2024-11-22 18:09:00
Rapid HIV screening test, June 2018. CLAUDIO REYES / AFP
In 2023, nearly 5,500 new people will be diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in France. This is an estimate from Public Health France (SPF) after correction of the raw number of seropositivity discovered (3,877 cases), in order to take into account the under-reporting of cases.
“For several years, the number of new HIV contaminations has no longer declined in France, even though we have all the tools to prevent transmission”lamented Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, director of the National Agency for AIDS Research-Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS-MIE), during a press conference on November 21.
That same day, eleven new recommendations on HIV care were presented at the annual congress of the French Society for the Fight against AIDS, in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). The three co-authors, the ANRS-MIE, the High Authority for Health (HAS) and the National AIDS Council (CNS), notably scrutinized several key points: social determinants of infection, preventive treatments, diagnosis and monitoring of people living with HIV, HIV and pregnancy, adaptation of antiretroviral treatments, etc.
43% of infections discovered at a late stage
Since 2012, the number of HIV discoveries has decreased by 10%. But if we except the year 2020, marked by a sharp drop linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, this number has stagnated since 2018 and has even rebounded since 2020.
“This increase particularly affects people born abroad”, note the experts, particularly women infected through heterosexual intercourse and men who have sex with men (MSM).
Another concern, in 2023, 43% of HIV infections were discovered at a late stage (between 200 and 350 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter of blood), including 27% at an advanced stage (AIDS stage), with less than 200 CD4 cells. per cubic millimeter of blood. Between contamination and diagnosis, the median time was 1.9 years for all people discovering their HIV status, and three years for heterosexual men born abroad.
Read also | Article reserved for our HIV subscribers: strategies to hope for a cure
Read later
This delay is a loss of individual opportunity. It also increases the risk of viral transmission, an undiagnosed and untreated person being able to contaminate their partners. Conversely, “if the virus is undetectable in the blood, it is untransmissible, relève Yazdan Yazdanpanah. Screening therefore remains the primary prevention tool.”
You have 56.27% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
1732373473
#recommendations #slow #transmissions #longer #decreasing #France
What are the main factors contributing to the stagnation in the decline of new HIV infections in France despite the availability of preventive measures?
**Interview with Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah on Recent HIV Trends in France**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us, Professor Yazdanpanah. Recent reports indicate that nearly 5,500 new HIV diagnoses are anticipated in France for 2023. What do you attribute this concerning trend to, considering we have many tools available for prevention?
**Professor Yazdanpanah**: Thank you for having me. The stagnation in the decline of new HIV infections in France is indeed troubling. We see that for several years, the number of new cases hasn’t significantly decreased despite the availability of preventive measures such as PrEP and widespread access to testing. A major factor contributing to this is the under-reporting of cases, which complicates our understanding and timely response to the epidemic.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned under-reporting. Can you explain how that impacts public health strategies?
**Professor Yazdanpanah**: Certainly. Under-reporting leads to a misalignment between the actual number of infections and the resources allocated for prevention and treatment. For instance, the raw detection numbers were corrected to reflect a more realistic estimate, which highlights the shadow of stigma and lack of awareness in some communities. This makes it crucial for us to enhance our outreach and education efforts, particularly among vulnerable populations.
**Interviewer**: During the recent congress of the French Society for the Fight against AIDS, several new recommendations were presented. Can you summarize some key points from these recommendations?
**Professor Yazdanpanah**: Absolutely. The new recommendations focus on several critical areas. First, they address social determinants of health that contribute to higher infection rates. We need to understand the socio-economic context of those affected. Additionally, there’s a strong emphasis on improving diagnosis and monitoring of people living with HIV and adjusting antiretroviral treatments to be more inclusive of individual patient needs, such as during pregnancy.
**Interviewer**: It’s concerning to hear that 43% of infections are discovered at a late stage. What does this statistic reveal about current testing practices?
**Professor Yazdanpanah**: This statistic is indeed alarming. It highlights the gaps in early diagnosis and the necessity for routine testing, particularly for high-risk populations. Many individuals remain unaware of their HIV status until they are symptomatic or experience advanced stages of the disease. We must promote regular testing and ensure that healthcare providers can facilitate stigma-free, accessible testing options for everyone.
**Interviewer**: As a final question, what steps do you think should be taken moving forward to address these challenges?
**Professor Yazdanpanah**: Moving forward, it’s essential to enhance public education about HIV, increase accessibility to testing, and tailor prevention strategies to the needs of specific communities. Collaboration among health authorities, NGOs, and the community will be vital in reshaping our approach. If we can normalize HIV testing and reduce associated stigma, we can encourage earlier detection and ultimately lower infection rates.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Professor Yazdanpanah, for your insights and for the important work you and your colleagues are doing in the fight against HIV.
**Professor Yazdanpanah**: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we keep the conversation going and work together to improve the situation in France and beyond.
