The Durban Declaration
On the opening day of the International AIDS Conference 5000 scientists attending Durban penned and signed the Durban Declaration, a document reemphasizing the generally accepted scientific principle that states HIV is indeed the cause of AIDS For the last 10 years, the conference has had to dispel a growing sentiment that HIV and AIDS are not connected. This growing group of scientists and activists insist that HIV in fact is a harmless passenger virus and that people are dying because of venereal diseases, drug use, malnutrition and the HIV drugs themselves. This belief seems to be gaining popularity. In fact, South African President Thabo Mbeki is a supporter of such a theory. He has recently formed an AIDS advisory panel looking to end his country's AIDS crisis. However, half the seats on the panel are scientists who question that HIV is the cause of AIDS. His opening speech at this year's conference did little to dispel the growing opposition to conventional HIV theory, much to the dismay of conference attendees.
Africa's Orphans
Some very sobering statistics cast a shadow of despair over the conference. The United States Government released figures that put faces with the growing epidemic in Africa. Currently 6% of African children are orphans, 47% of them as a direct result of AIDS. To contrast, 10 years ago orphans totaled 4% of the African child population, 20% as a result of AIDS. It's estimated that by 2010 approximately 8% of the children of Africa will be orphaned, 70% as a result of AIDS. This figure translates to 21.8 million orphaned children by the end of this decade. Such devastating figures brings to light the urgent need to attack and conquer the African AIDS epidemic.
Inexpensive Drug Reduces Mother to Child Transmission
Scientists from Uganda and the United States released results of a recent study that showed giving the drug Nevirapine to both the mother and new-born around the time of delivery reduces mother to infant transmission of HIV. This significant finding now provides for a very effective, simple and low cost treatment that can help mother-child transmission of HIV in poor and developing countries. Such a method of preventing vertical transmission could go a long way in controlling Africa's growing HIV problem.
New protease inhibitor effective in pre-treated patients
Researchers from Germany reported that the new protease inhibitor Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) is effective in reducing viral loads in patients that have failed multiple drug regimens in the past. In addition to effective virus suppression, patients on the new drug show an increase in their CD4 counts. Researches are also encouraged that patients tolerated the drug very well during Phase II trials. The ability of the drug to bring down viral loads in experienced patients challenge the concept of changing regimens when viral loads rebound during treatment. Data from phase II trials indicate that Kaletra can bring down viral loads after such rebounds, eliminating the need for a regimen change.
Viral Load does not predict progression to AIDS in women
A study from Johns Hopkins reports that unlike men, viral load at the time of HIV seroconversion does not predict progression to AIDS in women. While viral loads at the time of conversion are lower in women than men, there is no difference in the progression to AIDS. This means that viral loads don't mean the same thing for men as they do for women. These findings are important because treatment guidelines may now have to be adjusted according to gender.
Mandela Urges Unity
In his closing speech, Nelson Mandela urged a unified approach to the AIDS crisis in Africa. While he defended President Thabo Mbeki's right to debate the origin of AIDS, he urged the leader to encourage those methods that have proven successful in the fight against AIDS. Mr. Mandela sited South Africa's refusal to make available AZT in the fight against mother-child transmission of the HIV virus. While the success of AZT in combating vertical transmission is universally accepted by HIV specialists, the South African government has refused to make it widely available in their country. In closing, Mr. Mandela reminded all of us that AIDS epidemic "is one of the greatest threats humankind has faced".
Spain 2002
Durban has highlighted the extent of devastation caused by AIDS in Africa. Scientist agree that if something is not done soon, the news at the next International Conference in Spain will be even worse.
Read the Durban Declaration in its entirety.
