Lately, we have been hearing a lot about the end of AIDS. Not by a
cure but by targeted prevention and treatment measures to reduce the
spread of HIV, including treatment as prevention (TasP) and the
reduction of community viral load, the countdown to zero (eliminating
new mother-to-child transmissions), the use of PrEP, etc.
Despite optimistic catch phrases, cheery public service announcements,
high-level political rhetoric, and articles announcing “the end of
AIDS,” the cold hard statistics tell a different story. Yes, we have had
some hard-earned victories in reducing new infections that we should
feel happy and accomplished about, but, particularly here in the U.S.,
reality in the form of a CDC report is screaming “this is not the end
of AIDS.”
Despite the effectiveness of third-generation antiretrovirals (ARVs) in
reducing HIV viral loads to undetectable levels, new statistics show
disappointing results in U.S. HIV patients. A recent CDC report found
that only three in every ten Americans living with HIV had an
undetectable viral load in 2011. Although disparaging, it should be
noted that some progress has been made nationwide, as 2009 statistics
found twenty-six percent to be undetectable, four percent less than in
2011.
The report found that of the 1.2 million people presently living with HIV:
• Twenty percent did not know they are infected
• 840,000 were not consistently taking ARVs.
• Sixty-six percent were not in regular care
• Ten percent were unable to maintain an undetectable viral load despite being on ARVs
• Four percent were receiving care from a physician but were not on ARVs
Men who have sex with men account for a large percentage of those in
the U.S. living with HIV, but an earlier CDC report found that of gay
men living with HIV, only fifty-one percent were receiving care and only
forty-nine percent were on antiretroviral treatment.