Aids deaths curbed by antiretrovirals

Published on 19/07/2012 00:27

Fewer people infected with HIV globally are dying from ­Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) as more get anti-retroviral drugs, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, the United Nations Aids programme declared yesterday.

The UN estimates that about 34 million people are living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes Aids. In a report released ahead of the International Aids Society’s 2012 annual meeting set for next week in Washington, DC, it said that the number of worldwide Aids-related deaths fell to 1.7 million last year – down from a peak of 2.3 million in 2005 and 1.8 million in 2010.

“One of the key messages that will come out of the conference is one of optimism and hope,” Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, director of the HIV department at the World Health Organisation, said during a briefing in Geneva.