Cure for HIV/AIDS might be in working but there are other ways to eliminate the virus and end the epidemic. The main mode of HIV transmission is through sexual contact between an HIV-positive person and an HIV-negative person or through contaminated blood transmission. While the later is also stopped by passing strict guidelines at every hospital by disposing of the syringe after usage, the former has to be controlled.
It is why there have been several drugs called Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) which can prevent the transmission of the virus as the unaffected person takes anti-HIV medications before coming into contact with HIV patients to reduce their risk of becoming HIV positive.
PrEP and PEP Stage HIV Drugs
PrEP drugs can reduce HIV infection through sex between men and men, transgender men and women, heterosexual men and women, and even people who inject drugs into their bloodstream. There are also post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medications for the individuals who have been freshly exposed to HIV and can take the drugs within 72 hours to prevent the virus from developing in their body.
If we want to end the #HIV epidemic in the US, PrEP must be readily available & affordable, allowing easy access for all who want it. California made a huge step to that end, passing legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense PrEP without a prescription. https://t.co/Gxwok3QQr8 pic.twitter.com/c0JBftVX5H
— AIDS United (@AIDS_United) November 18, 2019
It's #HIVTestWeek – here's my two cents ✨
1. GET TESTED (yes, you)
2. U=U (a person with undetectable viral load CANNOT pass on HIV even via unprotected sex)
3. With antiretroviral therapy HIV is NOT a death sentence, more a long-term health condition that can be managed
— Emily (@Emily_J_RD) November 16, 2019
The U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) principle allows sexual contact between an HIV-positive and HIV-negative person without any kind of risk if proper drugs are taken from both sides. If such a control system can be implemented over the whole world, HIV/AIDS can be eliminated within just 10 years.
Preventing HIV Transmission
It would be a great breakthrough if we could somehow end HIV and AIDS without curing them. There should be a cure for HIV/AIDS but prevention would be a much better option. The treatment to cure HIV would be costly and would bring a lot of trouble and complexity. If we are able to stop HIV transmission, the epidemic will start to reduce and very soon the number of patients infected by the virus will be zero and HIV/AIDS would end from this world.