There are about 35 million people living with HIV worldwide and although the disease isn't as fatal as it used to be, the quest to eradicate this remains an objective for the medical science community. Now, UCLA researchers conducting decade-long HIV cure studies in Denmark might have found a way to wipe out the disease.
The research, published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, cites that the solution to HIV cure is simple. Patients must only adhere to treatment strictly and properly, but the reality is that this isn't always easy to do.
Consistent HIV Treatments Is Key
The researchers studied cases of HIV patients in Denmark beginning 1995. In particular, they kept track of men who have sex with other men and found out that about 98 percent actually do follow through on their medications. Decline in HIV cases started to manifest when more HIV treatments were introduced in the late 90s. Thus, only 1.4 of new HIV infections in every 1,000 men have been logged by 2013 in Denmark.
Denmark experience shows that eliminating new HIV infections is possible. https://t.co/0gUiHWkLGr pic.twitter.com/P7OBcEricW
— UCLA Newsroom (@UCLAnewsroom) May 9, 2016
"[The Danes] have almost eliminated their HIV epidemic, and they have achieved this simply by providing treatment," said Sally Blower, per the UCLA press release. The experts note that consistent HIV treatments have made the disease less infectious. Now, with only a few percentage of men with the disease, it would be easier for the government and health workers to convince them to get tested.
HIV Treatments Must Be Accessible In Resource-Rich Countries
The researchers also acknowledged that Denmark's healthcare system has helped in their drive to eradicate the disease. The Danes have universal health care and HIV treatments are covered free of charge, per LA Weekly.
The next step is to convince world leaders, especially in countries with resources, to allocate more money and effort to HIV treatments. "The goal of elimination through treatment is aspirational, but Denmark has shown that -- at least in resource-rich countries -- it's achievable," said Blower, via Science Daily.
