The HIV Epidemic
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/11/1052211
When HIV was first discovered in 1959, it was very frightening. Although HIV was first diagnosed in 1959, there has still not been a cure found. This however doesn’t mean that strides aren’t being taken to remedy its effect, and hopefully end this tragic epidemic. In an article published by UN News, the treatment and containment of the current generation of those with HIV is investigated, and states how the deadly virus is slowly being mitigated. One area it focuses on is the expansion of treatment. It states that as of this year, roughly ⅝ of the people with HIV are able to access treatment. Correlated with this, fewer people are dying from the virus as well. Also, in eastern and southern Africa, the regions most greatly affected by HIV, are showing decreases in occurences in women ages 15 to 24 over the past few years. These statistics are very important in showing how significant progress is being made to hopefully kill the HIV epidemic. However, these statistics alone do not tell the whole story.
The overall number of new HIV diagnoses has stayed at a steady pace. Furthermore, roughly 320 people die from AIDS-related diseases every day. Although progress is being made, there are still very large barriers we face in order to eradicate HIV.
The contents of this article relate to our class on the spread of epidemics, and the probabilities and preventions associated with them. In usual cases of epidemics, there’s a value signifying the probability of transmission, and then the number of contacts. For HIV, the transmission probability is 100% if someone with it has unprotected intercourse, or transmits it some other way, with another person without HIV. The goal of stopping the HIV epidemic is to stop the transmission of HIV all together, by preventing people from performing the actions that spread it. This is very different from preventing the spread of airborne diseases, such as influenza. Another goal in eliminating HIV is treatment and finding a cure. Since there is currently no cure, the STR model isn’t as effective as usual, as there is no cure, so there is nor removed/recovered category.