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Positively Positive - Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS News Archive - November 2024
Montreal researchers make breakthrough discovery in fighting HIV
Nov. 30, 2024 - By Jean-Benoit Legault - CTV News Montreal -Researchers in Montreal have made a breakthrough discovery in HIV research by finding a way to expel the virus from its hiding places and destroy it.
The elimination of these "reservoirs" is probably the last hurdle still to be overcome before we can hope to defeat the disease, but it's a major challenge, warned Professor Eric Cohen, whose team at the Montréal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) is behind this breakthrough.
"This is the new frontier in HIV research," he said. "HIV is no longer a fatal disease, it's a chronic disease that can be managed with lifelong treatment, but the new frontier is really about finding ways of eradicating the infection, of curing [infected people] so that they no longer have to take medication."
Read more...
Media Release: World AIDS Day: Unite in the fight against HIV
Hastings and Prince Edward Counties - Nov. 29, 2024 - World Health Organization (WHO) - December 1 is World AIDS Day and the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. This day provides an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), remember lives lost to HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of the actions individuals can take to protect themselves and others.
There’s more information available today than ever before, including ways to protect yourself and others. Unfortunately, despite these advancements, approximately four Canadians are infected with HIV every day; nearly one third of these are females.
On this World AIDS Day, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is reminding our community of the need to work together to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Expert explainer: Why is a cure for HIV so elusive?
November 29, 2024 - By Cynthia Fazio - Western News - Western University - Schulich researchers share progress and challenges in ending the HIV epidemic
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry researchers are on the cutting-edge of the study of HIV, working toward treatments and a better understanding of how the virus works.
Finding a cure is no easy feat. But there is progress.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 is “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” In 2021, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS adopted a goal of ending human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as public health concerns by 2030. To help achieve this goal, UNAIDS created the 95-95-95 targets, aiming for 95 per cent of people living with the virus to know their HIV status, 95 per cent of people who know their status to be receiving HIV treatment and 95 per cent of people on treatment to be virally suppressed.
FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration’s Efforts to End HIV/AIDS At Home and Abroad
November 29, 2024 - The White House - Ahead of World AIDS Day, we remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses—honoring their courage and contributions as essential to the progress made thus far. We also stand in solidarity with the more than 39 million people with HIV around the world. Four years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration renewed and strengthened the government’s bipartisan commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. Since then, significant progress has been made through a whole-of-society approach, unprecedented investments, and a steadfast commitment to leading with science, advancing equity, and addressing HIV stigma and discrimination.
WHO calls for action to fight growing HIV epidemic
Manila, Philippines - 29 November 2024 - World Health Organization (WHO) - HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are on the rise in the WHO Western Pacific Region, reversing years of progress in the fight against the epidemic.
New HIV infections have risen by 8% and AIDS-related deaths by 10% since 2019, highlighting critical gaps in prevention, testing, treatment and care services, particularly for key populations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
HIV testing encouraged as World AIDS Day approaches
Nov 29, 2024 - SIMCOE MUSKOKA DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT - BRADFORD TODAY -The Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS reports that 11 per cent of people living with HIV don’t know they have it
World AIDS Day is observed annually on Dec. 1 to raise awareness about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is reminding everyone that testing for HIV is important for protecting your health. This is because the Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS reports that 11 percent of people living with HIV don’t know they have it. This means they will miss out on effective HIV treatment which protects their health, and they might unknowingly spread the virus to others.
Read more...
Ceremony held in Windsor for World Aids Day
Nov 29, 2024 - By Jean-Benoit Legault - CTV News Montreal - Researchers in Montreal have made a breakthrough discovery in HIV research by finding a way to expel the virus from its hiding places and destroy it.
The elimination of these "reservoirs" is probably the last hurdle still to be overcome before we can hope to defeat the disease, but it's a major challenge, warned Professor Eric Cohen, whose team at the Montréal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) is behind this breakthrough.
"This is the new frontier in HIV research," he said. "HIV is no longer a fatal disease, it's a chronic disease that can be managed with lifelong treatment, but the new frontier is really about finding ways of eradicating the infection, of curing [infected people] so that they no longer have to take medication."
Read more...
Dr. Brian Conway: On this World AIDS Day, increase in new cases of HIV in B.C. must be taken as a cautionary tale
Nov 29, 2024 - By Dr. Brian Conway - VANCOUVER SUN - Opinion: B.C. has been a leader in this field, providing all treatments free of charge to those who need them. But the system not is not equally accessible to all
On this World AIDS Day 2024 (which we mark for the 37th time on Dec. 1), I am called to reflect on both our great progress over the past generation and what still lies ahead. I am truly concerned. In B.C. in the first half of 2024, there were 130 new diagnoses of HIV infection (five per week), compared to 98 in 2023 and 53 in 2022 over the same interval. This is still far lower than 10 per week experienced at the peak of the epidemic, but it is very worrisome and now appears to be a trend after the pandemic.
Read more...
How HIV Research Reshaped Modern Medicine
Newswise - 29-Nov-2024 - by Harvard Medical School - In 1981, fresh out of medical school, physician-scientist Bruce Walker began his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. One day, a young patient showed up with an unusual cluster of infections and cancers. Baffled and powerless to treat him, Walker and his colleagues could only watch as the patient quickly succumbed to the mysterious condition.
“I distinctly remember the first case we saw at Mass General,” said Walker, who is the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard. “The attending physician said that although we didn’t know what this condition was, we probably would never see another case like it.”
Two weeks later, another patient came in with the same set of symptoms. It quickly became clear to Walker and his colleagues that they weren’t dealing with a rare disease — it was the beginning of a new epidemic.
World AIDS Day: Underdiagnosis and late HIV diagnoses are holding back progress to end AIDS in the European Region
Stockholm/Copenhagen - 28 November 2024 - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) - Ahead of World AIDS Day, the new HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2024released by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), shows that since the beginning of the epidemic in the early 1980s, over 2.6 million people have been diagnosed with HIV in the WHO European Region, including more than 650, 000 in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Despite significant progress, nearly one in three people living with HIV in the WHO European Region are still unaware of their HIV status.
Academy Award-winning actress and philanthropist Charlize Theron hands over her Instagram account to 21-year-old HIV activist
GENEVA, 28 November 2024 - UNAIDS - A 21-year-old South African HIV activist, Ibanomonde Ngema, will take over the global Instagram account of Academy Award-winner and UN Messenger of Peace, Charlize Theron, on World AIDS Day (1 December) to bring awareness to the first-hand experiences of young people living with HIV. Nomonde, as her friends call her, was born with HIV and has dedicated her advocacy work to dispelling myths and reducing stigma around HIV.
Theron is a longstanding leader in advocating for young people and tackling the systemic inequalities that drive HIV infections among young women and girls, using her voice and platform to uplift the voices of youth alongside the work of her foundation in Southern Africa.
Clinical trial at Emory University reveals twice-yearly injection to be 99% effective in HIV prevention
Nov. 27, 2024 - Emory News Center - Emory University) - For oral medications that prevent new HIV infection to be effective, the patient must take certain actions, including attending doctor’s visits every three months and — most importantly — consistency.
These daily oral antiretrovirals, more commonly referred to as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), such as Truvada®, are extremely effective at HIV prevention, but only if they are taken daily as directed. Truvada’s efficacy is greatly compromised when taken inconsistently.
However, results from a recent Gilead-funded clinical trial (Purpose-2) led by physicians at Emory University and Grady Health System indicate that a twice-yearly injection of Lenacapavir offers a 96% reduced risk of infection overall, making the injection significantly more effective than the daily oral PrEP. The findings were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
For People Living with HIV/AIDS, TB is Still the Leading Cause of Death
Newswise - NEW YORK, NY – Nov. 27, 2024 - by American Thoracic Society (ATS) - The latest World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report released in November 2024 painted a sobering picture; approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, the highest number since the organization began global TB monitoring in 1995. TB is the leading cause of death among those with HIV /AIDS worldwide. According to the WHO, in 2023, 161,000 people died of HIV-associated TB.
This World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, the American Thoracic Society and our Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) partners call on governments, health advocates, and non-government organizations to strengthen their response to AIDS and TB. This collaborative effort is necessary to help realize the World Health Organization’s goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
2024 WORLD AIDS DAY: Collective Action Needed to End HIV/AIDS, Common Ground for Divided Nation
Newswise — WASHINGTON, D.C. – 26-Nov-2024 - by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing - This World AIDS Day Sunday, December 1, the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH) along with the Institute for Policy Solutions (IPS) at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is calling all sectors to act.
“Collective action on HIV/AIDS can be common ground for a divided nation. On World AIDS Day and beyond, please do something to end the epidemic once and for all. Please act collectively in your community and within your network. Reach out and practice the golden rule with compassion. Know that while you are helping speed the end of HIV/AIDS — you might be building bridges at a time our nation most needs them,” said Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, director of CLAFH and executive director of IPS.
U.S. Business Leaders Convene Ahead of World AIDS Day To Accelerate Efforts To End the HIV Epidemic
ATLANTA, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - U.S. Business Action to End HIV - As the U.S. prepares to welcome a new presidential administration, leaders from business, public health, and community organizations gathered in Atlanta last week to reaffirm their dedication to ending the HIV epidemic and improving access to prevention and care.
The U.S. Business Action to End HIV coalition, launched by the Health Action Alliance (HAA) in December 2022, has grown into the nation's largest independent employer network dedicated to advancing workplace HIV education and expanding access to screening, prevention, and treatment services. Backed by founding partners Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, and other sponsors, the Coalition now represents a diverse and expanding community of over 100 businesses, including Chevron, CVS Health, KPMG, Match Group, Mercer, MISTR, One Medical, Paramount Pictures, SAP, Walgreens, Walmart, and Uber. HAA has also raised awareness of the Coalition within its network of more than 10,000 employers.
 
Canada’s longest-distance charity cycling event kicks off holiday fundraiser with $50K goal to support people living with HIV/AIDS during time of need
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Friends for Life Bike Rally - This Sunday, December 1, on World AIDS Day, and the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, the 27th annual Friends for Life Bike Rally launches its Holiday Season Fundraising Campaign. As local AIDS Service Organizations see a significant increase in demand for their life-changing services, the fundraiser aims to raise $50,000 in December – a month of generosity and giving from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
The Friends for Life Bike Rally is Canada’s longest-distance annual charity cycling event from Toronto to Montreal, raising funds for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA), AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and Trellis HIV & Community Care (formerly HIV/AIDS Regional Services – Kingston) to support to those living with HIV/AIDS and fight stigma. The upcoming Friends for Life Bike Rally aims to raise a total of $1.8M by the end of its next charity ride that runs from August 3 to 8, 2025.
Biden-Harris Administration Policy Expands Access to Life-Saving Organs for People with HIV
November 26, 2024 - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Final Rule Removes Clinical Research Requirements for Kidney and Liver Transplants from Donors with HIV
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a final rule that will expand access to kidney and liver transplants for people with HIV by removing clinical research requirements for these transplants. This action marks a significant step forward in increasing the availability of life-saving organs for all patients regardless of their HIV status while continuing to reduce barriers and stigma for people with HIV.
The final rule, which further implements the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, removes the clinical research and institutional review board (IRB) approval requirements for kidney and liver transplants between donors with HIV and recipients with HIV. This change is based on research demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of kidney and liver transplants between donors and recipients with HIV.
UNAIDS report shows that upholding human rights is vital for ending the AIDS pandemic
GENEVA, 26 November 2024 - UNAIDS - Ahead of World AIDS Day (1 December), a new report by UNAIDS shows that the world can meet the agreed goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 – but only if leaders protect the human rights of everyone living with and at risk of HIV. The report’s message is summed up in its title: “Take the rights path to end AIDS”.
“Despite huge progress made in the HIV response, human rights violations are still preventing the world from ending AIDS,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “When girls are denied education; when there is impunity for gender-based violence; when people can be arrested for who they are, or who they love; when a visit to health services is dangerous for people because of the community they are from—the result is that people are blocked from being able to access HIV services that are essential to save their lives and to end the AIDS pandemic. To protect everyone’s health, we need to protect everyone’s rights.”
U.S. authorities warn about an emerging sexually transmitted fungus
November 26, 2024 - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - A new sexually transmitted infection has been reported in the U.S., chiefly among men
This emerging fungal infection, called TMVII, can cause scaly lesions
The infection may be difficult to diagnose but responds to antifungal drugs
In 2023, doctors in Paris, France, reported on an emerging fungal infection called TMVII (trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII). Now in 2024, researchers in the United States have identified the same fungus-causing infections in four men. Researchers in New York City and with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated that this fungus can cause itchy, ring-like “scaly lesions on the trunk, groin, genitals, or face […].” They add that the fungus causes symptoms that “might be mistaken for eczema, psoriasis or other dermatologic conditions; and frequently requires oral antifungal therapy.”
Expanding HPV vaccination to all adults aged 27-45 years unlikely to be cost-effective or efficient for HPV-related cancer prevention
25-Nov-2024 -American College of Physicians - A modeling study projected that HPV vaccination programs for adults aged 27 to 45 years could benefit subgroups at higher risk for HPV, but overall, the approach is more costly and less effective than vaccinating younger people. According to authors, this is the first study to examine the cost-effectiveness and HPV-related cancer prevention of vaccinating subgroups of adults in this age group at higher risk of HPV infection in the US. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
KnowHIV, the future-forward Campaign to Raise Awareness of HIV in Ontario launches for World AIDS Day 2024
TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - Ontario HIV Treatment Network - Using human-centered design across multiple touch points, the Ontario HIV Treatment Network is normalising a provincewide conversation about HIV, joining the global effort to end HIV transmission and ensure all people with HIV are diagnosed and have access to care and treatment by 2030
HIV is still a thing — and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network wants to say just that to Ontario residents. Launching in time for World AIDS Day on Dec 1, this simple message kicks off a multi-year provincial campaign to revive awareness and destigmatize HIV via a series of strategically designed billboards, posters and digital ads all supported by influencer marketing partnerships and both traditional and new media relations.
"We want people to know a lot has changed in HIV care since the epidemic of the eighties and nineties." says Martin McIntosh, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection executive director, an organization within a robust network of AIDS Service Organizations that connect Ontarians with access to treatment, testing and prevention services. "Today, with effective treatment, people living with HIV can lead long, healthy lives with no risk of passing HIV to their sexual partners. Still, many don't see themselves as at risk or face ongoing systemic and social barriers to care."
Sub-saharan Africa leads global HIV decline: Progress made but UNAIDS 2030 goals hang in balance, new IHME study finds
November 25, 2024 - Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) - University of Washington - Key takeaways:
In contrast, the percentage of the population without a suppressed level of HIV (PUV) increased by 116.1% in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia from 2003 to 2021.
The study authors are issuing recommendations to invigorate the global HIV response across global public health programs dedicated to HIV control and expansion of prevention services. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has published a new study in The Lancet HIV journal that revealed significant progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, alongside a stark warning that current trends indicate the world is not on track to meet the ambitious UNAIDS 2030 targets.
The research, which analyzed the global, regional, and national burden of HIV/AIDS among 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021 and forecasted trends to 2050, highlighted a mixed landscape of achievements and challenges in the battle against this global epidemic.
Read Freddie Mercury’s Heartbreaking Announcement of His Diagnosis With HIV/AIDS, Released on This Date in 1991, Just a Day Before the Queen Frontman Died
November 23, 2024 - By Eli Wizevich - Smithsonian Magazine - Until Mercury released the statement, tabloid newspapers hounded the ailing singer, while only a smaller inner circle knew about the extent of his illness
As midnight reached West London and Friday night passed into the first minutes of Saturday, November 23, 1991, rock band Queen’s press officer released a statement on behalf of frontman Freddie Mercury.
“Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks,” Mercury announced, “I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV-positive and have AIDS.”
Read more...
Public Health Agency of Canada confirms the first case of clade I mpox in Canada
Ottawa - November 22, 2024 - Public Health Agency of Canada - On November 22, 2024, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed the first case of clade I mpox in Canada in an individual in Manitoba. This travel-related case is associated with an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in central and eastern Africa. The individual sought medical care for mpox symptoms in Canada shortly after their return and is currently isolating. A public health investigation, including contact tracing, is ongoing.
PHAC is working closely with public health authorities in Manitoba. The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) notified the province on November 22 that the sample tested positive for mpox clade Ib. While clade II mpox has been circulating in Canada since 2022, this is the first case of clade I mpox confirmed in Canada.
The risk to the general population in Canada remains low at this time. PHAC continues to actively monitor the situation and will provide updated information as it becomes available.
HIV’s secret sweet tooth: T cell glycosylation determines variant entry
November 22, 2024 - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - Researchers share insight about strategies being studied to support the cardiovascular health of people living with HIV
When Tom Ortiz was diagnosed with HIV more than 30 years ago, he felt like he was handed a death sentence.
“In the early days, if AIDS didn’t kill you a heart attack would,” said Ortiz, a community health worker in Ohio. “It was either AIDS or a cardiovascular event.”
As a result, Ortiz got his affairs in order. “When I first acquired the disease, nobody made it very far,” he said. “A year [to live] was a long time.”
NHLBI honors World AIDS Day
November 22, 2024 - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - Researchers share insight about strategies being studied to support the cardiovascular health of people living with HIV
When Tom Ortiz was diagnosed with HIV more than 30 years ago, he felt like he was handed a death sentence.
“In the early days, if AIDS didn’t kill you a heart attack would,” said Ortiz, a community health worker in Ohio. “It was either AIDS or a cardiovascular event.”
As a result, Ortiz got his affairs in order. “When I first acquired the disease, nobody made it very far,” he said. “A year [to live] was a long time.”
Palm Springs City Council Approves Design for Palm Springs AIDS Memorial
PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 22, 2024) - Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Task Force - Palm Springs AIDS Memorial - Fundraising Continues in Order to Commence Engineering and Fabrication
The Palm Springs City Council voted 4-0 (with one council member absent) to accept the recommendation of the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission to approve the design and placement of the much-anticipated Palm Springs AIDS Memorial last night during a scheduled council meeting. The Council also approved allocating $65,000 to the Memorial to assist in the installation and increased the city's funding contribution to be a total of $125,000. The Council acted on a recommendation from the Public Arts Commission which earlier had accepted and approved the design of the Memorial and recommended to the Council that it also approve the design and designate funds for installation. The Memorial is a gift to the City by the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Task Force and commemorates the many lives lost to AIDS while honoring the caregivers and survivors in the community. The idea of the Memorial has been in progress since 2012 and was designed pro bono by award-winning artist Phillip K. Smith III starting in 2020. In addition to the physical structure, an accompanying online component of the Memorial will be created and accessed via a QR code that will be prominently displayed within the Memorial site. This online experience is being conceptualized now, and details will be shared as it progresses. The goal is to unveil the Memorial in the Downtown Park along with the online experience between Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
CARB-X Awards Additional Funding to Debiopharm for Continued Development of Early-Stage Antibiotic Targeting Drug-Resistant N. Gonorrhoeae Infections
Lausanne, Switzerland – Boston, USA -November 21, 2024 - Debiopharm - Debiopharm (www.debiopharm.com), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company, is proud to announce the extension of funding from the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X), a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria. This funding will support the preclinical development of Debio 1453, a novel antibiotic specifically designed to combat Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. In line with the Debiopharm’s vision to set a new standard for treating N. gonorrhoeae infections by developing antibiotics with targeted activity, while potentially avoiding microbiome dysbiosis, the newly awarded $5.76 million USD will facilitate the advancement of essential preclinical research, positioning Debio 1453 for clinical progression.
With Debio 1453, Debiopharm aims to provide a potentially valuable addition to the current antibiotic armamentarium, as a new treatment for N. gonorrhoeae infections, especially strains showing significant resistance to existing therapies. The project includes pivotal objectives such as the completion of non-clinical pharmacology and safety packages, the manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product, and the submission for a first-in-human clinical trial.
B.C. teen avian flu patient still in critical condition; epidemiologist says risk to public low
November 21, 2024 - By Michelle Meiklejohn and Charles Brockman - CityNews Vancouver - The B.C. Ministry of Health says a teenager who was infected with H5N1, or avian flu, is still in critical condition after nearly two weeks.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, authorities shared that a teenager in the Fraser Health region had tested positive for the virus, otherwise known as bird flu.
Read more...
Virology experts gather at UMass Chan Medical School for 2024 MassCPR Symposium
November 20, 2024 - By Jim Fessenden - UMass Chan Medical School - More than a hundred infectious disease scientists, virologists, researchers, students and postdoctoral fellows representing 17 institutions from across the commonwealth converged on UMass Chan Medical School this week for the annual Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MassCPR) Symposium.
Established in 2020 to enhance Massachusetts preparedness for future pandemics, MassCPR brings together hundreds of basic and translational scientists, clinicians and public health professionals from a variety of disciplines, including virology, immunology, microbiology, epidemiology, pathology, diagnostics and therapeutic development, computational biology, and clinical medicine. The focus of the 2024 symposium was the biology and infectious mechanisms of endemic, emerging and submerging viruses.
Billboards to end HIV-related stigma go on display
November 20, 2024 - Chloe Harcombe - BBC News, Bristol - A campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the stigma associated with HIV.
Six people have shared their experiences, which are displayed on digital billboards at bus stops in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, ahead of World Aids Day on 1 December.
Read more...
An innovative antibiotic for drug-resistant bacteria
November 20, 2024 - American Chemical Society (ACS) - Antibacterial drugs are important for treating infections. But increasingly, bacterial resistance to current drugs — so they don’t work well, or even at all — means new ones are urgently needed. Building on previous work, researchers in ACS Infectious Diseases have demonstrated a potential antibacterial treatment from a modified darobactin, a compound originally from a bacterium. The team reports proof-of-concept animal trials on infections caused by bacteria, including E. coli, that are known to develop drug resistance.
This study was published during the World Health Organization’s World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week from November 18 to 24.
ECDC OPENS ESCAIDE 2024 CONFERENCE
Stockholm, 20 November 2024 - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) - The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is today opening the 2024 European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE), which is taking place from 20 - 22 November 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a special focus on the latest research concerning COVID-19, food-and waterborne diseases, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, influenza and respiratory viruses, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging diseases.
Plenary sessions feature internationally renowned speakers who will discuss a range of critical topics, including the balance of prevention versus cure with lessons drawn from cancer, crime, and climate change; insights on infectious diseases during times of conflict with a focus on Ukraine; and strategies for improving surveillance to better understand the spread of infectious diseases. Other discussions will cover preparedness for emerging threats under the concept of ‘Disease X’ and a fresh look at the future management of known diseases.
Andrew Sullivan survived the AIDS epidemic and then had to learn how to grieve
Nov 19, 2024 - CNN - Author Andrew Sullivan grew up in Britain seeing his mom struggle with mental illness. He came to America as a young gay man and was named editor of The New Republic magazine, just as his friends began dying around him. Anderson talks with Andrew about surviving the AIDS epidemic and the complicated grief he feels following his mother’s death several months ago.
FACT SHEET: Continuing a Legacy of Leadership at the G20
November 19, 2024 - The White House - From day one of his administration, President Biden pledged to restore U.S. leadership and strengthen our partnerships to make America more secure and prosperous. Taking office amid a devastating pandemic that had upended the global economy, President Biden recognized that we needed to work with partners to tackle big cross-border challenges.
President Biden’s leadership at the G20 has demonstrated the dividends that U.S. engagement yields for America and the world. Through the G20, the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered a landmark agreement to stop the race to the bottom in corporate taxation; launched a new fund to address pandemic threats; and helped unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of resources at the international financial institutions to advance development progress and tackle global challenges.
Community pharmacies could expand PrEP access to help prevent HIV
19 November 2024 - University of Bristol - Centre for Academic Primary Care - A new study has found that community pharmacies could play a significant role in expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective pill for preventing HIV infection. The researchers found that pharmacies could provide a more convenient and discreet option for those who are underserved by the current model of PrEP delivery through sexual health clinics in England.
The stigma surrounding sexual health services and their potentially inconvenient locations prevent some people from accessing PrEP. These barriers may disproportionately affect women, people from global majority communities and transgender people who may be at risk of acquiring HIV but are less likely to access PrEP through sexual health clinics.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) and the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation (HPRU) at the University of Bristol. It involved interviewing community pharmacists and members of key at-risk groups to identify the barriers and facilitators of community pharmacy PrEP delivery using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) model.
Collaboration between The Wistar Institute and Cameroon Researchers Reveals HIV Latency Reversing Properties in African Plant
PHILADELPHIA — (November 19, 2024) — The Wistar Institute —A collaboration between The Wistar Institute and the University of Buea in Cameroon has uncovered the mechanisms for a medicinal plant with anti-HIV potential in Croton oligandrus Pierre & Hutch, a species of African tree that has been used in traditional healing in Cameroon to treat a variety of diseases and conditions including cancers and diabetes.
The research team — a collaboration between Fidele Ntie-Kang, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Buea and the Director of the University of Buea Centre for Drug Discovery, and Ian Tietjen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Education Director of Global Studies & Partnerships at The Wistar Institute’s Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center — published their findings in the Journal of Experimental Pharmacology in their paper, “Croton oligandrus Pierre & Hutch (Euphorbiaceae) extracts and isolated compounds reverse HIV-1 latency.”
This research is one of several discoveries on African chemical compounds that came from the collaboration between Wistar and the University of Buea Centre for Drug Discovery, which began in 2021. In addition to helping to advance HIV cure research in Cameroon, this collaboration also provided an opportunity for lead author Chantal Emade Nkwelle to travel from Cameroon to work at Wistar for five months, learn many of Wistar’s laboratory techniques on HIV research, and transfer them back to the University of Buea.
Overcoming stigma and discrimination in pursuit of reducing antimicrobial resistance: a Swedish approach
18 November 2024 - World Health Organization (WHO) - “Stigma that evolves from a bacterial threat, often without symptoms, is difficult to understand. Poor or mixed information can lead to uncertainty for people when making contact with the health-care system and in their social life,” says Dr Gudrun Lindh, a retired infectious disease specialist, PhD and senior consultant from the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr Lindh’s passion for epidemiology led to her work addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including the social and mental health impacts of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
MRSA is a common type of Staphylococcus bacteria that can be resistant to several antibiotics. These bacteria spread in the community through contact with people infected with MRSA and their wounds, or through contact with contaminated materials. MRSA maintains its position in the WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List for high-priority pathogens. Anyone can become infected with MRSA or carry MRSA without showing any signs or symptoms. The risk for acquiring MRSA increases for people receiving medical care in hospitals or long-term care facilities.
Miller School Infectious Disease Specialists Highlight HIV Work at Peru Conference
November 18, 2024 - byJosh Baxt - University of Miami Miller School of Medicine - Infectious diseases experts Dr. Susanne Doblecki-Lewis and Dr. Laura Beauchamps speak about outreach efforts and emerging therapies to help at-risk populations.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine infectious disease researchers recently presented at theHIV Research for Prevention conference, HIVR4 P2024, in Lima, Peru. Sponsored by the International AIDS Society (IAS), the meeting focused on emerging therapies and outreach techniques to help at-risk communities stay healthy.
UM has long been at the epicenter of the HIV epidemic, and Miller School researcher/clinicians presented on their efforts to reach underserved communities and get people access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which can prevent infection, and other HIV/AIDS drugs.
Recently, we chatted with Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, M.D., a professor of medicine, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and director of HIV prevention at the Miller School, and Laura Beauchamps, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, who shared their experiences at the conference.
Reducing antimicrobial resistance: accelerated efforts are needed to meet the EU targets
Stockholm, 18 November, 2024 - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) - Data published by ECDC in connection with European Antibiotic Awareness Day shows that, despite improvement in some areas, the EU is lapsing in progress towards its 2030 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) targets.
Between 2019 and 2023, antibiotic consumption in the EU increased by 1%, moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20% reduction recommended by the Council of the European Union[1]. Although during the same period there have been significant reductions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, the situation in other critical areas, such as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections, has worsened, with an increase in incidence by almost 60% between 2019 and 2023. This represents a growing threat to patients in hospitals across the EU, particularly since very few therapeutic options remain available to treat patients infected with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae.
Crunching HIV/AIDS data during a time of fear (and loathing)
18 November 2024 - by Chris Mahony - Bayes Business School - This year marks four decades since scientists developed an antibody test for HIV, the breakthrough coming a year after it had been confirmed as the virus that causes AIDS.
It was an important milestone – and not just for clinicians and policymakers. Professionals across a range of industries had been grappling with the potential impact of a devastating and highly infectious disease.
For Professor Steven Haberman, appointed a decade earlier to teach on the pioneering new BSc in Actuarial Science at what is now Bayes Business School, HIV/AIDS was a uniquely sombre and difficult challenge as he and other experts assessed the potential impact on the life insurance industry.
Hari AIDS Sedunia 2024 - Pesan Sekretaris-Jenderal, António Guterres
Nov 17, 2024 - UN in Indonesia - World AIDS Day | Hari AIDS Sedunia | 1 Desember 2024
Transkrip pesan dalam Bahasa Indonesia::
Mengakhiri AIDS sebagai ancaman kesehatan masyarakat pada tahun 2030 dapat dicapai.
Namun untuk mencapai tujuan ini diperlukan upaya untuk menghilangkan hambatan-hambatan yang menghalangi masyarakat untuk mendapatkan layanan-layanan penting.
Setiap 25 detik, satu orang di dunia tertular HIV.
Message's transcript in English::
Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is achievable.
But reaching this goal requires breaking down the barriers keeping people from vital services.
Every 25 seconds, someone in the world is infected with HIV.
HIV and STI international screening week starts Monday
Nov 17, 2024 - Katrine Desautel - CityNews Montreal - Access to screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) is still difficult in Quebec and elsewhere in the world. International Screening Week, which starts on Monday, advocates better access and encourages people at risk to go and get tested.
The international campaign promotes screening for HIV, hepatitis and STIs, and reaches some 50 countries. It was launched in 2020 due to delays in the number of tests carried out worldwide during the COVID-19 epidemic.
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California confirms first clade I mpox case
November 16, 2024 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - CDC to receive samples for additional viral characterization.
The California Department of Public Health confirmed, through laboratory testing, the first known case of clade I mpox in the United States. This case is related to an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa. The risk of clade I mpox to the public remains low, and there continue to be sporadic clade II mpox cases in the United States.
The case was diagnosed in a person who recently traveled from Eastern Africa. The individual was treated shortly after returning to the United States at a local medical facility and released. Since then, the person has isolated at home, is not on treatment specific for mpox, and symptoms are improving. Based on their travel history and symptoms, patient specimens were tested and confirmed for the presence of clade I monkeypox virus. Specimens are being sent to CDC for additional viral characterization. Additionally, CDC is working with the state to identify and follow up with potential contacts.
Amid record year for dengue infections, new study finds climate change responsible for 19% of today’s rising dengue burden
NEW ORLEANS (November 16, 2024) - American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene - Second study reveals how one Brazilian city escaped a historic outbreak this year by deploying mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria that interferes with dengue transmission
Climate change is having a massive global impact on dengue transmission, accounting for 19% of the current dengue burden, with a potential to spark an additional 40%-60% spike by 2050 — and by as much as 150%-200% in some areas — according to a new study presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
The findings from researchers at Stanford and Harvard Universities offer the most definitive evidence to date that climate change is a big factor driving a global surge in the mosquito-borne disease. Countries in the Americas alone have recorded almost 12 million cases in 2024 compared to 4.6 million in 2023, and locally acquired infections have been reported in California and Florida. The study also carries warnings of even sharper increases to come.
Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research receives two World Record titles
Nov 16, 2024 - By Rachel Morgan - CityNews Ottawa - The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) and Gilead Sciences Canada were awarded two Guinness World record titles Nov. 13 for both the Most Awareness Ribbons Made in One Hour by a Team and the World’s Largest Ribbon Mosaic Made Entirely of Awareness Ribbons. The agencies set out to beat the World Records as part of their collective World AIDS Day campaign, bringing awareness to the rising number of AIDS cases in Canada.
AIDS is still a global pandemic. In 2023, 1.3 million new cases were reported in Canada, representing a 25 percent increase in new cases since 2022.
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Stanford Health Policy Seminar: Gregg Gonsalves “HIV Outbreak and Response in Scott County, Indiana: A Case Study in Public Health Decision Making”
November 15, 2024 - Stanford Health Policy - Stanford University - Friday, November 15, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Pacific)
Talk Title: HIV Outbreak and Response in Scott County, Indiana: A Case Study in Public Health Decision Making
Hybrid Seminar: Lunch will be provided for on-campus participants.
Please register if you plan to attend, both for in-person and via Zoom.
Guelph woman geared up to restart charitable bike repair
Nov 15, 2024 - Shelby Knox - CityNews Ottawa - A Guelph woman will soon resume repairing bicycles at her home thanks to an outpouring of support from the community.
Mary Rife has been fixing and selling bikes out of her garage for the last 14 years. In 2024 alone, she said she sold 296 bikes and raised over $25,000. That money, she told CTV News, goes to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to help people in Africa living with HIV and AIDS.
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Risk to United States from clade I mpox outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa
November 15, 2024 - CDC - CDC assessed the risk to the United States posed by the clade I mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries across several populations of interest.
The purpose of this assessment is to provide context about the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in DRC and in countries in Central and Eastern Africa, to inform U.S. preparedness efforts.
This assessment is an update to our August 30, 2024 risk assessment, incorporating new evidence and breaking out specific populations at risk. We note that the overall U.S. population includes the specific populations assessed, but we include specific populations separately because the clade I mpox outbreak in DRC and in countries in Central and Eastern Africa may pose higher risks to these populations. We chose these specific populations based on the most common mpox transmission routes for both the current clade I outbreak and the clade IIb outbreak that began in 2022.
Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS concerned with rising situation of late presenters
November 15, 2024 - GovHK - The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS:
The Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS (ACA) convened a meeting today (November 15). The ACA members were briefed by the Department of Health (DH) on the latest situation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and recent trends in Hong Kong, particularly the rising proportion of late presenters among newly reported cases, and its impact on local HIV control efforts.
Late presenters refer to individuals whose CD4 cells (one kind of immune cell) are being attacked by the virus and have decreased to a very low level (CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3) at the time of HIV diagnosis. Late presentation indicates that these individuals were not diagnosed and put on treatment in a timely way at an earlier stage of infection, resulting in a weakened immune system. Late presentation can lead to an increased risk of opportunistic infections and malignancies, leading to a higher mortality rate. In addition, as a result of an unsuppressed viral load, late presenters contribute to an increased risk of HIV transmission in the community, impacting the overall effectiveness of HIV control efforts and posing a significant burden to the healthcare system.
Warning One Quarter of People Living with HIV Lack Access to Life-Saving Treatment, Secretary-General Observance Message Urges Rights-Based Approach to Ending AIDS
15 November 2024 - United Nations - Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World AIDS Day, observed on 1 December:
Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is achievable. But, reaching this goal requires breaking down the barriers keeping people from vital services.
Read more...
Students who use dating apps take more risks with their sexual health
November 14, 2024 - Frontiers - Researchers from the US looked for associations between the use of dating apps, sexual behavior, and a history of HIV/STIs among college students in North Texas. They showed that there was an association between risky sexual behavior and the use of dating apps. They propose that the two may be mutually reinforcing.
In May, the WHO raised the alarm over the rise in incidence of sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs) in many regions of the world, currently running at more than a million new cases per day. Among high-income countries, the US has one of the highest prevalences of STIs, and this problem is getting worse. For example, the incidence of chlamydia has more than doubled since 2000, while gonorrhea increased by 40% and syphilis by 400%. The highest prevalence is among young adults between 20 and 34 years of age.
Over roughly the same period, technology made it easier than ever to find sex partners: more than half of Americans under 30 report using dating apps. Such apps have existed for over 20 years but became mainstream around 2010. Now, a new study in Frontiers in Reproductive Health shows that these two modern phenomena may be linked.
Study uncovers first evidence of resistance to standard malaria treatment in African children with severe malaria
INDIANAPOLIS - November 14, 2024 - by Jackie Maupin - Indiana University - Researchers have uncovered evidence of partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives — the primary treatment for malaria — in young children with severe malaria.
Indiana University School of Medicine researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at Makerere University in Uganda, have uncovered evidence of partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives — the primary treatment for malaria — in young children with severe, or "complicated," malaria.
Earlier studies have shown partial resistance to artemisinin in children with uncomplicated malaria, but the new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is the first to document such resistance in African children with well-defined signs of severe disease from malaria.
Indiana has six HIV criminalization laws. Most criminalize conduct that cannot transmit HIV
November 14, 2024 - The Williams Institute - Indiana has six laws that criminalize people living with HIV (PLWH), spanning both the public health and criminal codes. A new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law evaluates whether these laws reflect current understandings of HIV science and criminalize conduct that poses negligible or no risk of transmitting HIV.
Results show that most of Indiana’s HIV criminal laws have yet to account for decades of advances in HIV science, and none are currently written with enough specificity to prevent criminalizing behaviors that have little to no risk of transmitting HIV.
New roles in infectious process for molecule that inhibits flu
November 14, 2024 - Ohio State News - The Ohio State University - In study, lack of immune protein increases risk of infection by unfamiliar viruses
Researchers have identified new roles for a protein long known to protect against severe flu infection – among them, raising the minimum number of viral particles needed to cause sickness.
The protein also helps prevent unfamiliar viruses from mutating after they infect a new host, the study found – meaning its absence during an immune response could enable an animal virus spilled over to people to adapt rapidly to human hosts.
The combined findings by scientists at The Ohio State University add up to potential trouble for people deficient in the protein, called IFITM3 – especially if an avian or swine flu were to gain hold in humans and cause widespread disease.
HITN-TV Partners with South Florida PBS to Bring "From Fear to Hope: The HIV & AIDS Journey" to Hispanic Audiences Nationwide
November 14, 2024 - BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HITN - Documentary premieres in Spanish on HITN-TV in early 2025
HITN-TV, the nation's leading Spanish-language public broadcaster, is proud to announce a partnership with South Florida PBS to bring the documentary "From Fear to Hope: The HIV & AIDS Journey" in the Spanish language to Hispanic audiences nationwide.
The powerful documentary chronicles the decades-long fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "From Fear to Hope" explores the personal stories, medical breakthroughs, and ongoing research that have shaped the journey, from the early days of crisis in the 1980s to the life-saving medical advancements that transformed HIV/AIDS into a treatable condition.
Today, there are over 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States, including 316,900 who identify as Hispanic or Latino. Communities of color, including Hispanic and Latino populations, have been consistently impacted by the HIV/AIDS crisis at disproportionate rates. Despite Hispanic/Latino people making up only 19% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 31% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022 and are estimated to represent 26% of people living with HIV nationwide.
In Memoriam: A. Cornelius Baker
November 14, 2024 - HIV.gov - This week, colleagues and friends worldwide mourn the passing of A. Cornelius Baker, a guiding light for the HIV, LGBTQ+, and global health communities—a champion for health equity who consistently led by example, inspiring those around him to strive for the highest ideals.
“It is hard to overstate the impact of his loss to the public health and HIV/AIDS communities or the place he held in my heart, personally,” said Kaye Hayes, MPA, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infectious Disease and Director of the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP).
People With HIV Are Uniquely Affected by Loneliness. Here Are Some Tips for Breaking the Cycle
Nov 14, 2024 - By Tim Murphy - TheBody - Evelynn Simaloi is lonely. Diagnosed with HIV in 1998 in her native Kenya, she moved in 2017 to Indianapolis, where she lives with her mother, brother, sister, and two kids. But despite having many family members around her, she longs for someone—a romantic partner or even a close friend—with whom she can really connect. “Just to be with someone whom you can relate to about grown-up things, walking together or going to a movie,” she said, is the kind of thing she yearns for.
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Vaccine shows promise in curing HIV, Hong Kong biotech start-up says
14 Nov, 2024 - Xinmei Shen - South China Morning Post - ‘We may be on the brink of a breakthrough,’ Dr Edward Leong, advisory board chairman of Immuno Cure says
A Hong Kong biotech company said its therapeutic HIV vaccine showed “promising” results in a recent clinical trial, taking it one step closer to offering patients an alternative to antiretroviral therapy, and eventually a functional cure for the virus that causes Aids.
Developed by Immuno Cure, based in Hong Kong Science Park, ICVAX demonstrated “exceptional safety and promising immunogenicity profiles” during its first-phase clinical trial carried out at the Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, the company said. Forty-five people took part in the trial.
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Gilead Presents Full PURPOSE 2 Data Results for Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention at HIV Glasgow
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)- November 13, 2024 - Gilead- – Newly Presented Results, to be Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Include Adherence and Pharmacokinetics Data; Data Underscore High Efficacy and Safety Profile of Lenacapavir Among Broad and Geographically Diverse Range of Individuals –
– FDA Recently Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Lenacapavir for PrEP; Gilead to Begin Regulatory Filings by End of 2024 –
– Gilead Spearheading Lenacapavir Access Strategies to Ensure Scientific Innovation
Translates to Global Access and Real-World Impact –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today presented the first in-depth look at full results from its pivotal Phase 3 PURPOSE 2 trial (NCT04925752), which is studying twice-yearly lenacapavir, the company’s injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, for the investigational use of HIV prevention among a broad and geographically diverse range of cisgender men and gender-diverse people. Newly presented results include data on adherence to and pharmacokinetics of lenacapavir among trial participants.
The data were presented during an oral abstract session at the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV Glasgow) and will be published in The New England Journal of Medicine . The release of the full PURPOSE 2 data follows the unblinding of the trial at interim analysis in September and a presentation of additional efficacy and safety data last month at the HIV Research for Prevention Conference in Lima, Peru. Those previously reported data showed that lenacapavir reduced HIV infections by 96% compared to background HIV incidence (bHIV), with two incident cases among 2,179 participants, corresponding to 99.9% of participants not acquiring HIV infection in the lenacapavir group. Twice-yearly lenacapavir also demonstrated superiority to once-daily Truvada ® (emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg; F/TDF) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and was generally well-tolerated, with no significant or new safety concerns identified.
Key influenza-severity risk factor found hiding in plain sight on our antibodies
November 13, 2024 - By Bruce Goldman - Stanford Medicine - Why do some people develop severe flu symptoms? A Stanford Medicine study points the finger at an unsung portion of the antibodies our immune systems generate to fend off invading pathogens.
Viruses are the fastest-evolving biological entity on earth. This fact explains why we need flu shots every year: Seasonal influenza perennially outwits the immunity we’ve acquired from previous vaccinations or infections.
Some new strains are rougher than others. The 1918 flu pandemic killed 50 million people and infected one-fifth of the world’s population. Influenza pandemics also occurred in 1957, 1968 and 2009.
“Influenza remains an incredibly dangerous risk to global health,” said Taia Wang, MD, PhD, associate professor of infectious diseases and of microbiology and immunology.
Guest Opinion: AIDS orgs may not survive to see the end of the pandemic
November 13, 2024 - by Tyler TerMeer - Bay Area Reporter - We are extraordinarily fortunate in San Francisco to be making strides in ending the HIV epidemic that has ravaged our communities for over four decades. With every new annual HIV report from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, we let out a collective exhale as the number of new HIV diagnoses continues its downward trajectory. What an incredible victory for our community and what great promise the future holds.
But as we welcome this hopeful shift in the epidemic, I must urge you to remember: We are NOT there yet.
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1 Genomic Test Can Diagnose Nearly Any Infection
November 12, 2024 - By Levi Gadye - University of California, San Francisco - Next-generation metagenomic sequencing test developed at UCSF proves its effectiveness in quickly diagnosing almost any kind of pathogen.
A genomic test developed at UC San Francisco to rapidly detect almost any kind of pathogen – virus, bacteria, fungus or parasite – has proved successful after a decade of use.
The test has the potential to vastly improve care for neurological infections that cause diseases like meningitis and encephalitis, as well as speed up the detection of new viral pandemic threats. It uses a powerful genomic sequencing technique, called metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).
Rather than looking for one type of pathogen at a time, mNGS analyzes all the nucleic acids, RNA and DNA, that are present in a sample.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2023
November 12, 2024 - CDC - Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2023 provides the most current and complete data for three nationally notifiable STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, including congenital syphilis.
New study links historical redlining to delays in HIV treatment
November 11, 2024 - By Andrew Yawn - Tulane University - A new study from Tulane University finds that historical, race-based lending practices are still impacting health today, linking these discriminatory policies to delays in effective HIV treatment within affected neighborhoods.
The lending practice, called redlining, was abolished in 1968. Yet, those living in once historically redlined neighborhoods experience 15% longer delays in achieving viral suppression of HIV compared to those in non-redlined areas, according to the study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The disparity can impact both individual health outcomes and public health efforts to curb the spread of HIV, said senior author Scott Batey, PhD, professor at Tulane’s School of Social Work.
Surviving Together
November 11, 2024 - By Tim Murphy - POZ - Long-term survivors are advocating for those living with or at risk for HIV.
“This is not a nostalgia thing, all right?” says Cleve Jones of his latest HIV advocacy project. “It’s important for people to remember what happened, because someday there will be another pandemic.” In fact, notes Jones—one of the world’s best-known long-term HIV survivors largely due to his conceiving of the now iconic AIDS Memorial Quilt—it’s already happened: COVID-19.
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30 Years Since Pedro Zamora Passed to Spirit
November 11, 2024 - By Shawn Decker - POZ - Judd Winick shares his thoughts on Pedro, and how the real world around us all needs more of his departed friend’s unforgettable passion.
Thanks to the advent and access to HIV medication, I’ve had many years to share my admiration and gratitude for Pedro Zamora. Without his passion for education and willingness to go on MTV’s The Real World in 1994, the actual world would have been a whole lot more ignorant during a very scary time in the AIDS epidemic.
Today I woke to a post by Judd Winick, honoring his friend on the 30-day anniversary of his passing:
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The Positive Side, Fall 2024: Online launch
November 2024 - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) -
Date & Time:
Nov 21, 2024 1:00 pm ET
10:00 AM in Vancouver
You’re invited to celebrate the return of The Positive Side at an online launch for the Fall 2024 issue!
Since the previous issue in July 2022, CATIE received a grant to reimagine Canada’s health and wellness magazine for people living with HIV through a community-centred lens.
B.C. investigating 1st presumptive human avian flu case caught in Canada
Novembewr 9, 2024 - Shaurya Kshatri - CBC News - Teenager from Fraser Valley region in hospital as sample sent to lab for confirmation
British Columbia health officials are investigating what's believed to be the first human case of avian influenza caught in Canada after a teenager tested presumptively positive for the disease, the Ministry of Health announced Saturday.
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Positively RED Ball 2
November 9, 2024 - GHC’s HIV/AIDS Resource Program (HARP) - Sault Ste. Marie Museum - Are you ready for a fun and fabulous night out to support a great cause? Come to the RED Ball!
“Dare to walk the red carpet and make your entrance.”
For the second time, GHC’s HIV/AIDS Resource Program (HARP) has teamed up with The Sault Ste. Marie Museum to bring you The Positively RED Ball 2!
The Positively RED Ball 2 is a 19+ event organized to help raise funds to construct an HIV/AIDS Memorial Wall. This monument is to recognize those individuals who have passed or are living with / affected by HIV/AIDS here in Sault Ste. Marie.
Make your way to The Grand Gardens at 1324 Great Northern Road on Nov. 29, 2024, at 7:30 p.m., for an evening of HIV/AIDS education, food, entertainment, a 50/50 draw and more. Our Emcee Lana Von Archer will keep you entertained and DJ Matt J. Dub will have you dancing all night! Our Royal Guest of Honour, TICOT Queen Mum 2024-2025 Christine Decelles James, HIV advocate and speaker, will be attending from The Imperial Court of Toronto. Courtney from Indie Blue Photography will be on site taking gorgeous photos of the attendees.
Those attending are encouraged to be their most fabulous selves! Come dressed in your best RED attire.
Late-Breaking Clinical Data and Real-World Evidence Presented at HIV Glasgow as Gilead Extends Leadership Efforts Toward Ending the Epidemic
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- November 7, 2024 - Gilead - – Full Results From PURPOSE 2 Study Exploring Lenacapavir as a Potential Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention Option Among a Broad and Geographically Diverse Range of Cisgender Men and Gender-Diverse People –
– Four-Year Outcomes From Real-World BICSTaR Study Further Demonstrate the Consistent Efficacy and Safety Profile of Biktarvy, Providing Insights for HIV Clinical Care –
– Late-Breaking Oral Presentation From Phase 2 Study Evaluating an Investigational Once-Weekly Oral Combination Treatment Regimen of Islatravir/Lenacapavir –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the upcoming presentation of HIV research findings at the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV Glasgow 2024), taking place from November 10-13. The results from more than 40 studies across HIV treatment and prevention include late-breaking data and seven oral presentations. These findings reflect a robust portfolio and future-looking pipeline focused on person-centered drug development strategies to address unmet needs in HIV and help end the epidemic.
Get your red clothes out in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS
Nov 7, 2024 - By SooToday - Group Health Centre’s HIV and AIDS Resources Program (HARP) has once again teamed up with the Sault Ste. Marie Museum to present The Positively Red Ball 2 on Nov. 29 at The Grand Gardens
Get ready to dig your finest red clothing out of the closet for the second annual Positively Red Ball.
Group Health Centre’s HIV and AIDS Resources Program (HARP) has once again teamed up with the Sault Ste. Marie Museum to present The Positively Red Ball 2— a 19+ event aimed at raising awareness and funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
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Preventing HIV misdiagnosis: implementation guide
7 November 2024 - Technical document - World Health Organization (WHO) - HIV testing programmes need to ensure that all clients who test for HIV are provided with correct diagnoses. The accuracy of HIV testing is critical to prevent misdiagnosis, as the consequences of giving an incorrect test result can be serious for clients, HIV testing services, HIV programmes and public health.
A Gut Feeling About HIV and Heart Disease
Newswise -LOS ANGELES (Nov. 7, 2024) - by Cedars-Sinai - Q&A With Cedars-Sinai Researcher Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin, PhD
Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin, PhD, is a pioneer in the study of the gut microbiota and the surprising ways these microorganisms living in our digestive tracts affect our overall health. His discoveries have been featured in Nature, Science Translational Medicine, Cell Reports and other top scientific journals.
In his latest achievement, he landed a $2.7 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate whether microbiota dysfunctions are contributing to the elevated risk of hypertension in HIV patients.
Adeeba Chairs Malaysian AIDS Foundation’s New Trustees Board
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 - By CodeBlue - The Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) is proud to announce the new line-up of its Board of Trustees for a two-year period, comprising a panel of nine members elected by the Malaysian AIDS Council, during its Annual General Meeting (Council Meeting) held on August 17, 2024.
David Warren, MD, to join UNMC as new infectious diseases chief
Nov 5, 2024 - Written by John Keenan - University of Nebraska Medical Center - Debra Romberger, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, has announced that David K. Warren, MD, will join UNMC as the chief of the division of infectious diseases on Jan. 13, 2025.
Dr. Warren, who also holds a master of public health degree, will succeed Mark Rupp, MD, who announced in 2023 that he would be stepping away from the position while remaining at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine in his faculty and clinical roles.
Stopping mpox: wild meat markets are a root cause and must be made safer
November 5, 2024 - The Conversation - In many countries around the world, wild animals are sometimes killed for food, including monkeys, rats and squirrels.
Wild meat makes significant contributions to nutrition in Africa and to satisfying food preferences in Asia.
In Africa, the annual harvest of wild meat, estimated at between 1 million and 5 million metric tonnes, is substantial compared to the continent’s livestock production of about 14 million metric tonnes per year.
Public health researchers have long highlighted unhygienic wild meat practices as potentially harmful due to the risk of pathogens jumping from animals to humans, especially through close contact during hunting, processing or consuming undercooked meat.
Department of Microbiology and Center for AIDS Research collaborate to host inaugural HIV Basic and Translational Research Symposium at UAB
November 04, 2023 - by Katherine Gaither - UAB | The University of Alabama at Birmingham - The UAB Department of Microbiology and the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) hosted the inaugural HIV Basic and Translational Research Symposium Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at the UAB Hilton Hotel. The all-day event featured speakers from the university and Southern Research, time for discussion, and a poster session.
The symposium sought to increase awareness of basic and translational research on HIV, related co-morbidities, and associated fundamental biology ongoing at UAB. In addition, the event intended to foster new collaborations and multi-disciplinary research while highlighting resources, funding opportunities, and services that can support HIV-related research at UAB.
Survey Finds Continued Declines in HIV Clinician Workforce
Newswise - November 4, 2024 - By Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott - Training and support needed to meet national Ending the HIV Epidemic goals, reports JANAC
The supply of healthcare professionals available to provide HIV care continues to decline, even as the need for HIV care and prevention is expected to increase, reports a survey study in the November/December issue of The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC). The official journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care,JANAC is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
“Our study provides new insights into the numbers and characteristics of clinicians who will be available to provide HIV care in the coming years. This information will inform efforts to build the HIV workforce amid the ongoing shift from specialist care to primary care strategies,” comments Andrea Norberg, DNP, MS, RN, and John Nelson, PhD, CPNP, FAAN, of the Rutgers School of Nursing François-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Newark, NJ.
 
bioLytical Laboratories Inc. Announces Health Canada Authorization of its rapid INSTI® HCV Antibody Test for Professional Use in Canada
RICHMOND, British Columbia, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- bioLytical Laboratories Inc. - bioLytical Laboratories Inc. announced today the immediate availability of its INSTI® HCV Antibody Test in the Canadian market
bioLytical Laboratories Inc. ("bioLytical"), a global leader in rapid diagnostic tests, proudly announces that it has received Health Canada authorization for its INSTI® HCV Antibody Test for professional use in Canada. This allows the company to immediately enter the Canadian marketplace, offering healthcare professionals more options to screen their patients for hepatitis C quickly and accurately.
Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is considered a sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) as it can be transmitted through sexual or blood contact and is spread primarily through blood. As a curable disease, regular access to rapid testing plays a crucial role in ending hepatitis C as a public health threat.
“We are thrilled to receive Health Canada authorization for our INSTI® HCV Antibody Test,” said Robert Mackie, CEO of bioLytical. “This approval underscores our dedication to bringing innovative, high-quality diagnostic tools to healthcare providers across Canada. With hepatitis C posing a significant public health challenge, our rapid test will help professionals diagnose more patients quickly and accurately, which is critical in the fight to eliminate hepatitis C in Canada.”
Ricky Martin Headlining AHF World AIDS Day Concert
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--- November 01, 2024 - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - Global icon to perform at Watsco Center in Coral Gables for annual commemorative event honoring those lost to HIV/AIDS, supporting those living with HIV/AIDS, and raising awareness
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global superstar Ricky Martin will headline the annual World AIDS Day concert, presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS service provider. The event takes place on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami (UM) in Coral Gables, Florida. Complimentary tickets are available by registering at AHFevents.org.
World AIDS Day is commemorated each year on December 1st and is an opportunity for communities to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and remember those we’ve lost. The evening’s event also will feature a performance by renowned DJ and rapper DJ Spinderella, and the AHF Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to Dr. Julio Frenk, UM’s outgoing president and chancellor-designate for UCLA.
G20 commits to fighting the inequalities driving AIDS and other pandemics. Leaders back new initiative to widen production of medicines in every region
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, 1 November 2024 - UNAIDS - Ministers at the G20 Ministerial in Rio De Janeiro have made new commitments to tackle AIDS and other pandemics, through addressing the inequalities driving them, both globally and nationally.
The commitments have been welcomed as a potential breakthrough against AIDS and other pandemics by international experts including Nobel Prize Winning Economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, world-leading epidemiologist Sir Michael Marmot, and former First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos. The experts, who are the Co-Chairs of the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS, and Pandemics established by UNAIDS, have been in Brazil as part of the Council’s engagement of the G20.
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