HIV: Brazil has 694,000 people on antiretroviral therapy
In Brazil, 694,000 people are being treated for HIV. This year alone, 45,000 new patients started so-called antiretroviral therapy. According to the Ministry of Health, the numbers represent coverage of 81% of people diagnosed with HIV in the country. Of the total number of patients undergoing treatment, 95% no longer transmit the virus sexually because they have reached a suppressed viral load. The numbers were released by the folder this Wednesday (1st), World Day to Fight Aids.
Data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System, released by the 2021 HIV/AIDS Epidemiological Bulletin, show that, last year, 29,917 cases of AIDS were reported in Brazil against 37,731 in 2019 – a drop of 20.7%.
"According to specialists, even if there is a cooling down, the situation is still worrying, as the records of deaths from the disease continue", warned the ministry. In 2020, there were 10,417 AIDS deaths against 10,687 in the previous year – a drop of only 2.52%.
Campaign
Also today, the Ministry of Health launched the Preventing is Always the Best Choice campaign. The proposal is to raise awareness about the importance of HIV prevention and act strongly in diagnosis and treatment, especially among younger people.
In the entire historical series, Brazil registered 381,793 notified cases of the virus. Of these, 69.8% were male and 30.2% female. More than 50% of cases affect men and women aged 20 to 34 years.
In addition, 7.8 thousand cases of HIV were reported in pregnant women, which represents a detection rate of 2.7 cases for every thousand live births, with a 30.3% increase in the detection rate in ten years. Altogether, the country registered 32,701 HIV cases last year against 43,312 in 2019 – a reduction of 10,611 cases.
Illness
AIDS is caused by HIV infection, which attacks the immune system, responsible for defending the body. The virus is capable of altering the DNA of one of the cells in the human body and making copies of itself. As it multiplies, it breaks the lymphocytes in search of others to continue the infection. "It is worth remembering that the person living with HIV may not develop AIDS, if they undergo the appropriate treatment", reinforced the ministry.
Transmission occurs through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom; by the use of a syringe by more than one person; by transfusion of contaminated blood and by the use of non-sterile instruments that pierce or cut. It is possible to transmit the virus also during pregnancy, at the time of childbirth and while breastfeeding.
“It is important to break myths and taboos, clarifying that people living with HIV do not transmit the disease in the following ways: masturbation as a couple; kiss on the face or mouth; sweat and tear; Bug bite; handshake or hug; soap, towel, sheets; cutlery and glasses; bus seat; pool; bathroom; blood donation; through the air”, highlighted the folder.
Text translated using artificial intelligence.
