In 2023, approximately 40 million people infected with the HIV virus were living worldwide. 630 thousand people died due to AIDS-related diseases, based on UN data. In Poland, nearly 2 thousand infections were recorded in the first ten months of 2024. Most cases are diagnosed in the late stages of infection. We rarely get tested and are not familiar with the possibilities of pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis – experts remind on the occasion of World AIDS Day celebrated on December 1.
“The pace of the spread of infection has slowed down slightly in recent years. Fortunately, more and more people have access to antiretroviral treatment, which definitely changes mortality statistics – fewer and fewer people worldwide die from HIV-related causes.” – says Irena Przepiórka from the Be With Us Volunteer Association for AIDS.
According to the data from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS, in 2023, the number of new HIV infections worldwide was 1.3 million, and 630 thousand people died from AIDS. Since 2010, the number of new HIV infections has fallen by 39%, but the figure of 1.3 million is still far from the goal, which is to fall below 370 thousand by 2025. UN AIDS estimates that about 5.4 million people don’t know they are infected with HIV.
“The most difficult situation is in the countries of Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, but we also suspect that the situation is very difficult beyond our eastern border, in Russia and China. Everything suggests that the epidemiological situation in these countries is very serious, but there is a lack of data.” – the expert points out.
In Poland, we recorded 2879 new detected HIV infections last year. From the beginning of the year until the end of October 2024, another 1972 infections were recorded. Since the pandemic in 2020, when the number of HIV infections fell below 900, the statistics have been steadily rising. In total, about 34 thousand people in Poland live with this virus.
“In Poland, a lot of infections are recognized in the late stage, which unfortunately shows that Poles rarely use testing, do not identify their behaviors with risky behaviors and only when the health situation becomes dramatic, the infection is diagnosed. Meanwhile, it is early detection of infection that allows to maintain good health and prevent the development of full-blown AIDS.” – assures Irena Przepiórka.
From the study of the National Center for AIDS “Diagnosis of the state of knowledge of Poles about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections” conducted in 2020, it appears that only one in three respondents believes that the risk of infection concerns everyone. Although respondents recognize potential routes of HIV transmission, risky behaviors, and infectious material (secretions and body fluids), detailed knowledge on this subject is not sufficient. Slightly over 40% believe that you can get infected during childbirth, breastfeeding or pregnancy. One in ten believes that a threat could be shaking hands or kissing the cheek of an infected person.
“In Poland, public awareness is unfortunately low. A lot of people don’t know what behaviors are associated with the risk of infection, what is safe, and what behaviors should be checked by taking an HIV test. Over the past 10 years, there has been a lack of solid education, particularly in schools, and the level of knowledge, especially among young people, is very low. This is the reason for both the increase in infections and their late detection.” – evaluates the representative of the Be With Us Volunteer Association for AIDS.
Most people distance themselves from the problem, stating that they have never been exposed to HIV. One fifth of all those tested have ever performed tests for the virus, and 60% of people who have never had a test justify this by saying that this problem does not concern them.
“In Poland, there is a network of 31 testing points where anyone can come and anonymously, free of charge, without any preparation, and take a test, get counseling around the test, talk to a specialist who will explain whether a particular behavior was associated with the risk of infection, whether there is a need to take a test.” – reminds the expert. “Access to so-called home tests, which can be purchased online and self-performed, is becoming increasingly widespread. Additionally, tests can be performed in private laboratories.”
Patients in Poland have the opportunity for free antiretroviral treatment. Therapy given in tablets or in the form of injections prevents the multiplication of HIV in the body and reduces its amount. The immune system regains efficiency and can fight infections, so people taking modern antiretroviral drugs can live long in health. The National Center for AIDS states that as of the end of September, nearly 20.3 thousand patients, including 181 children, were covered by ARV treatment.
“Most often, people living with HIV take one, sometimes two pills. There are also forms of therapy available that allow for injections with the drug only once every two months, so there are many therapeutic options. Medicines are getting better and better, have fewer side effects, there are a lot of them, so doctors can adjust the therapy so that it is as little burdensome for the body as possible and allows not only to stop the development of infection but also to maintain a good general state of health.” – emphasizes Irena Przepiórka. “The condition for the treatment to be effective and fully enable life as before the diagnosis is early detection of infection.”
If a person living with HIV takes antiretroviral drugs regularly, after about half a year the multiplication of the virus is blocked in her. It is then too little to be able to transmit. This is called the U=U principle, or Undetectable = Untransmittable. The undetectable level of the virus in the blood reduces the risk of transmitting HIV through sexual intercourse virtually to zero.
Few people are aware that post-exposure therapy is also available in Poland, that is, at a moment when there could potentially be an infection with the virus.
“Every person who either in professional work or in private life had some risk of infection, can report to the nearest infectious hospital emergency room and receive a prescription for drugs that will not allow for infection. This treatment is very effective – basically in Poland none of the people who took advantage of post-exposure treatment got infected.” – points out the expert.
Another form of prophylaxis is the possibility of using so-called pre-exposure treatment, available for a fee in Poland.
“Pre-exposure procedure is possible for all people who anticipate that some risk of infection will occur in their life, it usually applies to, for example, mixed serological status couples, so-called plus/minus pairs, where one of the partners is infected with HIV and the other is not. In such cases, the use of pre-exposure procedure allows to prevent HIV infection.” – explains Irena Przepiórka.
December 1 is World AIDS Day. On this day, the Polish Humanitarian Assistance Foundation Res Humanae together with Gilead Sciences will organize a ride through Warsaw, projecting a red ribbon on the facades of buildings to remind people of the ever-present threat of HIV.
