For immediate release:
Worlds AIDS Day 2015: Still Aiming for Zero in Canada and Worldwide
December 1, 2015 (Ottawa) – New cases of HIV in Canada continue to drop, reaching
the lowest level in more than thirty years. However, Canada’s experts on infections,
believe more must be done to reach the level of zero.
World AIDS Day has been commemorated each December 1 since 1988 to remember
those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, to reflect on the current status of this global
epidemic, and to challenge ourselves to stop new HIV infections and AIDS deaths.
UNAIDS1 reports tremendous progress over the last 15 years and this brings great hope
for the future. The target set in 2011 to reach and treat 15 million people with highly
active antiretroviral therapy by 2015 has been achieved and as a result 7.8 million
deaths from HIV have been averted since 2000. As a result, the number of new HIV
infections globally is on the decline and has dropped 35% since 2000.
However, in 2014 there were still 2 million new infections and 1.2 million HIV-related
deaths. Sadly 220,000 of the new infections were amongst children and 13.3 million
children were orphaned because their parents died from AIDS1.
In 2015, the scientific debate about when to start HIV therapy was settled. Therapy
should be started as early as possible to improve the health of the infected individual
and to prevent transmission to others. However, despite the progress in HIV prevention
and care at the end of 2014, of the 36.9 million individuals living with HIV less than half
were accessing HIV therapy. Globally we must meet the challenge to scale up
treatment and prevention!
The theme of World AIDS Day in 2015, as it has been since 2011, is Getting to Zero.
Getting to Zero means:
Zero New Infections.
Zero Discrimination.
Zero HIV/AIDS-related Deaths.
1
UNAIDS: World AIDS Day 2015: On the Fast-Track to End AIDS. (http://www.unaids.org) and
www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/HowAIDSchangedeverything
The realization of these goals will take considerable investment of energy and
resources.
Progress is being made on all fronts. Potent antiretroviral therapy, with an increasing
array of choices including several single-tablet regimens, is available. HIV-infected
individuals with access to therapy and who take their medication consistently can
expect complete suppression of viral replication, an undetectable plasma viral load and
a near-normal life expectancy. Yet, access to therapy is still a challenge in some
settings. Effective therapy also represents a key preventive strategy. Other strategies
include culturally-appropriate education, barrier contraception, and pre-exposure
prophylaxis in select settings. These strategies all have demonstrated benefits and will
remain essential while work on a safe and effective vaccine continues.
Surveillance reports in Canada reveal modest success.2 The 2044 new individuals with
HIV reported for 2014 represents the lowest number since annual reporting began in
1985. Of 233 infants exposed to HIV in utero, two perinatal pediatric cases were
reported in 2014. Saskatchewan continues to have the highest rate of new HIV
diagnoses in the country at 10.8 per 100,000 population, nearly double the national rate
of 5.8 HIV infections per 100,000, though rates have been declining since 2009.
Variability in exposure category and risk group demographics (age/ sex/ race/ ethnicity)
by province will require local population-specific interventions.
It is estimated that 25% of Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their infection.
Some present late with advanced immunosuppression and multiple opportunistic
infections, while serving as a reservoir for transmission to others. Updated Canadian
screening guidelines call for systematic discussion of HIV with patients and provision of
testing to be made part of routine periodic medical care.3 Testing, counselling, linkage
to care and provision of effective therapy are critical to both the individual and public
health, as well as to achieving our goal of Zero New Infections and Zero Deaths.
Much has been accomplished. Much remains to be done. On World AIDS Day
December 1, 2015, let’s reflect and remember while recommitting to the goal of Getting
to Zero.
The Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Canada (AMMI
Canada) represents approximately 600 infections disease experts across the country.
For further information and media inquiries, please contact:
John Burke
Burke Cader Media Strategies Inc.
192 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1W8
Phone: 613-231-6291
john@burkecader.ca
2
HIV and AIDS in Canada: Surveillance Report to December 31, 2014. (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca)
“Human immunodeficiency virus HIV Screening and Testing Guide,” Public Health Agency of Canada,
29 Jan. 2013, 17 Nov. 2014. www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/guide/hivstg-vihgdd-eng.php
3