Current Threats to Public Health HIV/AIDS

What is it? HIV--- Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV is the virus that causes the disease, AIDS. HIV belongs to a special group of viruses called retroviruses. It infects the body’s immune system cells and destroys them, leading to the disease known as AIDS.

What is it? AIDS—Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome AIDS reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and allows opportunistic pathogens to take over the body.

What is it? No one ever dies of AIDS, they die of other diseases or illnesses that happen because the immune system has been destroyed, such as: Kaposi’s sarcoma (cancer that causes abnormal patches on skin, mouth, nose, or organs) pneumocystis (a very bad form of pneumonia) AIDS dementia complex (brain deterioration). Healthy people do not get these illnesses!

What are the symptoms? The symptoms of AIDS are shown on the diagram. If you present these symptoms, a special blood test called an ELISA is done to determine if HIV antibodies are present in the blood.

How does it destroy the Immune System? HIV attaches to and destroys special white blood cells known as T-cells. T-cells identify and “eat” pathogens that invade our bodies. T-cells also notify another type of white blood cells, B-cells, to make antibodies against invaders so if/when they come back, the body is better prepared. Without T-cells and B-cells, essentially the immune system is wiped out.

B-Cell (left) and T-Cell (right) The T cell sends chemicals called cytokines to stimulate B cells to make antibodies.

How is it transmitted? Many ways: Direct Contact (sexual): usually through contact with semen, pre-ejaculate or vaginal secretions.

How is it transmitted? 2) Direct Contact (with infected blood): can be due to sharing needles through drug use or insulin applications. Also has happened due to tainted blood being allowed to be given to patients in need of blood transfusions. (Larger risk before the mid 1980’s)

How is it transmitted? 3) Vertical Transmission: Unfortunately, HIV can travel via a pregnant mother to her fetus in the last weeks of pregnancy. Fortunately there is only a 1 in 4 chance of successful transmission.

Who is at risk? Anyone who has casual, unprotected sex. Anyone who shares needles for any purpose. Anyone who received blood products in Canada in the 1980s.

Prevention In order of BEST prevention methods….

Prevention 1) Abstinence from any sexual behaviour and intravenous drug use.

Prevention 2) Safe Sex: If you do have sex, make sure it is safe sex. Use a condom (with nonoxynol-9) and know the sexual history of the person you are sleeping with. Both partners should get tested for STIs (visit local public health unit)

Prevention 3) Avoid intravenous drugs! If you are using needles for drug use or insulin injections or tattooing, do not share needles!

Treatment There is no cure for HIV or AIDS at present, although the University of Western Ontario has been working on a vaccine. The HIV virus can be slowed down by using antiviral drugs such as AZT which slow down the spread of HIV through the body, but do not fully stop it. Over time, the HIV virus becomes immune and a different mix of antiviral drugs are needed to slow it down. AZT is one of the more common anti-viral drugs used against HIV.

Why should we be concerned? Because there is no cure! The mortality rate for anyone who has AIDS is 100%. This means if you get AIDS you will die (earlier than a healthy individual) It is decimating Africa and now spreading outward through Asia and Europe.

Why should we be concerned? The number of Canadians living with HIV continues to grow. At the end of 2011, an estimated 71, 300 people were living with HIV infection (11.4% increase from 2008) 27% of Canadians infected with HIV did not know!

When did it become a problem? AIDS was first reported in 1981 in Los Angeles, but has since been suspected of deaths occurring during the 60s and 70s. It has become a problem in developing nations since the mid-1990s and now pushing through in many developed nations. GRID and 4H disease

Aids Statistics As of 2010, it is estimated that over 34 million people are HIV positive (74% of them living in sub-Saharan Africa) In 2010 there were 1.8 million deaths due to AIDS

What was the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Response? After waiting almost 25 years, PHAC and the federal government launched the “Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada” in January of 2005.

What was the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Response? Its main goals are: Prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections; Slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life; Reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS; Contribute to the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.

Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) CHVI has been a 5 year collaboration between the Canadian government and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. It represents a significant contribution to the global search for an HIV vaccine.

Stop the negative Stigma….

What are some common questions about the HIV/AIDS Vaccine? Why do we need an HIV vaccine? Over 34 million people in the world have AIDS or are HIV positive. More than a quarter do know it! (estimated at 27%). Vaccines are the safest and globally accessible way to preventing the spread of a viral disease. A vaccine for HIV will save millions of lives and save countries millions of dollars in health care.

What are some common questions about the HIV/AIDS Vaccine? How long before there is a vaccine against HIV? Current estimates based on the amount of funding at present put a one dose, effective vaccine about 10 years away, although the University of Western Ontario thinks they have one. Many scientists however believe that due to the complexity of the HIV virus, a vaccine may not be 100% effective at prevention.