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| Anti-retroviral drugs 'help reduce' HIV transmission | Anti-retroviral drugs 'help reduce' HIV transmission |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By James Gallagher Health reporter, BBC News | By James Gallagher Health reporter, BBC News |
| An HIV-positive person who takes anti-retroviral drugs after diagnosis, rather than when their health declines, can cut the risk of spreading the virus to uninfected partners by 96%, according to a study. | An HIV-positive person who takes anti-retroviral drugs after diagnosis, rather than when their health declines, can cut the risk of spreading the virus to uninfected partners by 96%, according to a study. |
| The United States National Institutes of Health sampled 1,763 couples in which one partner was infected by HIV. | The United States National Institutes of Health sampled 1,763 couples in which one partner was infected by HIV. |
| It was abandoned four years early as the trial was so successful. | It was abandoned four years early as the trial was so successful. |
| The World Health Organization said it was a "crucial development". | The World Health Organization said it was a "crucial development". |
| The study began in 2005 at 13 sites across across Africa, Asia and the Americas. | The study began in 2005 at 13 sites across across Africa, Asia and the Americas. |
| HIV-positive patients were split into two groups. In one, individuals were immediately given a course of anti-retroviral drugs. | HIV-positive patients were split into two groups. In one, individuals were immediately given a course of anti-retroviral drugs. |
| The other group only received the treatment when their white blood cell count fell. | The other group only received the treatment when their white blood cell count fell. |
| Both were given counselling on safe sex practices, free condoms and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. | Both were given counselling on safe sex practices, free condoms and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. |
| Among those immediately starting anti-retroviral therapy there was only one case of transmission between partners. | Among those immediately starting anti-retroviral therapy there was only one case of transmission between partners. |
| In the other group there were 27 HIV transmissions. | In the other group there were 27 HIV transmissions. |
| 'Renewed commitment' | 'Renewed commitment' |
| "This breakthrough is a serious game changer and will drive the prevention revolution forward. It makes HIV treatment a new priority prevention option," said Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS). | "This breakthrough is a serious game changer and will drive the prevention revolution forward. It makes HIV treatment a new priority prevention option," said Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS). |
| The World Health Organization says sexual transmission accounts for 80% of all new HIV infections. Its director general, Dr Margaret Chan, described the announcement as a "crucial development" | |
| She added: "The findings from this study will further strengthen and support the new guidance that WHO is releasing in July to help people living with HIV protect their partners." | She added: "The findings from this study will further strengthen and support the new guidance that WHO is releasing in July to help people living with HIV protect their partners." |
| The value of anti-retrovirals, in preventing transmission, had been speculated for some time after observational studies, but researchers say this is the first time it has been proven in clinical trials. | The value of anti-retrovirals, in preventing transmission, had been speculated for some time after observational studies, but researchers say this is the first time it has been proven in clinical trials. |
| Keith Alcorn, from the NAM, an HIV/AIDS charity, said: "This study resoundingly confirms what lots of smaller studies have been telling us for several years. | Keith Alcorn, from the NAM, an HIV/AIDS charity, said: "This study resoundingly confirms what lots of smaller studies have been telling us for several years. |
| "International donors cannot ignore the evidence any longer: HIV treatment is a very powerful form of HIV prevention, and could have a major effect on the HIV epidemic in the worst-affected countries. | "International donors cannot ignore the evidence any longer: HIV treatment is a very powerful form of HIV prevention, and could have a major effect on the HIV epidemic in the worst-affected countries. |
| "What we need now is a renewed commitment to HIV treatment, and studies to show how to get the maximum benefit out of this breakthrough at country level." | "What we need now is a renewed commitment to HIV treatment, and studies to show how to get the maximum benefit out of this breakthrough at country level." |