A Medical Miracle
Mostly this is attributed to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, but this year the world saw possibly one of the biggest breakthroughs in HIV treatment over the last three decades. ARV drugs can lower levels of the virus in the body, keeping people healthy by reducing the risk of transmitting HIV. But recent research has shown that the same pharmaceuticals may also help protect people that are negative for HIV from even becoming infected.
In 2011, we witnessed two trials that would revolutionize the treatment and prevention of HIV. One of these studies involved heterosexual men and women and showed that those who are HIV-free were considerably less prone to becoming infected with the virus if they took the ARV drug Truvada (this is a combination of the drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine) on a daily basis. In one study the transmission of the virus was reduced by 73% after a 3 year period and in another 63%. These results gave hope to people all over the world that this global sickness may finally be curbed.
