• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

WHO New Guidance On HIV Viral Suspension: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released new scientific and normative guidance on HIV at the 12th International IAS (the International AIDS Society) Conference on HIV Science.

The new guidance accompanied by Lancet systematic review outlines the role of HIV viral suppression and undetectable levels of the virus in both improving individual health and halting onward HIV transmission. The new guidance describes the key HIV viral load thresholds and the approaches to measure levels of a virus against these thresholds.

Explaining with an example, the WHO stated that people living with HIV who achieve an undetectable level of virus by consistent use of antiretroviral therapy, do not transmit HIV to their sexual partner(s) and are at low risk of transmitting HIV vertically to their children.

The guideline explained that there is negligible, or almost zero, risk of transmitting HIV when a person has an HIV viral load measurement of less than or equal to 1000 copies per mL, also commonly referred to as having a suppressed viral load.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said, “For more than 20 years, countries all over the world have relied on WHO’s evidence-based guidelines to prevent, test for and treat HIV infection.” He added, “The new guidelines we are publishing will help countries to use powerful tools that have the potential to transform the lives of millions of people living with or at risk of HIV.”

According to WHO, around 29.8 million of the 39 million people living with HIV were taking antiretroviral treatment (which means 76% of all people living with HIV) with almost three-quarters of them (71%) living with suppressed HIV, at the end of year 2022. This indicates that for those virally suppressed, their health is well protected and they are not at risk of transmitting HIV to other people.

Additionally, the researchers at WHO also highlighted the link between HIV and mpox. The study by WHO states that among more than 82,000 mpox cases, around 32,000 cases had information on HIV status. Among those, 52% were living with HIV, most being men who have s*x with men (MSM), and more than 80% reported s*x as the most probable route of getting infected with mpox.

The researchers at WHO strained on a new policy framework on primary health care (PHC) and HIV will help decision-makers optimise work and collaboration underway to advance primary health care and disease-specific responses, including HIV.

“Ending AIDS is impossible without optimising opportunities across and within health systems, including with communities and in the context of primary health care”, said Dr Jérôme Salomon, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases. The IAS 2023, the 12th IAS Conference on HIV Science will be held in Brisbane from 23 to 26 July 2023.

Also In News

FAQ