OPS: Early HIV diagnosis would reduce AIDS deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean

Washington. – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) urges countries in the Americas to intensify the response to HIV, warning that around a third of people with HIV are diagnosed too late, when their immune system is severely weakened and their lives are at risk. The call is made within the framework of World AIDS Day, which is celebrated on December 1, and seeks to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, the immediate start of antiretroviral treatment, and access to comprehensive care, which are essential to prevent advanced HIV disease, save lives, and reduce stigma. According to the most recent data, in 2024 it was estimated that 2.8 million people were living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. While the Caribbean reduced new infections by 21% since 2010, Latin America recorded a 13% increase in the same period. Deaths from AIDS-related causes decreased from 42,000 to 27,000 in Latin America and from 12,000 to 4,800 in the Caribbean. "Our region has made significant progress, from expanding access to long-acting medicines to adopting simplified treatments that transform lives," said PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. "Even so, the fight is not over. Every year, 38,000 lives are lost in the Americas due to causes related to HIV. Behind each figure there is a story, a family, a broken dream," he added. Around 14% of people living with HIV in Latin America and 15% in the Caribbean are unaware of their diagnosis, which means that more than a third of the cases are identified at an advanced stage, increasing the risk of opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, cryptococcosis or histoplasmosis. The expansion of screening and diagnosis, the immediate initiation of antiretroviral treatment in positive cases, and access to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (known as PrEP and PEP) in negative cases, but with a risk of HIV exposure, are interventions that can accelerate the elimination of HIV as a public health problem. New pre-exposure prophylaxis options with long-acting injectables like lenacapavir, a PrEP option administered every six months, could also play a key role in expanding prevention options and advancing towards the elimination of HIV. Advances in medicine and public health have facilitated the rapid diagnosis of HIV and the development of effective methods for combined prevention and treatment. Current antiretroviral treatments are very safe and effective and manage to suppress the viral load to undetectable levels in the blood, a situation in which the virus is not transmitted sexually. "To accelerate progress, prevent AIDS-related deaths, and improve the quality of life for people living with the virus, we must focus on expanding diagnosis, expanding access to PrEP, and optimizing antiretroviral treatment," said Dr. Barbosa. With the support of Unitaid, PAHO is implementing a project in the region to reduce mortality from advanced disease, strengthening the generation of evidence and data, introducing new tests to diagnose tuberculosis, histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis and promoting equitable access to treatments for opportunistic infections. Under the slogan "Zero AIDS deaths by 2030", this year's World AIDS Day campaign seeks to raise awareness about advanced HIV disease, highlight the stories behind the cases, and motivate a collective response, from governments and health professionals to society as a whole, to achieve elimination by 2030. As part of the commemorative activities, a virtual presentation event will be held on December 5th of the Regional Alliance for the elimination of HIV in the Americas, an initiative that seeks to strengthen coordination between government institutions, communities, international agencies and decision-makers, to promote innovations towards the elimination of HIV. HIV/AIDS is one of the more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions that PAHO seeks to eliminate by 2030 as part of its Elimination Initiative.