New research published in Lancet HIV shows that Australia could become one of the first countries to “virtually eliminate” HIV transmissions. According to the study, HIV infections decreased by 66% between 2010 and 2019 in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, while the number of people accessing effective HIV treatment increased by 27%. The decrease in transmissions was attributed to increased access to HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The study also highlighted the effectiveness of the “treatment as prevention” (TasP) strategy, which involves treating people with HIV in order to suppress the virus, reducing their risk of transmitting it to others to zero. Every percentage point increase in successfully treated HIV saw a fivefold decrease in new infections, establishing TasP as a powerful public health strategy.
Dr Denton Callander, who led the research at UNSW’s Kirby Institute, emphasized the importance of access to HIV testing and widespread availability of PrEP. The success of measures such as education on HIV and reduced patient treatment costs could see Australia “virtually eliminate” new HIV transmissions, according to Professor Mark Stoové from the Burnet Institute.
While Australia is making progress in HIV prevention efforts, other countries, including the UK, still have a long way to go. Former health secretary Matt Hancock committed to ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, but charities and activists have expressed doubt that the UK will be able to meet this target. Inequality, stigma, and a lack of resources continue to be hurdles in achieving this goal.
Medical breakthroughs have transformed the treatment and prevention of HIV, and the U=U (undetectable = untransmittable) slogan aims to tackle the misconception that people with HIV can pass the virus on even if they are receiving effective treatment. U=U means that if a HIV-positive person has been taking effective HIV treatment, and their viral load has been undetectable for six months or more, they cannot pass the virus on through sex.
Australia’s success in HIV elimination efforts serves as a model for other countries to follow. Continued investment in HIV treatment, especially alongside PrEP, is crucial in achieving the goal of virtually eliminating HIV transmissions.