40th anniversary of the first description of AIDS

Hailing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA, a research team has delivered a comprehensive overview of the most recent advancements in managing AIDS, which has had a profound impact on global health. The origins of this disease can be traced back to 1981 when the first cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia manifested in the gay male population. This marked the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, a chapter in world's history that has witnessed over 75 million individuals with HIV infections and a staggering toll of 32 million lives lost. The epicenter of this ongoing crisis continues to be in east and southern Africa, a region accounting for a substantial 54% of all HIV-infected individuals and having a burden of 43% of associated mortalities.
A notable revelation from this research is that 70% of new HIV infections are the result of male-to-male sexual encounters. The introduction of oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with the medication Truvada, which combines tenofovir and emtricitabine, played a pivotal role in the compound's international licensing. Recognizing its significance, the World Health Organization (WHO), in its 2016 guidelines, advocated for PrEP use. Remarkably, medical science and healthcare state that AIDS no longer holds a place among the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide. It has transitioned into a medically manageable condition, symbolizing the progress achieved in the ongoing battle against this public health challenge.