Success In HIV Treatments Could Eliminate Further Transmissions In Australia
Image: Mardi Gras Fair Day 2023. Image: ACON
Research into Australia鈥檚 HIV transmissions has shown a significant drop in infections, with potentially being the first country to 鈥榲irtually eliminate鈥� further transmissions of the virus.
A 10-year study conducted by The UNSW鈥檚 Kirby Institute and The Burnet Institute saw a 66% decrease in HIV transmissions across 100,000 gay and bisexual men in NSW and Victoria.
The increased access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), antiretroviral medications, and HIV testing between 2010 and 2019, were the main contributors to reductions in transmissions.
This research is the first of its kind in researching the effectiveness of treatment-as-prevention (TasP) throughout a population. Dr Denton Callander from the Kirby Institute noted that 鈥渁s viral suppression increased, HIV incidence decreased,鈥� endorsing the TasP strategies seen within the study.
鈥淚ts true potential (TasP) is unlocked when used in combination with the widespread availability of PrEP, and increased access to HIV testing and treatment, especially when delivered equitably,鈥� Callander explains.
Initiatives from Australian governments, clinics, and community groups in providing pharmaceutical access to PrEP, reducing costs for medication and testing, and educating those at risk of HIV have evidently led to the decline in HIV infections.
Elimination 鈥渃ould be sooner than anyone thinks鈥�
The 17c起草社区 spoke with Dr Callander from the Kirby Institute regarding the report’s success and adherently seeing Australia become a 鈥済lobal leader for investing in HIV treatment.鈥�
鈥淎round the world, few, if any places have such a high uptake of treatment as Australia and our study, shows what a smart investment this has been from a public health perspective,鈥� he says.
Whilst estimations can not be exact when Australia could see HIV transmission eliminated, Callander expressed that the Kirby Institute 鈥渁re thoughtful enough it could be sooner than anyone thinks.鈥�
Acknowledging the effectiveness of antiretroviral medications for people living with HIV, he explains the effectiveness of TasP in reducing new HIV infections. Furthermore, the study saw the use of TasP alongside PrEP as being the most effective strategy for reducing infections.
鈥淭he key now is to use all the brilliant public health knowledge in Australia鈥� we need to continue to promote HIV testing to drive down rates of undiagnosed infection and we need to ensure HIV treatment and PrEP are both accessible,鈥� he says.
Callander indicated that promoting TasP strategies, PrEP and diagnostic testing with 鈥渢hose most in need鈥� will help 鈥渇urther this exciting progress.鈥�
鈥淲e need to do all of this equitably! HIV elimination can only be realised if we ensure no one is left behind,鈥� Callander says.
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