An analysis of transmission patterns in Lilongwe, Malawi shows that even if a highly effective HIV prevention intervention could reach 75% of people in chronic infection, it would never eliminate the HIV epidemic there. As a result, interventions that reduce transmission during early infection will also be required, Kimberly Powers told a late-breaker session at the Eighteenth International AIDS Conference in Vienna last Friday.

During early infection, especially during the first few weeks, people are exceptionally infectious.

Powers concluded that early infection plays an important role in the HIV epidemic in Lilongwe, Malawi. “Our results suggest that it is time to determine the best ways to identify early index cases and the optimal prevention strategies to initiate during early HIV,” she said.

To read the full article CLICK HERE

A nationwide survey by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) found significant disparities between how health care providers and people living with HIV perceive the obstacles to finding care, according to a BMS statement. Health care providers were likely to believe that people living with HIV avoid testing and treatment due to financial issues and substance abuse, while the HIV-positive people themselves are more likely to report eschewing treatment because they don't feel sick or because they're afraid of stigma or of drug side effects.

To read the full BMS statement CLICK HERE

Gardasil, an approved vaccine active against four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), can substantially reduce the risk of cancerous and non-cancerous varieties of anal and penile lesions in men, according to data from a large clinical trial reported Friday, July 23, at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Importantly, the study enrolled a sizeable number of men who have sex with men (MSM) and demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of pre-cancerous anal lesions caused by HPV.

To read the full article CLICK HERE

Australian Federation of AIDS Organisaitons (AFAO) executive director Don Baxter has told the 18th International AIDS Conference that Australia is in danger of seeing an upsurge of HIV in its Indigenous communities.

“Getting effective needle syringe programs into our Aboriginal communities is even more challenging than in mainstream communities as many of the our leading community elders have not moved beyond a “Just Say No” approach to drugs, which is clearly not working among many of our younger community members” stated Colin Ross.

Ross said his organisation and the AFAO National HIV/AIDS Project had lead the way in changing Indigenous communities’ willingness to tackle safe sex over the last 20 years, and now it was necessary to open community elders’ minds on issues of clean needle availability and drug use or risk a repeat of the Canadian experience.

To read the full article CLICK HERE

The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group is organising a series of federal election events for members of the LGBTI community and our families, friends and supporters. 

On the attached pdf document you will find information about election forums in Hobart and Launceston, an anti-hate pledge signing at Salamanca Market, and a rally for marriage equality in Hobart that TGLRG are helping to organise together with other groups and activists.

To download a pdf of the TGLRG election events held state wide CLICK HERE