The wider Eastern Mediterranean region is seeing an increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases, but lessons learned and technologies developed during the Covid-19 pandemic are reinvigorating research into fighting the virus.
This was revealed by top medics in Bahrain and the US during a recent webinar focused on ‘Treatment and Prevention of HIV/AIDS’ conducted by the US Embassy in Bahrain.
King Hamad American Mission Hospital (KHAMH) internal medicine and infectious diseases consultant Dr Jameela Al Salman and University of Nebraska Medical Centre professor Dr Nada Fadul were the key speakers during the question-and-answer session.
“Although the total number of cases in the region is not large, there has been an increase recently as far as new cases go, across the Eastern Mediterranean region, including GCC, North Africa and other Arab countries,” Dr Al Salman noted.
“Prevention of infection and spreading awareness are key to decreasing this number and providing patient care.”
According to the most recent data from the World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), new HIV infections detected per year have risen from 33,000 in 2015 to 41,000 in 2020. The total number of people living with HIV in the region has grown from 320,000 in 2015 to 420,000 in 2020.
The EMRO also noted that Djibouti has the highest HIV prevalence among the general population at 0.8 per cent, followed by Sudan and Pakistan at 0.2pc.
Pakistan, Sudan and Iran constitute 73pc of total HIV infections in the region.
Dr Al Salman and Dr Fadul highlighted the two most effective infection prevention methodologies for HIV.
This includes post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which involves taking medication within 72 hours of a possible exposure to HIV to prevent infection, as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), where those who do not have HIV but are at risk of getting HIV take medicine every day to prevent infection.
Hopes for an HIV vaccine have also been renewed, according to the two infectious disease consultants, as a result of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology that was utilised during the Covid-19 pandemic in the rapid development of an effective vaccine.
“HIV is a tricky and smart virus, because it attacks the exact cells that are supposed to prevent the body from getting a viral infection, and it ingrains its genetic code into the host’s genetic code,” Dr Fadul explained.
“But the advances we have seen with the Covid-19 vaccine development are very promising, especially the mRNA technology. At one point, we had honestly given up on an HIV vaccine, but the mRNA technology could also work to produce an HIV vaccine.
“So I would say stay tuned and hopefully, we will learn more in the next couple of years.”
The response to the Covid-19 pandemic brought other lessons as well, for medical professionals providing care to HIV patients.
According to Dr Al Salman, adapting to the pandemic proved that a lot of the doctor-patient interaction could be done virtually, especially around immunocompromised individuals like HIV patients.
“With telehealth and telemedicine, it became easier for these patients to take an appointment online, get a prescription and have the medication delivered, all from their home, without having to go outside, which is something these patients were worried about,” she added.
“With HIV patients, we see them regularly every three to six months, so unless a physical examination is needed, telehealth has been very helpful. It also protects their privacy.”
Dr Fadul and Dr Al Salman agreed that ‘the future is bright’ for research into HIV, as efforts to destigmatise HIV and its patients remain the priority.
These insights were highlighted on the sidelines of the Holistic Treatment and Prevention of HIV and AIDS Symposium organised under the patronage of Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed in collaboration with KHAMH.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
FACT FILE
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and disease.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.
While AIDS cannot be transmitted from one person to another, the HIV virus can.
HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person and usually spread by them having unprotected sex or sharing a needle.
There’s currently no cure for HIV, but there are very effective drug treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life.
With an early diagnosis and effective treatments, most people with HIV will not develop any AIDS-related illnesses and will live a near-normal lifespan.
But without treatment, the immune system will become severely damaged, and life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and severe infections can occur.
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