, it is better for you and everyone you are sexually intimate with. Being tested often and regularly, the sooner you can take meds that will get your viral load under control and undetectable.
2. Having sex isn’t what causes AIDS. What causes the spread of AIDS is having unprotected sex while you don’t know you are carrying the virus and passing it to others. If the viral load drops to undetectable, the likelihood of spreading HIV also drops.
3. “Near-universal” testing means an end to a stigma attached the act of getting tested. If getting tested becomes stigma-free, and testing was truly near universal, we would see HIV infection rates plummet.

But lest you think HIV/AIDS is nothing to worry about, the reality is there is still Science doesn’t know about the long term effects of being on anti-viral medications to combat HIV/AIDS:

While the life expectancy of people with HIV/AIDS is now approaching that of the general population, one of the unknowns is whether HIV infection, which attacks the immune system, is accelerating the aging process.

“That’s the question everyone is asking and we’re going to do a study to try and find out,” Dr. Lima said.

There is also evidence that antiretrovirals, while extending life, can damage the heart and other internal organs.

It seems many young people don’t worry about having protected sex, because they think they can just start taking daily medications and it is no big deal. Not true! Using a condom, talking honestly and openly about safer-sex and HIV and making informed choices about your own behavior that protect your health are essential since there is still so much unknown about HIV/AIDS fighting drugs.

Everyone, regardless of your HIV status can take steps that help stop the spread of HIV. In that regard, your status is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is doing your part to stop the spread of HIV.

via B.C. treatment as prevention strategy gains ground on HIV/AIDS – The Globe and Mail.