Anti-retrovirals curb HIV spread

Anti-retroviral treatments (ARVs) & universal checking could stop the spread of Aids in South Africa within 5 years, a top scientist says.

Dr Brian Williams says the cost of giving the drugs to almost 6 million HIV-positive patients in the state would be $2 to 3bn per year. Only about 30% get the life-saving drugs, he told, but early detection & treatment would avoid transmission.

This should be balancing to the search for an Aids vaccine. An effective vaccine, he told, was still a long way away. Dr Williams, a chief figure in the field of HIV research, is based at the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modeling & Analysis in Stellenbosch.