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Is there a possibility that HIV/AIDS has a cure?

The World Scientific Conference on HIV / AIDS will take place from July 21 to 24, 2019 and will address the creation of a possible vaccine against this disease

Is there a possibility that HIV/AIDS has a cure?

In a press conference the Mexican president of the International AIDS Society (IAS), Brenda Crabtree, confirmed that the event will be held in Mexico City from July 21 to 24, 2019 and will have the participation of experts of more than 120 countries

Leer en español: ¿Hay posibilidad de que el VIH/SIDA tenga cura?

"A lot of progress has been made, a lot of research but there is still a lot to be done regarding this disease and that is what we will be discussing in this event ," the specialist said, according to the Minuto 30 newspaper.

Although there is a low incidence of the disease in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that one out of every four people with the AIDS virus in the region does not know it.

In addition, the entity reported that in Latin America the rate of new HIV infections has only had a 1% reduction since 2010 , with approximately 100,000 cases per year.

In Argentina, for example, the data of the last Epidemiological Bulletin published by the Directorate of AIDS and ETS of the Ministry of Health of the Nation show that by December 2017 of the 122,000 people with the virus, 30% did not know it.

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In Colombia, according to the newspaper Vanguardia, contrary to public belief, the official figures of the High-Cost Account show that during 2018 and part of 2017 more than 10,000 new cases were registered and it is estimated that more than 80,000 people are living with HIV in the country.

On the other hand, according to PAHO, the majority of new infections in the region are suffered by men who have sex with men, representing 41% of new cases in Latin America and 23% in the Caribbean.

The other groups with the highest incidence are transgender women, sex workers and their clients, and people who inject drugs.

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That is why the summit will address issues such as new research on the disease, the creation of a possible vaccine and strategies to reduce discrimination and stigma in health services and communities.

"Significant progress has been made in increasing the number of people who know their diagnosis and treatment, however, violence and stigma toward vulnerable populations continue to be a barrier to progress in the response to this disease," concluded the report. Dr. Crabtree.

 

LatinAmerican Post | Luisa Fernanda Báez

Translated from "¿Hay posibilidad de que el VIH/SIDA tenga cura?"

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