WHO suggestions for stemming HIV epidemics

A group of specialists in the World Health Organization have developed a mathematical model, published in The Lancet, to stimulate discussion, debate and further research relating to HIV/AIDS. The model suggests that using annual, universal voluntary HIV testing followed by immediate ART (irrespective of clinical stage or CD4 count) reduces new cases by 95% within 10 years.

The authors of the study also report that universal voluntary testing followed by immediate ART could have additional public health benefits, including reducing the incidence of tuberculosis and the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Additionally, the model suggests that there could be a significant reduction of HIV-related morbidity and mortality in resource-limited countries with generalized HIV epidemics.

The current WHO policy on treatment involves voluntary testing and clinical and/or immunological evaluation (eg, CD4 count) to determine eligibility for treatment with antiretrovirals.