HIV/AIDS in the Future

 

Will we ever find a cure for HIV?

 

Finding a cure for HIV depends on the research we are currently conducting. Breakthroughs in HIV research have given some promising results. For example in March 2014 a Los Angeles infant administered anti-HIV drugs within hours of birth, appeared to have been functionally cured of HIV infection. In Australia, research on curing HIV is being conducted by Sharron Ruin at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital. Research is not only being done to find cures for HIV, but also to find a vaccine that prevents the virus from infecting the body in the first place. This would provide a better outcome than a cure because the virus’ prevalence would decline. We are working towards and achieving better ways to suppress the virus’ latency long term.

 

Why have we not developed a vaccine for HIV? Will there ever be a vaccine?

 

An effective vaccine has not been developed for HIV thus far because in comparision to other world wide diseases, HIV/AIDS is a fairly new epidemic, so not as much research has been conducted on it. HIV/AIDS isn't a pressing issue in first world countries, but is a leading cause of death in the developing world. The problem is that developing countries do not have the funds to support research for a HIV vaccine, and first world countries are often reluctant to help, since they are not directly/extremely affected by the virus. This lack of funding for HIV/AIDS research in terms of a vaccine restricts our continual understanding of the pandemic. 

 

The fate of those in HIV/AIDS affected countries (particularly in those of Sub-Saharan Africa) rests with first world nations. If more affluent countries were to conduct/fund HIV/AIDS research, we could get close to finding a vaccine for HIV within the next decade.