AIDS Information - (RED) https://www.red.org/reditorial/aids-information/ Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:05:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 IAS 2025: Protecting Progress in the AIDS Fight and Charting a Path Forward https://www.red.org/reditorial/impact/ias-2025-protecting-progress-in-the-aids-fight-and-charting-a-path-forward/ Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:05:13 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=8512 This is a guest (RED)ITORIAL written by Cynthia Kasonde, Medical Laboratory Scientist at Churches Health Association of Zambia and an ambassador of the (RED) and Roche partnership. The International AIDS Society 2025 Conference on HIV Science, held in Kigali, Rwanda, brought together global experts, researchers, policymakers, and frontline professionals to... Read more »

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This is a guest (RED)ITORIAL written by Cynthia Kasonde, Medical Laboratory Scientist at Churches Health Association of Zambia and an ambassador of the (RED) and Roche partnership.

The International AIDS Society 2025 Conference on HIV Science, held in Kigali, Rwanda, brought together global experts, researchers, policymakers, and frontline professionals to reimagine the next chapter in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The event was a powerful reminder that ending AIDS as a public health threat requires country-led strategies, strong, integrated health systems, and African-led solutions to shield HIV programs from future political shocks. With the theme “Moving HIV Science into Policy and Practice,” IAS 2025 emphasized urgency, resilience, and the need to translate cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.

I attended IAS 2025 representing the (RED) and Roche partnership, advocating for increased access to diagnostics and stronger lab systems in fighting pandemics and building equitable healthcare. As a lab professional, I shared how diagnostics—though often behind the scenes—are central to care, forming the foundation of treatment, policy, and prevention.

At the Roche x (RED) booth, I delivered a talk titled “How Local Labs Have a Global Impact,” where I shared insights from my work inside a diagnostic laboratory in Lusaka, Zambia. I outlined the critical process from sample collection to test result, emphasizing three key phases: pre-analytical, involving proper collection, storage, and labeling; analytical, which includes accurate testing using technologies like PCR and serology, requiring trained staff, calibrated equipment, and validated methods; and post-analytical, focused on the secure and timely interpretation and reporting of results.

Each step is governed by rigorous quality assurance, because even one mistake can change a life.

Despite diagnostics informing 70% of medical decisions, they receive under 5% of global health funding. Nearly half the global population lacks access to basic testing. This isn’t just a health crisis, it’s an economic one. In 2000, fewer than 800,000 people were on antiretroviral therapy; today, it’s over 30 million, largely due to expanded testing. Yet, many still face delays or missed diagnoses, leading to higher costs, more transmission, and poorer outcomes. Investing in diagnostics is not only ethical, it’s strategic.

In many sub-Saharan labs, a single machine may test for HIV, TB, hepatitis B and C, and HPV. These integrated platforms are lifesaving, especially amid funding cuts. A mother can be tested for HIV and screened for cervical cancer in one visit. This efficiency isn’t just practical, it’s transformative.

IAS 2025 spotlighted urgent shifts in the global HIV response. U.S. funding cuts have reversed gains, reducing ARV access in regions like Mozambique and Latin America. African scientific leadership shone through, with initiatives like the Africa Cure Consortium and outbreak responses such as Rwanda’s Marburg containment. Innovations like Lenacapavir, a long-acting PrEP injection now WHO-recommended, signaled a major shift. Zambia’s adoption of CAB-LA and oral PrEP options showed promise, especially for adolescents, a group facing high rates of suicidal ideation. Advances in bNAbs and CAR-T therapy also opened new frontiers.

Diagnostics underpin these advances. In the face of funding shortfalls, timely and affordable testing ensures smart use of limited ART. For innovations like Lenacapavir, diagnostics track adherence and resistance. In adolescent care, they support tailored mental health interventions. And in cure research, they measure viral load and immune response. Diagnostics are the silent enablers; without them, prevention and treatment efforts stall.

Speakers at IAS stressed that tools alone aren’t enough, it’s how we use them and who we empower that matters. More meaningful public-private partnerships are needed. Countries don’t just need donors, they need committed partners. The Roche x (RED) collaboration is one such model. It’s not just about providing machines but also training people, embedding sustainable systems, and building lasting infrastructure. As I said during my talk, “The Roche x (RED) partnership isn’t about charity, it’s about building resilient systems that last.”

Another key message was the call for true country ownership. Governments must design health reforms rooted in local realities, not donor preferences. At CHAZ, we live this every day. Our work is embedded in Zambia’s national lab network, building systems that are both technically sound and community-owned.

A deeply personal takeaway from IAS 2025 was the growing recognition of lab professionals. Too often overlooked, our work powers the data behind decisions, alerts, treatments, and policies. A missed HIV diagnosis isn’t just one error; it delays care, spreads disease, and distorts data. Labs remain underfunded, but our role is finally being acknowledged. As I said in Kigali, “When I speak on behalf of (RED) and Roche, I’m amplifying the voices of lab professionals across Africa, people whose work is vital but too often invisible.”

Looking ahead, the future of diagnostics is bright. New research in treatments, vaccines, and testing is promising, but innovation is meaningless if it’s not accessible. Equity must guide every step. Representing (RED), Roche, and countless African lab professionals at IAS 2025 was an honor. We may not always be seen, but our impact is felt worldwide. “We may work in the background, but our work speaks volumes, and with partners like (RED) and Roche, the world is finally listening.”

The end of AIDS won’t come from breakthroughs alone. It will come from everyday acts of clarity: one test, one diagnosis, one life at a time.

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]]> 6 Misconceptions About HIV/AIDS https://www.red.org/reditorial/learn/six-misconceptions-about-hiv-aids-and-why-they-arent-true/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 22:48:16 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=7718 Since (RED)’s founding by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, (RED) has remained committed to fighting injustices that allow pandemics like HIV/AIDS to thrive. To help clarify some myths and fight stigma, we’re breaking down some common misconceptions around the virus. 1. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is over We’ve made incredible... Read more »

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]]> Since (RED)’s founding by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, (RED) has remained committed to fighting injustices that allow pandemics like HIV/AIDS to thrive. To help clarify some myths and fight stigma, we’re breaking down some common misconceptions around the virus.

1. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is over

We’ve made incredible strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but it is very much still a crisis in many parts of the world. There are still over 39 million people living with HIV globally, and 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2023. That’s more than 2 people who contract HIV every minute. (2024 UNAIDS Report).

2. HIV is a death sentence

Thanks to incredible advances in medicine and antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), people living with HIV can have long, healthy lives. Through proper treatment, HIV viral loads can drop to undetectable levels, meaning the virus can’t be transmitted to others. Today, over 30.7 million people living with HIV are accessing ARVs that allow them to thrive (2024 UNAIDS Report).

3. HIV can only be spread through unprotected sex

While HIV can certainly spread through unprotected sex, there are other ways to contract the virus, including sharing needles, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth, and breastfeeding.

4. HIV can be spread through casual contact

HIV is not transmitted through hugging, shaking hands, sharing food or toilet seats, or mosquito bites. It spreads through specific bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk).

5. Only certain populations acquire HIV

HIV affects people of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. While some groups may have higher risks due to factors like access to healthcare and prevention methods, no one is immune.

6. If both sexual partners have HIV, they don’t need to use protection

Different strains of HIV exist, and reinfection with a different strain can make treatment more challenging. Using protection and staying on ARV treatment helps maintain health and prevents complications. Condoms also help protect against other sexually transmitted infections, which can negatively impact the immune system.

Stigma is a significant barrier in the fight to end AIDS and to make sure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the health programs they need. Ending the stigma around HIV/AIDS starts with educating yourself and others about misconceptions surrounding the virus.

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]]> How Is Female Genital Mulatilation Linked to HIV? https://www.red.org/reditorial/aids-information/how-is-female-genital-mulatilation-linked-to-hiv/ Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:14:39 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=7539 Every year, millions of women and girls undergo some form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), leaving them with lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars. FGM involves the cutting or altering of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, offering no health benefits. It’s still practiced in over 30 countries, with over 144... Read more »

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]]> Every year, millions of women and girls undergo some form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), leaving them with lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars. FGM involves the cutting or altering of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, offering no health benefits. It’s still practiced in over 30 countries, with over 144 million accounts in Africa to date. Over 230 million women and girls alive today have been subjected to FGM, and an estimated 4.4 million girls are at risk this year alone.

February 6th is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and this year, we’ve partnered with the Ifrah Foundation to raise awareness about the intersection between HIV and FGM. While (RED) generates funds and urgency for the fight against HIV/AIDS, which disproportionately affects women and girls, the Ifrah Foundation focuses on eradicating FGM in Somalia through advocacy, awareness, and community empowerment. Together, we’re committed to improving women’s and girls’ health and eliminating harmful and unnecessary practices. 

Photo Credit: The Global Fund
Four Ways FGM and HIV are Linked:  

1. Unsafe Procedures: FGM is often performed in unsafe conditions, where unsterilized surgical instruments are shared among girls. This increases the risk of HIV transmission through possible blood exposure between those undergoing FGM procedure

Source: WHO

2. Long-Term Health Complications: FGM can lead to lifelong health issues such as severe bleeding, tearing during childbirth or intercourse, and complications from blood transfusions – all of which increase susceptibility to HIV. 

Source: UNFPA, WHO

3. Gender Inequality: FGM is rooted in patriarchal norms, often accompanied by child marriage and a lack of access to sexual health education, which collectively increase women’s risk of contracting HIV. Survivors of FGM may avoid seeking medical care due to stigma, further exacerbating the risk of untreated infections, including HIV. 

Source: UNFPA, Columbia Journal

4. Prevalence in Communities with Limited Resources: Both FGM and HIV are more prevalent in low-income communities with limited healthcare, education, and preventive resources. In many of these communities, FGM is often used to control female sexuality, and protective measures against HIV are discouraged. 

Source: UNFPA, National Institute of Medicine Study

Addressing FGM and HIV requires a multifaceted approach, as both are deeply embedded in cultural and social constructs. These are not just healthcare challenges, but fundamental human rights issues that require education and advocacy to drive prevention. (RED) and the Ifrah Foundation remain committed to raising awareness for HIV and FGM and empowering women and girls worldwide.

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]]> 4 Reasons Iron Deficiency Can Be Dangerous For People Living with HIV https://www.red.org/reditorial/learn/4-reasons-iron-deficiency-can-be-dangerous-for-people-living-with-hiv/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:38:20 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=6695 Iron is a critical nutrient that helps your blood move oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. Iron deficiency anemia is a condition that leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells. Everyone is susceptible to developing iron deficiency at different times in their... Read more »

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]]> Iron is a critical nutrient that helps your blood move oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. Iron deficiency anemia is a condition that leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells. Everyone is susceptible to developing iron deficiency at different times in their lives, though the causes and symptoms can vary from person to person.

(RED) is teaming up with Lucky Iron Life to break down the intersection between iron deficiency and HIV. (RED) and Lucky Iron Life have a shared goal of improving global health and well-being. (RED) does this by partnering with brands to create products and experiences that raise money, heat, and urgency for the AIDS fight, while Lucky Iron Life is on a mission to make iron deficiency a thing of the past globally by developing cooking tools that help fortify daily meals with iron.

Iron deficiency anemia is the largest micronutrient deficiency globally and the most common blood disorder for those living with HIV/AIDS. It is closely associated with disease progression and higher risk of mortality. (Source: EClinicalMedicine)

Here are four reasons iron is especially important for those living with HIV/AIDS – and why iron deficiency can be so dangerous: 

  1. Immune System Compromise: Anemia can increase susceptibility to infections, which pose serious risks for people with HIV, as the virus weakens the immune system. For instance, people living with HIV are already more prone to tuberculosis, and iron deficiency anemia can compound the risk of infection.
  2. Source: CDC

  1. Risk of Coinfections: People living with HIV face a higher risk of other blood disorders and co-infections that can exacerbate iron deficiency and complicate anemia treatment. HIV can also cause anemia of chronic disease (ACD), in which stored iron isn’t available for red blood cell production.
  2. Sources: aidsmap, American Society of Hematology

  1. Inflammation Problems: HIV infection triggers the release of inflammatory proteins, which can boost the production of hepcidin. This hormone reduces iron absorption by essentially locking up iron in immune cells, thereby limiting the body’s availability for new blood cell production and worsening anemia.
  2. Source: American Society of Hematology

  1. Medication Effects: Some antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV can impair iron absorption, leading to nutritional deficiencies. Reduced appetite and malabsorption issues make it hard for those with HIV to get enough iron, complicating anemia management.
  2. Sources: aidsmap, American Society of Hematology

Managing iron levels is a balancing act, and as it’s intricately linked with HIV, requires a thoughtful and comprehensive approach for effective control. Though additional research is needed to find the best way to handle iron deficiency and HIV, it’s clear that treatment and care can widely depend on the “where” and “how.” Lucky Iron Life and (RED) are working to ensure preventable and treatable diseases and conditions are preventable and treatable for everyone.

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]]> Popular Creators join Roche and (RED) to Raise Awareness on Importance of Testing https://www.red.org/reditorial/partnership/roche-and-red-raise-awareness-about-importance-of-hiv-testing/ Thu, 30 May 2024 18:47:21 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1598 Roche and (RED) have joined forces on a shared mission to raise awareness about the significance of diagnostics and ongoing testing in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Over the past year, we’ve teamed up with a group of awesome social media creators to drive urgency around the HIV/AIDS fight and... Read more »

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]]> Roche and (RED) have joined forces on a shared mission to raise awareness about the significance of diagnostics and ongoing testing in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Over the past year, we’ve teamed up with a group of awesome social media creators to drive urgency around the HIV/AIDS fight and inspire people to join us to help prevent the spread of HIV and ensure treatment is available for all.

Check out the videos below and share them with your friends to help spread the word about the importance of testing in the fight against HIV/AIDS:

Matt Green

The Rapping Science Teacher

@red

We teamed up with @Matt Green to help raise awareness around the importance of HIV testing for all #HIVTesting #LearnOnTikTok

♬ original sound – (RED)

Aproko Doctor

Medical Doctor and Health Influencer

@red Ongoing testing empowers people living with HIV with the information they need to make critical health decisions. We can end AIDS in our lifetime—but not until everyone everywhere has access to testing. @aprokodoctor ♬ original sound – (RED)

Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins

Influencer and Board-Certified OBGYN

Instagram: @callmedoctor.p

@red

(RED) and Roche are teaming up to help raise awareness about the importance of diagnostics in the fight against HIV.

♬ original sound – (RED) – (RED)

Darrion Nguyen

Science Communicator and Content Creator at Lab Shenanigans

Instagram: @darrion.nguyen

@red

No matter where you live, HIV testing should be available and accessible. #HIVTestingDay

♬ original sound – (RED)

Medicine Explained

Dr. Amanda d’Almeida & Dr. Dan Villavecer

Medical Doctors & Content Creators

Instagram: @medicine.explained

@medicineexplained

Why test for HIV? @RED and us explain. #MedicineExplained #RocheDiagnostics #Health #STEM #LearnOnTikTok #HIV #AIDS

♬ original sound – Medicine Explained

Dr. Siyamak Saleh

Medical Doctor and Content Creator

Instagram: @doctor.siya

@red

If you can’t test, you can’t treat. We teamed up with #RocheDiagnostics and @Dr Siyamak Saleh to help raise awareness about the importance of testing in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

♬ original sound – (RED)

Semone Skosan

Digital Creator

Instagram: @semoneskosan

@semoneskosan

We can end AIDS in our lifetime—but not until everyone everywhere has access to testing. #RocheDiagnostics

♬ original sound – Semone Skosan

Learn More About Our Partnership With Roche

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]]> 4 HIV/AIDS Care Terms You Should Know https://www.red.org/reditorial/hiv-aids/4-hiv-aids-care-terms-you-should-know/ Mon, 20 May 2024 17:42:21 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=5932 With immense progress made in HIV/AIDS care in recent years, new terms and phrases have also emerged. If you’ve seen some unfamiliar words or phrases in the news, in conversations online, or even in pharmaceutical commercials, have no fear! We’re breaking down 4 of the most commonly used terms in... Read more »

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]]> With immense progress made in HIV/AIDS care in recent years, new terms and phrases have also emerged. If you’ve seen some unfamiliar words or phrases in the news, in conversations online, or even in pharmaceutical commercials, have no fear! We’re breaking down 4 of the most commonly used terms in conversations about HIV/AIDS care:

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is a life-saving treatment that helps a person living with HIV maintain an undetectable viral load. By taking an antiretroviral (ARV) pill daily, or injectable every 60 days, a person with HIV will not be able to transmit the virus to anyone else

Virologically suppressed is a term that describes when an HIV-positive person has an undetectable viral load (having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood). An undetectable viral load is the mark of effective ART. Virologically suppressed HIV patients can’t transmit the virus to others.

U=U is an acronym for Undetectable Equals Untransmittable. The international U=U campaign signifies that HIV-positive people with an undetectable viral load are not contagious. U=U is the ultimate goal for anyone on ART.

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a preventative medication that someone living without HIV can take to reduce their chance of getting HIV through sex by 99% or infection from injection drug use by 74%.

Sources: POZ Magazine, Center for Disease Control

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]]> 5 Things You Need to Know About PrEP https://www.red.org/reditorial/aids-information/5-things-to-know-about-prep-pre-exposure-prophylaxis/ Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:46:39 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1644 You may have heard of PrEP, but how much do you really know about it? We’ve broken down the basics: 1. What is PreP? PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a medication that prevents people who are HIV-negative from acquiring HIV. Ensuring access to PrEP is part of a comprehensive... Read more »

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]]> You may have heard of PrEP, but how much do you really know about it? We’ve broken down the basics:

1. What is PreP?

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a medication that prevents people who are HIV-negative from acquiring HIV. Ensuring access to PrEP is part of a comprehensive approach to prevent the spread of HIV.

2. Does PrEP really work?

YES! PrEP eliminates the risk of acquiring HIV from sex by about 99% when adhered to as prescribed.

3. How can PrEP protect people from HIV?

If your partner lives with HIV and is not on an ARV treatment, you’re at an increased risk of contracting the virus. This is where PrEP can intervene. PrEP can effectively protect HIV-negative individuals from contracting the virus from HIV-positive partners. It’s an easy, once-daily pill that reduces the risk and worry of transmission. Today, there are even more low-maintenance PrEP options that protect individuals from HIV with just a few treatments per year.

0 Million

people were newly infected with HIV in 2022

0 %

of people in the US who could benefit from PrEP are taking it

4. Why is PrEP important?

PrEP has been proven to prevent HIV in many diverse groups: gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, and heterosexual men and women. PrEP is especially important for people at heightened risk of acquiring HIV, like people with an HIV-positive partner or people who are unaware of their partner’s HIV status.

5. Can everyone access PrEP around the world?

If you live in New York, for example, accessing and using PrEP is relatively easy and common. However, if you cross the globe to Nairobi, PrEP prices are extremely high and access is low. Unfortunately, this is the case in many low- and middle- income countries. That’s why the Global Fund, the organization that receives all money (RED) raises, helps fund the provision of PrEP to ensure that community prevention efforts can include this important tool.

As more effective and low-risk HIV medicines come on the market, it’s important that where you live doesn’t determine quality of care. Beyond affordability, other barriers such as stigma and lack of awareness around HIV must be addressed through community sensitization and education on the value of PrEP. (RED)-supported Global Fund grants help fund programs that lower barriers to consistent and effective use of PrEP.

Sources: UNAIDS, CDC, Healthline

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]]> Is There a Cure For HIV/AIDS? https://www.red.org/reditorial/learn/is-there-a-cure-for-hiv-aids/ Mon, 21 Mar 2022 18:54:21 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1881 Thanks to developments from doctors, scientists, and researchers, the world is inching closer and closer to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. But is there actually a cure? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Here’s what you need to know about the “cure” for HIV/AIDS: The Real Status on... Read more »

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]]> Thanks to developments from doctors, scientists, and researchers, the world is inching closer and closer to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. But is there actually a cure? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Here’s what you need to know about the “cure” for HIV/AIDS:

The Real Status on the “Cure”

Let’s be clear on what the latest cases of reported “cures” mean. Scientists are careful to describe the current “cure” as “long term viral remission,” meaning that the HIV virus has been reduced to such low levels in the body that it can’t be detected. The patients currently reported as “cured” are off antiretroviral treatment (ARVs) and not experiencing any symptoms.

The Berlin Patient

Talk of the first known, sustained cure started with Timothy Brown, known as the “Berlin Patient.”

Brown was diagnosed with HIV in 1995, and in 2007, his HIV went into remission after undergoing a bone marrow stem cell transplant.

Prior to his transplant, Brown had been diagnosed with leukemia. His body wasn’t responding to aggressive chemotherapy, so his doctor came up with the novel idea to swap his vulnerable tissue with healthy stem cells from a donor carrying a rare genetic mutation (called CCR5-delta 32) that blocks HIV infection. Only a very small population of the world has this mutation.

After doctors found the right donor with this mutation, Brown received the transplant and then stopped taking his ARV medication. Brown was observed to see if his HIV would resurge, and after a year, his doctor deemed him HIV-free.

Up until he passed away from unrelated recurring Leukemia in September 2020, Brown remained off HIV treatment and continued to show no signs of the virus.

The London Patient

Over the next decade, similar attempts to replicate Brown’s results failed—that was until Adam Castillejo, then known only as the “London Patient,” in 2019.

Castillejo was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 and then with advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012. Like Brown, his body resisted chemotherapy, and as a result, his doctors recommended a stem cell transplant from a donor with the CCR5 mutation, which was conducted in 2016.

After observing him for 18 months, scientists declared Castillejo to be HIV-free.

The CRISPR Method

Flash forward a few months to July 2019, when researchers announced another major breakthrough. Scientists from Temple University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center were able to successfully eliminate HIV in living mice for the first time using a super form of antiretroviral therapy, called LASER, and a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR. These results proved that removing HIV in living animals is in fact possible. 

Scientists have yet to successfully replicate this approach on humans living with HIV, but results from a September 2019 trial indicated that these edited cells can survive in the human body—another important step toward using gene editing to cure human diseases.

The New York Patient

In February 2022, an American research team announced that a third person, the first-ever woman and first-ever person of mixed race, had been cured of HIV. Like the Berlin Patient and London Patient, the “New York Patient” was cured while receiving a stem cell transplant to treat cancer from a donor with the CCR5 mutation. However, this time, researchers used a new transplant method involving umbilical cord blood cells from a partially matched donor—instead of the usual practice of finding a bone marrow donor of similar race and ethnicity to the patient’s.

The patient stopped taking ARVs about 3 years after the transplant, and more than 14 months after discontinuing ARVs, her blood tests showed no signs of HIV. The fact that this patient is a woman and a person of color is important to the field of study since both identities have been previously excluded from HIV cure trials.

What It All Means

All of these results are incredibly hopeful. They show that new approaches to HIV treatment are becoming increasingly effective and that researchers are slowly getting closer to finding a true cure.

That being said, it’s important to remember that the successes of the Berlin patient, London patient, and New York patient occurred under very special circumstances. The procedures were intended to treat cancer, and they came with a large price tag and an even larger risk. After the Berlin Patient, many of the attempts to replicate his treatment ended with the virus coming back, or with HIV+ patients dying from their cancer. Brown himself almost died immediately following his procedure because of the toll it took on his immune system. 

In terms of the major developments using the CRISPR method, gene editing is still a very new technology. While eliminating HIV in mice was certainly a major feat, we’re still a while away from being able to safely use the CRISPR method on humans.

These discoveries also do not change the current situation for most of the 38 million people currently living with HIV, the majority of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa. Roughly a quarter of all people living with HIV still lack access to daily HIV medication despite them now being safe and lower cost.

The dangerous and costly procedures that resulted in patients being cured are not yet a realistic solution to the AIDS pandemic, as promising as the results may be. 

We should applaud these groundbreaking discoveries, but we’re not at the finish line yet.

This is why the Global Fund, the organization that receives the money generated by (RED) partners, is so important. While the medical community continues to work on finding a safe, cost-effective cure for HIV/AIDS, Global Fund programs in over 100 countries are focused on scaling up access to daily antiretroviral medication—the current, closest thing to a cure for people living with HIV. These programs also provide prevention services, care, treatment and education to the people most affected by HIV, which are crucial to limiting the spread of the virus.

Given the devastating impact of the COVID pandemic on the fight to end AIDS, supporting the Global Fund is more crucial now than ever before. Join (RED) and help ensure those living with HIV can continue to access essential programs and services.

Originally Posted May 2019

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]]> Racial Inequalities Make Pandemics Worse https://www.red.org/reditorial/aids-information/racial-inequality-makes-pandemics-worse/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:57:28 +0000 https://red.org/?p=1896 As we’ve seen with COVID over the past two years, and with AIDS for more than four decades, social and racial inequalities allow global health emergencies to thrive. Racial discrimination has impacted health outcomes for centuries by unfairly affecting access to housing, education, wealth, food, and health care. Prior to... Read more »

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]]> As we’ve seen with COVID over the past two years, and with AIDS for more than four decades, social and racial inequalities allow global health emergencies to thrive. Racial discrimination has impacted health outcomes for centuries by unfairly affecting access to housing, education, wealth, food, and health care.

Prior to COVID, data consistently showed that people of color fared worse than their White counterparts across a range of health outcomes and diseases. These disparities are only intensified when under-resourced communities are faced with a health crisis.

The entire world has been adversely impacted by COVID, yet racially marginalized groups, including the Black community in the U.S., have undeniably borne the brunt of the pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 1.7 times more likely to die from COVID than White Americans.

Infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS continue to disproportionately affect Black communities in the U.S. alongside the current pandemic. Black Americans comprise just 13% of the U.S. population, but represent 42% of the country’s HIV diagnoses. Black women disproportionately account for new cases of HIV and are diagnosed at 14 times the rate of White women. 

We see similar disparities on a global scale, where unequal access to health services, including COVID relief and HIV prevention and treatment programs, adversely affects Black communities around the world. As of February 2022, less than 13% of people in Africa have been fully vaccinated while globally more than 50% of people are fully vaccinated. At the same time, HIV remains a persistent threat. Of the nearly 38 million people living with HIV worldwide, more than two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Pandemics thrive where inequalities exist, including systemic and historic racism. The color of your skin should not determine whether you are more likely to die from a deadly disease. (RED) is proud to support grants that enable community-led efforts to provide equitable access to testing, treatment, and vaccines for everyone. 

Join (RED) as we fight the injustices of global health emergencies and fund life-saving programs for communities most in need.

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]]> 7 Common Myths About HIV/AIDS (And Why They’re Not True) https://www.red.org/reditorial/learn/hiv-aids-myths-and-why-theyre-not-true/ Mon, 16 Aug 2021 21:38:41 +0000 https://live-red005.pantheonsite.io/?p=3007 When AIDS first made headlines back in the 1980s, there was plenty of misinformation surrounding the newly-discovered disease.   Today, despite all of the information made available about HIV/AIDS, there are still so many common misconceptions floating around.  We’re here to set the record straight and answer questions you may be... Read more »

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When AIDS first made headlines back in the 1980s, there was plenty of misinformation surrounding the newly-discovered disease.  

Today, despite all of the information made available about HIV/AIDS, there are still so many common misconceptions floating around. 

We’re here to set the record straight and answer questions you may be wondering about—or are too afraid to ask. 

Here are seven of the most common myths about HIV/AIDS—and the facts to counter them.

Myth #1: HIV/AIDS is no longer a crisis.

You might not see HIV/AIDS on the news every day like it once was back when the disease was first discovered—but the crisis is far from over.   

Roughly 3 new people contract HIV every minute and this year, nearly 700,000 people will die of AIDS-related illnesses. In the US alone, 1.2 million people are estimated to be living with HIV, the overwhelming majority of which are Black and African-American gay men. These numbers should be front-page news. The fight is not over until it is over for everyone.           

Yes, the world has come a long way in the fight against AIDS, but unless we act now, all the progress we’ve gained is in incredible jeopardy. We know how to end this disease once and for all—and we need your help in doing it.

Myth #2: You can contract HIV from touching someone who is HIV-positive.

False. According to the Center for Disease Control, HIV can NOT be transmitted through air, water, saliva, sweat, tears, or sharing a toilet—meaning you can’t catch it from breathing the same air as an HIV-positive person, or hugging, kissing, or shaking hands. 

The virus can only be transmitted through certain body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, or breast milk. Therefore, it’s often transmitted through sex, when protection is not used, or through needle or syringe use. The virus can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, if the mother is not accessing antiretroviral medication. This is why it is so critical to ensure pregnant mothers living with HIV not only get tested, but can access and adhere to treatment throughout pregnancy and during breastfeeding. 

In instances of sex between an HIV-positive and an HIV-negative partner, condoms are highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV. When condoms are paired with antiretroviral medication, they provide even more protection. And with the introduction of new medication and treatment like PrEP and long-lasting injectables, the most-at-risk communities are able to further protect themselves from contracting HIV.

Myth #3: AIDS is a death sentence.

Not anymore. When AIDS was first discovered, there was no effective treatment available—and a diagnosis was ultimately considered a death sentence. Now, this is no longer true, thanks to the development of revolutionary treatment methods. Today, over 27 million people living with HIV are accessing treatment that allows them to live healthy, normal lives. Over the past two decades, the global rollout of treatment has saved nearly 17 million lives from AIDS-related deaths.

Myth #4: People living with HIV shouldn’t have babies.

Incorrect. When HIV-positive pregnant women adhere to life-saving HIV treatment throughout their pregnancy and during breastfeeding, they can give birth to HIV-free children. 

Ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a crucial piece to ending AIDS as an epidemic by 2030. Worldwide, 84% of HIV-positive pregnant women are receiving this life-saving treatment for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a massive scale-up from 45% in 2010. We must continue to scale up prevention services to ensure that every child, everywhere is born HIV-free.

Myth #5: HIV is a “gay” disease.

False. The first documented AIDS cases in the US in the 1980s were among gay men and men who have sex with men. At the time, HIV and AIDS were unknown and mysterious, leading fear, misinformation, and discrimination to label the disease as “gay.” While HIV continues to disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ individuals, it is by no means confined to this group. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding HIV continues to keep patients from accessing the care they need to stay healthy and alive.

Myth #6: There is a cure for HIV/AIDS.

You may have seen news that a few patients were seemingly cured of HIV through a clinical trial. While this exciting progress signifies new innovations and advancements in the AIDS fight, health experts caution that this treatment is considered very risky and is not yet scalable. 

Though there is no proven cure for HIV, current antiretroviral medications allow HIV-positive people to live healthy lives with roughly the same life expectancy as those who are HIV-free.

Learn More About the Progress We’ve Made in Finding the Cure

Myth #7: Ending AIDS is beyond our control.

100% false. The power to end AIDS is in our hands—and you can start just by joining (RED). With every (RED) product or action you take, you can be a powerful force in the fight to end AIDS.

Shop (RED) Products on Amazon

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]]> The Power Of ARVs https://www.red.org/reditorial/hiv-aids/the-power-of-arvs-antiretroviral-medication-hiv-aids/ Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:48:58 +0000 https://www.red.org/?p=5514 Antiretroviral medication (ARVs) works to keep HIV from growing and multiplying within the human body. With access to ARVs, people living with HIV can not only lead healthy and productive lives, but they can pass on healthy lives to their unborn children. Thanks to the support of government, private, and... Read more »

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]]> Antiretroviral medication (ARVs) works to keep HIV from growing and multiplying within the human body.

With access to ARVs, people living with HIV can not only lead healthy and productive lives, but they can pass on healthy lives to their unborn children. Thanks to the support of government, private, and public sectors, this life-saving medication now costs as little as 30 cents a day. Without ARVs, an HIV-positive mother can have up to a 45% chance of transmitting the virus to her unborn child, but when that same mother receives properly administered treatment during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, the rate of transmission can be reduced to less than 5%. While there have been significant reductions in the spread and transmission of HIV, there are still over 600 babies being born every day with a preventable virus.

We must act now to get that number close to zero.

Learn More About How To Get Involved

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