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Positively Positive - Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS News Archive - December 2023
33rd Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2024)
December 31, 2023 - CAHR - The 33rd Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2024), which will take place in London, Ontario, from April 25th to 28th, 2024. The annual CAHR conference is the premier gathering in Canada for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic.
The CAHR 2024 Scientific Committee has developed an outstanding program with a variety of engaging presentations. Complementing the oral abstract presentations of the four CAHR scientific tracks are Key Population sessions and a comprehensive offering of Special Sessions and Symposia. Registration for the 33rd Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2024) is now open and program details will become available online in the coming weeks.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Releases Global Health Security Partnerships Annual Progress Report Demonstrating Results from United states Investments
December 30, 2023 - The White House - The Biden-Harris Administration continues to prioritize global health security as a critical component of national biodefense. The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, mpox and other outbreaks in recent years, has demonstrated the catastrophic impacts infectious diseases can have on health, economies, and societies, regardless of where they start. The United States partners with countries around the world to build stronger global health security capacity – the ability to prevent, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from new and emerging public health threats and prevent their spread across borders. Partnering with countries to stop infectious disease threats at their source, including by strengthening equitable health systems in their own countries and across regions, effectively protects the health of Americans and people across the world.
To show the American people the impact of these life-saving investments, the Administration is releasing its annual report, Progress and Impact of U.S. Government Investments in Global Health Security today. This report highlights the Administration’s bold actions to accelerate implementation of the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security.
Dr. Jesse Peel Dies at 83
December 29, 2023 - Georgia Voice - Atlanta’s queer community is reeling at the news of Dr. Jesse Peel’s passing on December 28, 2023, at the age of 83.
The North Carolina native lived a life of activism, advocacy, and compassion, dedicating his life to helping people living with HIV/AIDS as well as the entire LGBTQ community. Dr. Peel attended University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he attended medical school before completing his residency in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. In Atlanta, his psychiatric practice served gay men, and when many of his clients began dying during the AIDS epidemic, Dr. Peel was at the forefront of advocacy efforts as a founding member of several activist groups.
Less than 1% of Emergency Room Visits Include HIV Testing
December 29, 2023 - By Trent Straube - Emergency rooms can offer access to HIV services. But few take advantage, especially in the South, where the epidemic is worse.
Less than 1% of visits to the emergency room included an HIV test in 2019 and 2020, according to findings published in the February 2024 issue of AIDS. This is despite the federal recommendation that people in health care settings should be tested for HIV unless they decline (referred to as opt-out screening).
Read more...
New Novotech Report Finds 1,000 HIV Clinical Trials Globally
BOSTON, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novotech - Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO with global execution capabilities, today released the latest 2023 global clinical trial landscape report on HIV, a condition now affecting more than 39 million people.
The Novotech research analyst team provides these expert reports on a monthly basis, completely free of charge. These reports offer current insights into global clinical trial activity, revealing which regions experience the highest trial volumes and the factors behind these trends. They tackle the hurdles faced by biotech firms in specific therapeutic areas and discuss future paths in therapy and investment trends.
According to the HIV Global Clinical Trial Landscape report, the biopharma industry has initiated over 1,000 HIV clinical trials worldwide since 2018. The distribution of the trials is as follows: Asia-Pacific accounts for 29% of trials, followed by Europe at 28% and North America at 26%, while the Rest of the World (ROW) contributes a moderate share of 17%.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Mainland China had the highest trials share with 45%. Within Europe, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany attracted the most HIV trials. Among the ROW countries, South Africa leads with 31% HIV trials.
Stigma against gay men could worsen Congo's biggest mpox outbreak, scientists warn
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - December 28, 2023 - By Jean-yves Kamale And Maria Cheng The Associated Press - TORONTO STAR - As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse.
In November, the World Health Organization reported that mpox, also known as monkeypox, was being spread via sex in Congo for the first time.
Read more...
266 died from AIDS this year, 1,276 identified: DGHS
Dec 28, 2023 - The Daily Star - The number HIV/AIDS infections and deaths is increasing in Bangladesh, a DGHS study said.
This is the highest number of HIV infections and deaths reported in Bangladesh in a year.
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How Can HIV Affect the Tongue?
Dec 28, 2023 - By Liz Scherer - TheBody - While anyone can experience problems related to the teeth and mouth, people with HIV more often experience these concerns, with anywhere from 32% to 46% of people living with HIV having at least one significant HIV-related oral health issue in their lifetime. These issues can potentially indicate underlying issues such as undiagnosed HIV infection, an unsuppressed viral load, or co-infection with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) like human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), or syphilis.
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HIV disclosure law being reviewed: MOH
SINGAPORE - Dec 27, 2023 - By Liz Scherer - THE STRAITS TIMES - A law requiring those with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to inform their sexual partners of the risk of HIV transmission or face jail time is being reviewed, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
This is as studies have shown that people living with HIV who have been compliant with treatment and have maintained a stable undetectable viral load have practically no risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners, MOH said in response to queries from The Straits Times.
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Longer-Lasting HIV Meds Are on the Horizon
December 26, 2023 - By Liz Highleyman - An extended-release formulation of tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir maintained effective drug levels for a month.
HIV treatment has come a long way over the past four decades—from handfuls of pills taken multiple times a day to once-daily single-tablet regimens and injections every two months. Daily pills and every-other-month injections also prevent HIV acquisition. But longer-lasting options are still needed, as only about two thirds of people diagnosed with HIV in the United States have achieved viral suppression, and only one third of eligible individuals are on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
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New type of antibody shows promise against multiple forms of flu virus
December 21, 2023 - Findings could aid development of vaccines with broader protection against different flu strains
Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized class of antibodies—immune system proteins that protect against disease—that appear capable of neutralizing multiple forms of flu virus. These findings, which could contribute to development of more broadly protective flu vaccines, will publish December 21st by Holly Simmons of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, US, and colleagues in the open access journal PLOS Biology.
A flu vaccine prompts the immune system to make antibodies that can bind to a viral protein called hemagglutinin on the outside of an invading flu virus, blocking it from entering a person’s cells. Different antibodies bind to different parts of hemagglutinin in different ways, and hemagglutinin itself evolves over time, resulting in the emergence of new flu strains that can evade old antibodies. New flu vaccines are offered each year based on predictions of whatever the most dominant strains will be.
HOOKIPA Pharma Announces $21.25 Million Equity Investment from Gilead Sciences
NEW YORK and VIENNA, Austria, Dec. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- - HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK, ‘HOOKIPA’), a company developing a new class of immunotherapeutics based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, today announced that Gilead Sciences (‘Gilead’) has purchased 15 million shares of HOOKIPA’s common stock for approximately $21.25 million, at a price of $1.4167 per share.
In addition, HOOKIPA has the right, subject to certain terms and conditions, to sell an additional approximately $8.75 million of common stock to Gilead as pro-rata participation in potential future equity raises. The agreement with Gilead replaces the stock purchase agreement that Hookipa entered into with Gilead in 2022.
“We have a tremendous partnership with Gilead, who have been incredible believers in our arenavirus platform since our initial collaboration and license agreement began more than five years ago,” said Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer at HOOKIPA. “Together, we have made meaningful progress to find a potential functional cure for HIV. Most recently, we received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of our Investigational New Drug application for HB-500 and are excited to begin our Phase 1 trial in the first half of next year. We are excited to continue our relationship with Gilead, and we are collectively optimistic about the potential of our partnership to benefit patients.”
Antibiotic resistance causes more deaths thHIV drugs might help prevent multiple sclerosis, large new study suggests
December 20, 2023 - Kyla McKay, Karolinska Institutet and Elaine Kingwell, UCL - Over the last decade, several case studies have reported that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who started antiretroviral therapy for HIV (to keep the virus in check) subsequently found that their MS symptoms had either disappeared completely or the disease progression had slowed considerably.
These findings compelled researchers to ask whether HIV or antiretrovirals could influence the risk of developing MS. According to our latest study, published in Annals of Neurology, the answer is yes.
It’s very difficult to be certain if HIV or antiretroviral drugs might affect MS because large groups of people living with HIV, with detailed medical information on both HIV and MS, must be followed for a long period.
Government of Canada supports community initiatives addressing HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
December 20, 2023 | Whitehorse, Yukon | Public Health Agency of Canada - Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced more than $1.1 million in funding through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF) to support the work of community-based organizations addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) in Whitehorse.
STBBI are preventable, treatable and in many cases curable. However, these infections remain a significant public health concern in Canada, especially among Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, Black and racialized communities as well as other equity-deserving communities. Systemic stigma, exclusion and discrimination create barriers that prevent people from getting tested or accessing the care they need when they need it. That is why the Government of Canada has put a priority on supporting community-based projects that incorporate evidence-based strategies that address these barriers.
Radiant to Assess Multi-Valent, Multi-Specific Multabodies as Potential Treatments for HIV
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- December 20, 2023 - Gates Foundation funding for an approach that leverages Radiant’s breakthrough Multabody™ platform
Radiant Biotherapeutics, a startup biotechnology company developing a revolutionary antibody platform to deliver transformative therapies for patients facing life-changing disease, announced it has received a USD $2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop the next generation of HIV biologics based on Radiant’s Multabody™ platform.
The agreement includes a commitment to three potential infectious disease targets which includes the HIV funding and interest in a potential equity investment in the company. The funding supports a two year-long project, which enables Radiant to evaluate the Multabody™ platform’s ability to destroy latent stores of the HIV virus, along with its ability to eliminate circulating viral particles.
The First Person Cured of AIDS Gets His Due
DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Desirée Guerrero - HIVPlusMag.com - Palm Springs honors Timothy Ray Brown, the first person known to cured of HIV, with a permanent memorial.
Palm Springs recently honored an important historic figure in the HIV community, Timothy Ray Brown, the first person known to have been functionally cured of HIV. A star with Brown’s name on it was permanently added to the city’s Walk of the Stars, according to the Desert Sun. It was unveiled on December 1, 2023, as part of its annual World AIDS Day events and was placed in proximity to the future site of an AIDS memorial near Downtown Park.
Read more...
One of the Largest HIV Privacy Breach Payments Arriving in Mailboxes This Week, says Consumer Watchdog
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Checks for $1,821.58 were mailed late last week to hundreds of Californians whose confidential medical information—including their HIV status—was allegedly accessed and shared without their consent. The payment is part of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of a "John Doe" plaintiff by lawyers for the non-profit Consumer Watchdog and Whatley Kallas, LLP.
The payment is one of the largest of its kind in history. Class members did not need to file a claim to receive the settlement payment.
How do participants feel about analytical treatment interruptions in HIV cure-directed trials?
18 December 2023 - Alain Volny-Anne - Experiences of participants in a US HIV cure-directed study with an extended analytical treatment interruption are reported in HIV Research & Clinical Practice. The researchers recommend that those designing HIV cure-directed trials should manage participants’ expectations and focus on the contribution they are making. Providing psychosocial support to participants must also be considered, as well as preparing them for the mental health impact of viral rebound.
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Myanmar: 20 years of assistance to people living with HIV
Dec 18, 2023 - Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - By the end of 2023, people living with HIV in the care of MSF in Dawei will have transferred to the National Aids Programme, whereas MSF’s support will still remain
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been providing comprehensive HIV care in Dawei for two decades, including outreach programmes to prevent HIV infection in marginalized and at-risk people, such as migrant workers and people who inject drugs. In Myanmar, the HIV/AIDS epidemic wreaked havoc in the 2000, and people living with HIV have had great difficulty accessing treatment. The MSF clinic in Dawei was established to provide free treatment to give them hope of a better life.
By the end of 2023, patients receiving care in MSF’s HIV project in Dawei will transfer to the National Aids Programme (NAP) alongside MSF resources allocated to support this programme.
First systematic analysis of NIH finds funding gaps for TB risk factors
December 18, 2023 - (Boston) - BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE - Funding lacking in undernutrition, alcohol use, tobacco use and diabetes
Tuberculosis (TB) has regained its place as the leading infectious killer worldwide. Annually, 1.6 million people die of this disease which is the equivalent to three TB deaths per minute. While the TB pandemic is driven by five key risk factors – undernutrition, HIV, alcohol use, tobacco use and diabetes – the extent of mismatch between their impact on TB and available research funding is unclear.
Researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center (BMC) have found that research on key TB risk factors, like undernutrition, is underfunded, especially when their relative impacts are considered.
AHF Honors the Memory of Chinese Activist-Clinician Dr. Gao
December 18, 2023 - LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today commemorated the life and work of Chinese HIV/AIDS clinician and advocate Dr. Gao Yaojie, who brought to light the HIV epidemic in rural China caused by tainted blood supplies in the 1990s. Dr. Gao died at her home in New York on Dec. 10 at the age of 95.
Auntie Helen’s closing after 36 years serving San Diegans with HIV/AIDS
December 18, 2023 - KPBS Public Media - After 36 years serving San Diegans with HIV and AIDS, Auntie Helen’s will close at the end of the month. KPBS reporter Katie Hyson looked into why, and found good news.
IAVI and Zendal announce funding for efficacy trial of promising TB vaccine candidate in Africa
NEW YORK, U.S. and PORRIÑO, SPAIN — December 18, 2023 - IAVI - TB kills 1.3 million people a year and sickens more than 10 million people annually.
IAVI, a global nonprofit scientific research organization, and Spanish biopharmaceutical company Biofabri, a subsidiary of Zendal, today announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded IAVI US$55 million to conduct a Phase IIb trial assessing the safety and efficacy of the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate MTBVAC to prevent active TB lung disease in adolescents and adults. This funding has been made possible in part through a grant provided by Open Philanthropy, a grant-making organization that aims to use its resources to help others as much as it can. This trial is also supported by additional funding provided by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the KfW Development Bank, which provides funding to IAVI and partners in support of developing MTBVAC. It is anticipated that the trial will begin enrolling participants in mid-2024.
With everyone's attention on COVID-19, these health issues kept festering. Now they demand attention
Dec 16, 2023 - CBC News - CBC health and science reporters reveal what they'll be watching in the coming year
Four years — yes, four whole years — after the virus behind COVID-19 exploded into public consciousness, health-care teams and scientists are tackling a host of pressing health issues that took a backseat during the pandemic.
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Major funding of partnership for HIV/AIDS Progress (PFAP) Award from the National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research to the Research Initiative on Infectious Disease and Substance Use (RIIS)
15-DEC-2023 -The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) received an annual award for $3 million funded by the NIH Office of AIDS Research. The PFAP award is projected to total approximately $9 million over four years. Principal Investigators are Elana Rosenthal, MD and Sarah Kattakuzhy, MD, MPH.
The “Research Initiative on Infectious Disease and Substance Use (RIIS)” is a unique Baltimore and DC Based clinical care and research program at the IHV with the primary purpose to explore the intersection of infections and substance use in marginalized populations. RIIS grew out of the DC Partnership for HIV AIDS Progress (PFAP), a local-federal partnership funded by the NIH Office of AIDS Research and established in 2009 to support multidisciplinary efforts to respond to HIV in the region.
UNC-Chapel Hill Named National HIV Residency Pathway Consortium Site
December 15, 2023 - UNC-Chapel Hill was recently named a National HIV Residency Pathway Consortium Site and awarded a year-long, $68,000 grant to support its efforts in training family medicine and internal medicine residents in caring for people with HIV. UNC’s site Investigators, Rick Moore, MD, and Louise Rambo King, MD, have a storied history of caring for patients with HIV.
This Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant through the National HIV Pathway Consortium (NHRPC) is part of a broader effort to enhance training in the management of HIV within primary care residencies at several sites throughout the country.
‘Long flu’ has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID
December 14, 2023 - By Kristina Sauerwein - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System comparing the viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19 shows that people hospitalized with seasonal influenza also can suffer long-term, negative health effects, especially involving their lungs and airways. The study also found that in the 18 months after infection, patients hospitalized for either COVID-19 or seasonal influenza faced an increased risk of death, hospital readmission, and other health problems.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, extensive research has emerged detailing the virus’s ability to attack multiple organ systems, potentially resulting in a set of enduring and often disabling health problems known as long COVID. Now, new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System indicates that people hospitalized with seasonal influenza also can suffer long-term, negative health effects, especially involving their lungs and airways.
NIH research identifies opportunities to improve future HIV vaccine candidates
December 14, 2023 - NIH - Study suggests greater CD8+ T-cell activity may increase HIV immunity
An effective HIV vaccine may need to prompt strong responses from immune cells called CD8+ T cells to protect people from acquiring HIV, according to a new study from researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues. The study findings, appearing in Science, draw comparisons between the immune system activity of past HIV vaccine study participants and people with HIV who naturally keep the virus from replicating even in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The latter individuals are often called “long-term non-progressors” or “elite controllers” (LTNPs/ECs).
HIV Is Not Over: Interview With Sharon Lewin, M.D., President of the International AIDS Society
Dec 14, 2023 - By Juan Michael Porter II - TheBody - Given the progress that has been made on treating HIV, it is easy to forget that the virus is a chronic health condition that requires lifelong treatment. Ignoring this can lead to complacency around the virus, particularly in the U.S., where a number of Republican politicians have begun to treat HIV funding like an easily dispatched luxury.
This attitude imperils the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the country-approximately 66% of whom are virally suppressed and therefore incapable of passing the virus on through sex-as well as the 54 countries that receive support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
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Governments commit to step up the global HIV response to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030
GENEVA, 14 December 2023 - UNAIDS - The 53rd meeting of UNAIDS’ Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) concluded today in Geneva, Switzerland, with Board members making strong commitments to redouble efforts to end AIDS by 2030.
In her remarks to the Board the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima said, “I wish I could tell you now was the time to relax, but we are not done yet. And pulling back before we are done—that is how pandemics resurge; how the least powerful get left behind; how the virus thrives. In a pandemic, there is no standing still. If we do not make progress, the virus will.”
Mpox (Monkeypox) Vaccine Triggers Equally Strong Immune Response in Smaller Than Usual Doses and in People With or Without HIV
NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --- Delivering the two-dose mpox vaccine, called JYNNEOS, in smaller than the usual FDA-approved doses, and by injection between layers of the skin rather than by the standard route under the skin, produced a detectable immune response, a new study shows. This also occurred regardless of whether people were living with or without HIV.
LIFEbeat The Music Industry Fights AIDS TO BECOME A PROGRAM OF THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR AIDS FOUNDATION
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) announced today that LIFEbeat will become a program of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. LIFEbeat mobilizes the music and entertainment industry to provide sexual health resources, including HIV, at music tours, special events, with broadcast, social media, and print campaigns. LIFEbeat engages at-risk youth about safe sex and the services that support them regardless of status, gender, or sexuality. In the United States, 20% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021 were among young people aged 13-24.
'Take a well deserved festive season break but not an ARV holiday,' warns HIV advocate
December 14, 2023 - Sipokazi Fokazi - TimesLIVE - The festive season is upon us and while it's the season to be jolly, HIV experts caution the festivities can derail routines for those on chronic treatment such as antiretrovirals (ARVs).
Many patients stop taking their medication, leaving them at risk of high viral load and ill health.
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Climate change risks triggering a spike in infectious disease outbreaks: three reasons why
December 13, 2023 - The Conversation - Climate change is our planet’s most immediate existential threat, and will likely only worsen for the foreseeable future.
Among its numerous adverse effects on human health, there is strong evidence linking climate change to infectious disease outbreaks.
A recent analysis revealed that of 375 infectious diseases affecting human beings, 218 (58%) can be aggravated by climatic hazards.
It is no longer a question of “if”, but “when” an epidemic will be triggered or amplified by climate events.
‘You were a weapon. People suffered, people died’: Parole board denies HIV-positive dangerous offender Johnson Aziga’s bid for freedom
December 12,, 2023 -By Rosie DiManno - TORONTO STAR - It took a mere 10 minutes for the parole board to reject Johnson Aziga’s bid for deliverance from prison. He is convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of two women and eight counts of aggravated sexual assault for infecting 11 intimate partners with HIV, without ever disclosing his HIV-positive status or taking any precautions.
It took a mere 10 minutes of deliberation for the parole board to reject — anyway, anyhow — Johnson Aziga’s bid for deliverance from prison.
Which was to be expected for a designated dangerous offender, convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of two women and eight counts of aggravated sexual assault for infecting 11 intimate partners with the virus that can cause AIDS, without ever disclosing his HIV-positive status or taking any precautions.
A Night of “Joy and Pride” as Playwrights With HIV Debut New Works
December 12, 2023 - By Trent Straube - Plus: Matty Mahoski received the 2023 Write It Out! Prize for playwrights living with HIV.
After a 10-week virtual workshop, participants in the the fourth annual Write It Out! playwriting program for people living with HIV debuted new works at a December 2 event at the LGBT Community Center in New York in honor of World AIDS Day, marked annually each December 1.
Write It Out! (WIO!), in partnership with the National Queer Theater, announced Matty Mahoski as the 2023 recipient of the WIO! Prize for playwrights living with HIV. WIO! founder Donja R. Love selected Mahoski’s work UN(IN)SURE from four finalists.
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UM School of Medicine Awarded Nearly $30 Million to Prevent Infections Associated with IV Drug Use
December 11, 2023 - By Deborah Kotz -National Institutes of Health Funding Will Be Used to Prevent Rehospitalizations and Lower Complications from Infections
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that the school will receive a $29 million research award over four years from the National Institutes of Health to lead a multicenter trial that aims to improve health outcomes in people who inject opioid drugs and are hospitalized with infectious complications of their drug use. Faculty affiliated with the Institute of Human Virology and the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine at UMSOM will be conducting the research.
New award honours global work of prof through Western Heads East
December 11, 2023 - By Cam Buchan - Western News - Western University - Gregor Reid recognized for career in AIDS and probiotics research, community health in Africa
From pioneer and leader in probiotics research to crime-writing novelist, Gregor Reid has certainly left an indelible mark on many fields during a career spanning more than 40 years.
Now, a new honour has been added to this impressive list. The Gregor Reid Award for Outstanding Scholars in Developing Nations – established by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) – recognizes the founding board member and former president’s accomplishments, including passing on knowledge about probiotics and the human microbiome to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the outreach achieved through Western Heads East WHE)
Locked up and forgotten: African prisoners have been left behind in the fight against HIV
11 December 2023 - Edith Magak - Despite 15.5% of prisoners in sub-Saharan Africa having HIV, incarcerated people have been largely left behind in the fight against HIV, the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2023) taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe, heard last week.
Speaking at a special session on promoting prison health reform in Africa, Doreen Namyalo, the sub-Saharan Africa Director at Penal Reform International, told the conference that the HIV burden in Zambian prisons was 27%, 37% in Malawi, 17% in Lesotho, 15% in Uganda and 8% in Kenyan prisons.
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A Night of “Joy and Pride” as Playwrights With HIV Debut New Works
December 12, 2023 - By Trent Straube - Plus: Matty Mahoski received the 2023 Write It Out! Prize for playwrights living with HIV.
After a 10-week virtual workshop, participants in the the fourth annual Write It Out! playwriting program for people living with HIV debuted new works at a December 2 event at the LGBT Community Center in New York in honor of World AIDS Day, marked annually each December 1.
Write It Out! (WIO!), in partnership with the National Queer Theater, announced Matty Mahoski as the 2023 recipient of the WIO! Prize for playwrights living with HIV. WIO! founder Donja R. Love selected Mahoski’s work UN(IN)SURE from four finalists.
Read more...
CBD good for HIV-infected brain cells?
December 11, 2023 - By Angela Nicoletti - CBD may be a promising therapy for people living with HIV.
While the virus can be controlled with treatment, it can still wreak havoc on the brain and cause problems with cognition.
FIU researchers found CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects can essentially keep HIV-infected cells in the brain under control, preventing them from acting up.
This is important because neuroinflammation associated with HIV creates a dangerous domino effect: inflammation causes infected cells hiding in the brain to activate, start the replication process and spread the virus back into the body. As published in Scientific Reports, the team showed CBD works at the molecular level to lower inflammation and keep these cells dormant.
AHF Condom Ads Go Bananas in NYC
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- December 11, 2023 - The “Just Use It” campaign initially rejected everywhere but Los Angeles, now on display in New York City, Chicago, and Miami
AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) “Just Use It” billboard campaign now is running in three new cities – New York City, Chicago, and Miami – after several national out-of-home advertising companies refused the artwork back in August.
The billboards featuring a condom-covered banana with the “Just Use It” slogan and the “useacondom.com” URL originally only appeared in six central Los Angeles locations.
AHF offers free condoms at almost all of its facilities nationwide, including its 69 Healthcare Centers, 36 Wellness Centers, 62 Pharmacies, and 22 Out of the Closet thrift stores and offers free sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing at 36 Wellness Centers across 14 states.
Africa's health systems should urgently integrate HIV and co-morbidity services for older people with HIV
11 December 2023 - Edith Magak - Non-communicable diseases are now a significant cause of mortality for people with HIV in Zimbabwe, but people with HIV are less likely to have their condition diagnosed than people in the general population and many health facilities lack basic equipment needed for screening, the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2023) heard last week in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The global introduction and expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in higher life expectancy for people living with HIV. In PEPFAR-supported countries, the proportion of people receiving HIV treatment aged 50 years and above has increased from 11% to 21% between 2017 and 2021.
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Tuberculosis still much more common in people with HIV in high-income settings
11 December 2023 - Gus Cairns - Tuberculosis is still one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, with 10.6 million people developing active (symptomatic) TB infection in 2022 and 1.3 million dying from it. That’s second only to COVID, which killed 6.95 million people last year, and far more than the 630,000 who died due to HIV.
But it still receives less publicity than HIV – even though it is the greatest cause of death on people with HIV, with more than a quarter of HIV-related deaths (167,000) directly due to TB, and not entirely in immunocompromised people.
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Doctor and self-exiled activist Gao Yaojie who exposed the AIDS epidemic in rural China dies at 95
December 11, 2023 - Simina Mistreanu - The Associated Press - CTV News - Renowned Chinese doctor and activist Gao Yaojie who exposed the AIDS virus epidemic in rural China in the 1990s died Sunday at the age of 95 at her home in the United States.
Gao's outspokenness about the virus outbreak -- which some gauged to have infected tens of thousands -- embarrassed the Chinese government and drove her to live in self-exile for over a decade in Manhattan, New York.
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Global Health Day Highlights Pandemic, HIV Research
Dec 8, 2023 - By Olivia Dimmer - Northwestern University - Northwestern investigators, faculty, students and community partners came together to share and celebrate global health research, education and outreach as part of the 12th annual Global Health Day, organized by the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health.
Held on December 1, Global Health Day featured keynote speakers, panel discussions and poster presentations, with opening remarks given by Robert Murphy, MD, the John Philip Phair Professor of Infectious Diseases and executive director of the Havey Institute for Global Health.
“Global Health Day culminates all the work that the students, residents and faculty at Northwestern have accomplished and today’s the day we get to demonstrate it to everybody else,” Murphy said.
Rising Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Across Europe
DECEMBER 8, 2023 - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) - In a series of reports released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), a concerning rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe has been revealed indicating troubling trends and significant public health implications.
The latest ECDC reports on chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) highlight a sharp increase in reported cases of these STIs across 27 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries, and collectively reveal a dynamic and challenging landscape. This rise in numbers is similar to the increase in syphilis cases previously reported by ECDC and illustrates a decade-long trend of growing STI rates across Europe despite a dip in numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely due to changes in access to testing and reduced social mixing.
HIV May Increase the Risk of Long Covid. Why Aren’t Major Advocacy Groups Addressing It?
December 8, 2023 - By Miles Griffis and The Sick Times - A search of many HIV/AIDS advocacy groups didn’t find any informative information or resources about long COVID on their websites.
At the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Philip Shubin went to the emergency room when he was infected with COVID-19. At the hospital, he said he was treated like a pariah and went home expecting to die. The visit reminded him of being hospitalized in 1996 with an AIDS-related lung cancer called pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma, which led to the loss of his right lung. The arrival of antiviral medications saved him from dying of AIDS-related complications, but he lost his entire social circle during the crisis.
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HIV/AIDS and Syphilis Numbers Rise in Cuba
December 8, 2023 - By Glenda Boza Ibarra (El Toque) - HAVANA TIMES - Approximately 1,600 people have been diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Cuba so far in 2023, it was recently announced in the state-controlled media.
This figure is a cause for concern for health authorities and for society on the whole, as there are 100 more new cases (and the year isn’t over yet) compared to the 1,500 annual average in recent years.
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Advancements in HIV treatment enabling individuals to live longer and healthier
8.12.2023 - by Abigirl Tembo - The Zimbabwean - CONTINUOUS scientific discoveries and person-centric advances in HIV care have helped transform the HIV treatment landscape, assisting people diagnosed with HIV to live a healthy and productive live.
Among delegates attending the 22nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Harare are people living with HIV and they all have stories to tell.
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USask researcher leading charge in the fight against AIDS
Dec 7, 2023 - By AMANDA WORONIUK - As the global fight against HIV and AIDS continues, this challenge is particularly evident in Saskatchewan, where HIV infection rates are more than five times the national average.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s 2021 surveillance data, there was an 11.3 per cent increase in cases nationwide over one year. As the United Nations and World Health Organization highlighted the importance of new research on World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Kerry Lavender (PhD) has her sights on eradicating the disease completely.
Lavender is working on a targeted treatment towards curing AIDS caused by HIV infections, with a goal of finding new strategies to eliminate the virus rather than suppress the effects of HIV. She received an $879,750, five-year grant for this work from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in August 2022.
HIV vaccine trial in Africa halted after disappointing data
KAMPALA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - A trial of an experimental HIV vaccine in Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa has been stopped early after preliminary data suggested it would not be effective in preventing infection, according to the trial's chief investigator.
The news is the latest blow to efforts to find an effective vaccine against a virus that has so far claimed about 40 million lives globally. Another 39 million are living with HIV, the majority of them in Africa.
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Montreal saw a 120% increase in HIV diagnoses last year
Dec 07, 2023 - Erika Morris - CBC News - Public health agency says spike of infections partially due to lack of testing
Montreal Public Health says the number of HIV cases in the city jumped 120 per cent last year — the largest increase in the last decade.
There were about 310 new diagnoses of HIV in 2022, compared to 141 in 2021. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Montreal Public Health recorded about 200 new HIV diagnoses per year.
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Experimental HIV vaccine regimens likely to be ineffective in preventing HIV acquisition, PrEPVacc study reports
6 December 2023 - PrEPVacc - Follow-up of all participants will continue for additional safety data collection, HIV testing and referral for ongoing care for six months after the last vaccine injection for all participants or until the end of the oral PrEP trial, whichever is longest.
PrEPVacc’s trial safety group reviews the safety information of participants twice a month and has no concerns about the safety of the vaccines.
Trial leaders shared news about PrEPVacc publicly at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2023) today in Zimbabwe.
“On-demand” HIV prevention method for women being tested in second early phase trial
PITTSBURGH – December 6, 2023 - MATRIX - Phase 1 study of the TAF/EVG fast-dissolving vaginal insert – intended for use at the time of sex – begins at US and African sites
MATRIX: A USAID PROJECT TO ADVANCE THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE HIV PREVENTION PRODUCTS FOR WOMEN
A fast-dissolving vaginal insert that women would use at or around the time of sex as an “on-demand” HIV prevention method is being evaluated in a new early phase study being conducted by MATRIX, a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project focused on the early research and development of innovative HIV prevention products for women.
95% decline in new HIV infections in Amsterdam
6 December 2023 - Greta Hughson - New cases of HIV infection are close to being eliminated in Amsterdam, having fallen from 201 in 2010 to nine infections in 2022. Currently, 98% of all people living with HIV have been diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral treatment and 95% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.
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Study Affirms Benefit of Very Early Antiretroviral Therapy Within Hours of Birth for Newborns with HIV
12/05/2023 - JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE - A study of more than 50 babies through age 2 in Africa, Asia, North America and South America has added substantially to evidence that giving antiretroviral therapy (ART) to newborns with HIV within the first days — rather than within weeks or months — of life can safely suppress amounts of HIV in the blood to undetectable levels. Findings of the study, which was co-led by Johns Hopkins Children’s Center physician-scientist and researcher Deborah Persaud, M.D., and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network, were published Dec. 4 in the journal The Lancet HIV.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RELEASES 2022 HIV EPIDEMIOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT
San Francisco, CA - December 05, 2023 - City and County of San Francisco - The annual report shows a slight decline in HIV infections in San Francisco, though disparities exist. The City continues to be a leader in linkage to care, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, and HIV status awareness.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) today released the 2022 HIV Epidemiology Annual Report that outlines San Francisco’s progress towards the City’s goal of “Getting to Zero” new HIV infections, while highlighting challenges faced by communities of color, as well as people experiencing homelessness.
The report shows the number of new HIV diagnoses was 157 in 2022, a slight decrease from 166 in 2021, and an overall 12% decrease since 2019. While this reduction is larger than the nation as a whole, it is not as rapid as the 56% decrease seen in the pre-pandemic years from 2013 to 2019. There continues to be no reported cases of children born with HIV in San Francisco, nor reported cases of people living with HIV under the age of 18. In addition, the population of people living with HIV is aging, with 73% aged 50 and over.
Dose matters: HIV drug could prevent coronaviruses, study finds
5 September 2023 - Coronaviruses are a global public health risk, with three highly infectious species, including SARS-CoV-2, emerging in the last 20 years. New research by the University of Bristol has shown how an HIV drug could stop many coronavirus diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 variants, when given to infected cells at the right concentration. The findings could strengthen the arsenal of antiviral drugs available to combat current and future coronavirus outbreaks.
Currently, there are limited antiviral therapies available against SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19, and these drugs are not always effective, highlighting the need for more treatments. Also, the virus can mutate, and its variants can become partially or completely resistant to some of the available treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies.
The research team has previously shown that a booster drug (cobicistat), which is normally used to reinforce the effect of anti-HIV drugs, could have antiviral properties against a SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating in Europe in early 2020.
City of London Freedom honours for key HIV charity figures
5 December 2023 - Terrence Higgins Trust - Four people from Terrence Higgins Trust and Positive East have received the Freedom of the City of London for their work to support people living with HIV.On World AIDS Day 2023, four leading figures from two major HIV charities were awarded the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of their outstanding work to support people and communities living with HIV.
The Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, Richard Angell, was joined at Guildhall by the charity’s Director of Communications and HIV Services, Dominic Edwardes, and its National Advice Supervisor, Barbara Tinubu.
The East London-based Positive East charity, which was established in 1991, was represented by its Executive Director, Mark Santos.
Dietary environmental factors shape the immune defense against Cryptosporidium infection
4-DEC-2023 - THE FRANCIS CRICK INSTITUTE - Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that a common dietary supplement could protect against chronic Cryptosporidium infections which are particularly prevalent in children under two and in areas with poorer sanitation.
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that infects and damages the small intestine. It is one of the leading causes of diarrhoea-related deaths in children, and is associated with malnutrition and growth stunting. Cryptosporidium is also a common infection in people with a weakened immune system.
Report offers a way to overcome the severe lack of HIV providers
Dec. 4, 2023 - by Bill Snyder - In a world wearied by COVID-19, it’s hard to remember the AIDS epidemic, which claimed the lives of nearly 450,000 Americans.
Today drugs are available to stop the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in its tracks, and public health efforts restrain the spread of AIDS. Yet more than 40 years after it first reached our shores, HIV is still with us.
In Tennessee, the number of new HIV cases reported by the state Department of Health jumped by nearly 17% between 2017 and 2021. That year, the most current data available, nearly 20,000 Tennesseans were living with HIV, and more than 400 died of HIV-related complications.
World AIDS Day vigil and flag raising in Windsor honours those lost
Dec 04, 2023 - Madeline Mazak - Windsor Star - Community members saluted World AIDS Day with ceremonies held in downtown Windsor Friday, honouring people living with HIV, as well as those lost over decades.
The day began with a flag raising at city hall, and was followed by a community reception and vigil at the University of Windsor’s School of Creative Arts in the former Armouries. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens read a proclamation at the flag raising.
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HIV Film and Panel Evening
GU | National Deaf Life Museum | HIV Film and Panel Evening
December 7, 2023 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Day With(out) Art 2023: Everyone I Know Is Sick
The National Deaf Life Museum is proud to partner with Visual AIDS for Day With(out) Art 2023 by presenting Everyone I Know Is Sick, a program of five videos generating connections between HIV and other forms of illness and disability.
The program features newly commissioned work by Dorothy Cheung (Hong Kong), Hiura Fernandes & Lili Nascimento (Brazil), Beau Gomez (Canada/Philippines), Dolissa Medina & Ananias P. Soria (USA), and Kurt Weston (USA).
Fight against HIV/AIDS stigma remains, say officials
Dec 03, 2023 - Elizabeth Payne - OTTAWA CITIZEN -Thirty-five years after the first World AIDS Day, medical advances have revolutionized treatment for HIV so that people are able to live long lives symptom free. In addition, self-testing kits are readily available and work is underway on a vaccine.
But public attitudes towards HIV/AIDS have not progressed at the same rate as those medical advances, said Khaled Salam, executive director of the AIDS Committee of Ottawa.
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HIV, AIDS Cases Up Significantly from Pre-Pandemic Levels
Dec 2, 2023 - VOCM - Instances of HIV and AIDS in Newfoundland and Labrador have ballooned from pre-pandemic levels.
That’s according to Gerard Yetman, Executive Director of the AIDS committee of Newfoundland and Labrador, who says there has been a “dramatic increase” in cases of HIV/
AIDS over the last years.
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The Global Fund to Spend 70% of Its Funding in Most Climate-vulnerable Countries
Dubai/Geneva, 2 December 2023 - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) announced during the World Climate Summit at COP28 in Dubai that more than 70% of its funding – over US$9 billion over the next three years – will be spent in the 50 most climate-vulnerable countries to support health programs that must also cope with the climate crisis.
“Fighting deadly infectious diseases must go hand-in-hand with responding to climate change,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The climate crisis disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries with high disease burdens, weak health systems, and fragile political or conflict contexts, putting communities – who have contributed the least to global carbon emissions – at the most risk.”
40 YEARS AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF HIV, RESEARCH RAISES HOPES OF REMISSION
2023.12.01 - Nearly 39 million people worldwide are carriers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 1.3 million people contracted HIV in 2022[1]. Forty years after the virus was discovered at the Institut Pasteur, HIV research is still active – the aim is to elucidate the mechanisms of infection so that the virus can be eradicated. A concerted global effort has led to considerable progress in knowledge. The conference "40 years of HIV science," which took place from November 29 to December 1 at the Institut Pasteur in collaboration with ANRS | Emerging Infectious Diseases, was an opportunity to look back at the major advances that are now raising hopes of remission and a cure for HIV.
For the past 40 years, since HIV was identified at the Institut Pasteur, scientists have been working to describe the virus and to understand the different stages from initial infection to integration in the host cell genome. This knowledge has led to considerable scientific and medical progress to slow infection, and has also improved the life expectancy and quality of life of people living with HIV. The participants in the opening session of the conference "40 years of HIV science" share the observation that although there have been major breakthroughs, the battle against HIV is not over, even if they have high hopes of finding avenues for remission and a cure: "I salute all these years of research, medical progress and activism, but there are still many challenges to overcome. Despite all the progress made, 630,000 people died from AIDS in 20221 and new infections continue to occur. The fight against HIV is not over. This international battle continues, and no one will be left behind!" said Stewart Cole, President of the Institut Pasteur.
ON WORLD AIDS DAY, CONGRESSWOMAN LEE CALLS FOR BIPARTISAN REAUTHORIZATION OF PEPFAR
December 1, 2023 - Congresswoman Barbara Lee 12th District of California - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Co-Chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, released the below statement on World AIDS Day, observed on December 1st of each year.
“World AIDS Day is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible progress we have made toward becoming an AIDS-free generation, saving 25 million lives through transformative programs like PEPFAR. However, this year is different from years past, as we face a stalemate in Congress to reauthorize this critical program.
The South is ‘the epicenter’ of a new HIV crisis. Medicaid expansion could help.
December 1, 2023 - The Center for Public Integrity - Medicaid is the largest source of health insurance coverage for all adults living with HIV.
HIV is surging in the South, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated “the epicenter” of an emerging crisis particularly affecting seven states spanning from Texas to North Carolina.
As last month’s gubernatorial election approached in Mississippi — which has the sixth-highest rate of HIV diagnoses in the nation — community healthcare workers had high hopes that help in the form of Medicaid expansion could be on the way.
Minister’s statement on World AIDS Day, Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week
Victoria, December 1, 2023 - Ministry of Health - Province of British Columbia - Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week:
“Today marks the 35th anniversary of World AIDS Day, along with the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting people in British Columbia who live with and are impacted by HIV/AIDS.
“We also renew our support for breaking down the barriers of stigma for those living with HIV/AIDS as we know that stigma can prevent people from receiving the care and support they need.
“This Indigenous AIDS Awareness week is an opportunity to increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDs, reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and establish ongoing illness prevention and education programs in Indigenous communities.
HIV: Thwarting a Protein in the Hope of a Better Quality of Life
Montreal, December 1, 2023 - UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL HOSPITAL RESEARCH CENTRE (CRCHUM) - To mark the occasion of World AIDS Day, find out how Dr. Madeleine Durand and Andrés Finzi are working to reduce chronic inflammation and the risk of comorbidities in people living with HIV.
In Canada, more than 43,000 people are living with a virus well controlled by antiretroviral therapy. However, aging in good health and enjoying a good quality of life is still a challenge for many of them.
World AIDS Day 2023: Honoring the early generations of HIV/AIDS researchers and preparing the next
December 1, 2022 - By UCLA Health - Jesse Clark, MD didn't end up researching the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by accident. He became a doctor because of HIV.
Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s as a gay man, he was part of a community under attack by the virus, and by a social stigma that came with it. Going into medicine was his way of helping his community fight back.
“That’s when he told me; he had AIDS,” Victorianne says. “It caught me off guard. My glass dropped.”
Telemedicine bridging urban-rural divide in HIV prevention
Portland, Oregon -December 01, 2023 - By Franny White - OHSU program, study aim to overcome barriers to accessing pre-exposure prophylaxis
To increase statewide usage of a highly effective drug that prevents HIV, an Oregon Health & Science University telemedicine program is bringing it directly to Oregonians’ homes.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is an antiretroviral medication that reduces the risk of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from sexual intercourse by about 99%. It has been commercially available since 2012, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the first daily prescription pill. In 2021, the FDA approved another PrEP option, an every-other-month injection.
Who is still getting HIV in America? Medication is only half the fight – homing in on disparities can help get care to those who need it most
December 1, 2023 - Angel Algarin, Arizona State University - As the globe marks another World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, it’s crucial to both acknowledge the significant strides made in the global battle against HIV and recognize the persistent challenges that remain. While the United States had seen a slow decline in the overall number of new HIV infections from 2017 to 2021, a closer look at the data reveals persistent disparities largely borne by LGBTQ people and communities of color.
World AIDS Day: New treatment strategies and support for older adults with HIV
Dec 1, 2023 - By Betty Zou - Temerty Faculty of Medicine - University of Toronto - Over four decades after the start of the AIDS epidemic, researchers in the Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium are reshaping approaches to target the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS and to care for people with HIV.
Current HIV treatments work by blocking different stages of the virus’ life cycle. By suppressing viral load, the drugs prevent the development of AIDS and reduce the risk of transmission. However, these therapies are not curative and over time, the risk of drug resistance increases.
SOCIÉTÉ | La beauté du monde ordinaire de Joe Average
1 décembre 2023 - de Monia Blanchet - ICI Colombie-Britannique - Le 1er décembre, c'est la journée mondiale de lutte contre le sida.
Et on en a profité pour aller rencontrer quelqu'un qui est étroitement rattaché à cette cause.
Bien qu'il ne peint plus depuis plus de 20 ans, l’oeuvre de Joe Average continue de porter ses fruits pour sensibiliser la population au sida et susciter l’empathie envers les personnes vulnérables, malades ou démunies.
World AIDS Day: Olympian Greg Louganis honored for his activism in SF ceremony
Dec. 1, 2023 - ABC7 News Bay Area - Friday is the 35th anniversary of World AIDS Day, a reminder of the impact that HIV and AIDS have had on individuals and communities. In San Francisco, there was a special ceremony at the National AIDS Memorial in Golden Gate Park, where Olympic gold medalist and LGBTQ activist, Greg Louganis was honored.
Marking World AIDS Day in Windsor
Dec. 1, 2023 - CTV News WINDSOR - World AIDS Day, which recognizes the achievements in HIV/AIDS research, was marked in Windsor with a flag raising.
The day also aims to raise awareness and destigmatize the disease, as well as honour people living with HIV/AIDS, and those who have lost their lives.
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VCU Health Sciences Library spotlights the past and present of HIV/AIDS
December 01, 2023 - By Grace McOmber -VCU Health - Nationally and locally sourced exhibits and programs offer a reflection on the evolution and impact of the health crisis.
When HIV/AIDS was declared an epidemic 42 years ago, patients had little hope. As AIDS, the illness caused by the human immunodeficiency virus killed more than 100,000 Americans between 1981 and 1990, researchers raced to develop a treatment for the rapidly spreading disease.
Now, the fight against HIV represents the power of medical progress. Thanks to advancements in early detection and antiretroviral therapy (ART), the highly effective but costly medication regimen for the virus, what was once fatal in young, otherwise healthy people is now a treatable, chronic illness.
AHF’s World AIDS Day Message Towers Over Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – (Dec. 1, 2023) - by Ged Kenslea - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - Largest digital sign on West Coast shows “1.9 Million Lives in Care” as reminder fight against HIV/AIDS is not over
In honor of World AIDS Day, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS health care organization, has taken over the largest digital sign on the West Coast. AHF’s message – “1.9 Million Lives in Care” – will show every couple minutes all day Friday on three sides of the building located on Broadway off the I-10 in downtown Los Angeles. Freeway commuters have a clear view of the building’s display.
While 29.8 million people living with HIV – of 39 million worldwide — now receive lifesaving treatment, the fight against HIV/AIDS continues. AHF will reach two million lives in care by early 2024.
Nova Scotia Recognizes World AIDS Day
December 1, 2023 - Government of Canada - At Province House today, December 1, Nova Scotia joins organizations across the planet marking World AIDS Day by flying a white flag with a red ribbon.
This year, to mark the pivotal role communities have had in shaping HIV/AIDS response, the global theme is “Let communities lead.”
Statement from the Minister of Health, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, and the Minister of Indigenous Services on World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week
December 1, 2023 - Public Health Agency of Canada - December 1 marks World AIDS Day and the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. We remember those we lost to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and recognize the strength and resilience of those living with HIV. This year's global theme "Let Communities Lead" acknowledges the fundamental role that community organizations play in supporting those at risk of, or affected by, HIV.
The Government of Canada supports this vital work and invests more than $33 million annually through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund and the Harm Reduction Fund. These investments help community-based organizations provide critical HIV services and supports projects that can make the greatest impact through targeted evidence-based help.
BC CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIV/AIDS ANNOUNCES THE VIRTUAL END OF THE DOMESTIC HIV EPIDEMIC IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Vancouver, B.C. - December 1, 2023 - The spread of HIV within the province reaches historically low levels, showing infection events are now "sporadic"
December 1st marks World AIDS Day and the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. Today, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is proud to announce the virtual end of the domestic epidemic of HIV in British Columbia.
Formerly the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada, British Columbia is now recording historically low levels of HIV infections the province. The BC-CfE's progress can be attributed to the made-in-BC Treatment as Prevention® (TasP®) strategy, and the availability of government-funded HIV medication Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) since 2018.
Eliminating HIV/AIDS in Canada
Dec. 1, 2023 - CityNews Toronto - It’s World Aids Day. Stella Acquisto talks to community groups about how they hope to put an end to AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Tennessee’s penalties for HIV-positive people are discriminatory, DOJ says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Dec. 01, 2023 - By The Associated Press - NBC News - Tennessee is the only state that imposes a lifetime registration as a “violent sex offender” if convicted of engaging in sex work while living with HIV.
Tennessee’s decades-old aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday after an investigation, warning that the state could face a lawsuit if officials don’t immediately cease enforcement.
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Community organizations laud new supports to help combat rising HIV rates in Manitoba
Dec. 01, 2023 - by Bryce Hoye - CBC News - Infection rates doubled between 2018-22, with record number last year, says Manitoba HIV Program
The Manitoba government announced new supports for HIV care on Friday, coinciding with World AIDS Day — including the creation of an Indigenous-led mobile service for homeless Manitobans and a research grant in memory of a doctor who treated HIV/AIDS patients at the height of the crisis.
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FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration’s Efforts to End HIV/AIDS At Home and Abroad
DECEMBER 01, 2023 - The White House - On this 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day, we remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS and commit to accelerating our efforts to fight the disease and support those with and experiencing risk for HIV. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and achieving the bipartisan goal of ending the HIV epidemic domestically and globally. This year, the Administration also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment by any nation in history to fight a single disease.
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