For decades, HIV was regarded as one of the most feared infectious diseases in the world. A positive diagnosis once carried the prospect of progressive immune-system failure, serious infections and an early death. Today, medical advances have transformed the outlook for millions of people, but the global epidemic is far from over.
According to the World Health Organization's July 27, 2026 factsheet, approximately 41 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2025. Another 1.2 million people acquired the virus during that year, while an estimated 570,000 died from HIV-related causes.
That is the equivalent of more than 1,500 deaths every day, or approximately one every minute.
The figures are particularly striking because effective treatment already exists. Modern antiretroviral medication can suppress the virus, protect the immune system and prevent sexual transmission when viral suppression is maintained. Nevertheless, almost nine million people living with HIV were not receiving treatment in 2025.
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The consequences are most severe in countries where poverty, limited healthcare access, discrimination and interruptions to international funding continue to prevent people from obtaining lifesaving medication.
What exactly is HIV, and how is it different from AIDS?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that attacks the immune system, particularly a group of white blood cells known as CD4 T cells. These cells play an essential role in coordinating the body's response to infections and helping other immune cells recognise harmful organisms.
When HIV enters the body, it infects susceptible cells and uses their machinery to produce additional copies of itself. Without effective treatment, the virus can progressively damage the immune system, leaving the individual increasingly vulnerable to infections and certain cancers.
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It represents the most advanced stage of HIV infection, when the immune system has become severely compromised.
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The distinction is important because having HIV does not automatically mean someone has AIDS. A person who receives appropriate treatment can live with HIV for decades without ever developing AIDS.
According to the CDC's clinical overview of HIV, an AIDS diagnosis can be made when a person's CD4 cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood or when certain AIDS-defining illnesses develop.
With modern medical care, progression to AIDS can often be prevented entirely.
Where did HIV originally come from?
HIV was first recognised as a major human health threat during the early 1980s, when doctors in the United States began identifying unusual infections and rare cancers among previously healthy patients.
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Scientists subsequently established that the illness was caused by a virus attacking the immune system. HIV was identified in 1983, and increasingly effective diagnostic tests and treatments were developed over the following decades.
Research indicates that HIV originated from related viruses found in African primates. HIV-1, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of infections worldwide, is linked to simian immunodeficiency viruses found in chimpanzees and other primates in Central Africa.
HIV-2, which is less widespread and generally progresses more slowly, is associated with a related virus found in sooty mangabey monkeys in West Africa.
The transition from animals to humans is believed to have occurred through exposure to infected animal blood or tissues, potentially during hunting or the preparation of wild animals for food.
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Although the epidemic was recognised in the 1980s, genetic research indicates that HIV had already been circulating among humans for several decades before doctors understood what was causing the disease.
How do people become infected with HIV?
HIV is transmitted when certain bodily fluids from a person with transmissible HIV enter another person's bloodstream or come into contact with susceptible mucous membranes.
The principal fluids capable of transmitting HIV include blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk. The virus does not spread through ordinary everyday contact, and infection requires a relevant exposure to infectious fluid.
Sexual intercourse is one of the main transmission routes worldwide. Unprotected anal or vaginal sex can allow the virus to enter through mucous membranes or small breaks in tissue. The risk varies according to the type of exposure, the presence of other sexually transmitted infections and whether the partner with HIV has achieved sustained viral suppression.
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Sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment can also transmit HIV because infected blood may remain in contaminated equipment. Unsafe medical injections, inadequately screened blood products and accidental needlestick injuries represent additional transmission routes, although modern healthcare precautions have made these exposures far less common in many countries.
HIV can also pass from a mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. However, appropriate treatment and preventive care can reduce this risk dramatically.
The WHO's guidance on HIV transmission emphasises that the virus is not transmitted through ordinary social contact, including hugging, shaking hands or sharing meals.
Can HIV spread through kissing, toilets or mosquitoes?
Despite decades of public health education, misconceptions about HIV transmission remain widespread. Some people still worry about becoming infected through kissing, sharing cutlery, using public toilets or touching objects previously handled by someone with HIV.
These everyday activities do not transmit HIV. The virus cannot spread through intact skin, and ordinary saliva, sweat and tears do not contain sufficient infectious virus to create a transmission risk through normal contact.
HIV is not transmitted through coughing, sneezing or breathing the same air as someone who has the infection. Sharing a swimming pool, drinking glass, workplace or classroom does not create an HIV transmission risk.
Mosquitoes and other biting insects also do not transmit HIV. Unlike malaria or dengue, the virus cannot reproduce inside mosquitoes in a way that allows them to pass it to another person.
These distinctions matter because misunderstandings about transmission contribute to discrimination against people living with HIV. Someone receiving effective treatment can safely participate in ordinary social activities without creating a risk to those around them.
What are the first symptoms of HIV infection?
One of the most difficult aspects of HIV is that symptoms may be mild, temporary or completely absent. Some people experience a flu-like illness shortly after infection, while others feel healthy and remain unaware of their HIV status.
When symptoms develop, they often appear approximately two to four weeks after exposure. This early period is known as acute HIV infection, during which the virus multiplies rapidly and the amount of virus in the bloodstream can become particularly high.
According to the CDC's description of early HIV infection, symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, night sweats, fatigue and skin rashes.
Some people also experience mouth ulcers, reduced appetite or general weakness. The symptoms can resemble influenza, glandular fever or another common viral illness, making it difficult to identify HIV without testing.
Early symptoms may disappear after several days or weeks. However, this does not mean the infection has been eliminated. Without treatment, HIV continues to reproduce and affect the immune system even when the person feels completely healthy.
How can HIV remain hidden for years?
After the initial stage, HIV generally enters a period known as chronic infection or clinical latency. During this time, the virus remains active, but symptoms may be minimal or absent.
Without treatment, this stage can last for many years, sometimes a decade or longer. The duration varies considerably between individuals and depends on factors such as immune response, general health and the characteristics of the infection.
The absence of symptoms creates a serious diagnostic challenge. A person may continue working, exercising and living normally without knowing they have HIV, while gradual damage to the immune system continues.
The virus can also remain transmissible during this period unless effective treatment has suppressed the amount of HIV in the blood to the required level.
According to the WHO's July 2026 HIV assessment, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent this gradual deterioration and allow people living with HIV to maintain good health.
The problem is that many infections remain undetected. UNAIDS estimates that approximately five million people worldwide were unaware they were living with HIV in 2025.
What happens when HIV develops into AIDS?
When untreated HIV severely damages the immune system, the body loses much of its ability to defend itself against infections that would ordinarily be controlled.
This advanced stage can be marked by persistent fever, substantial unexplained weight loss, prolonged diarrhoea, night sweats, extreme fatigue and recurring infections. Some patients develop unusual infections involving the lungs, brain or digestive system.
Tuberculosis is particularly important. People living with HIV face a much greater risk of developing active tuberculosis, and the disease remains one of the leading causes of death among patients with HIV.
According to the WHO's 2025 global tuberculosis assessment, approximately 150,000 people living with HIV died from tuberculosis in 2024.
Other serious complications include cryptococcal meningitis, a fungal infection affecting the brain and spinal cord, and Pneumocystis pneumonia, which can cause severe respiratory difficulties.
Advanced HIV also increases the risk of certain cancers, including Kaposi sarcoma, some lymphomas and cervical cancer.
However, even patients who develop advanced HIV disease can benefit considerably from treatment. Antiretroviral medication, combined with appropriate treatment of opportunistic infections, can allow substantial immune recovery.
Who is most likely to become infected with HIV?
Anyone can acquire HIV if they experience an exposure capable of transmitting the virus. Infection is not determined by sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity or nationality.
Nevertheless, transmission is not evenly distributed across populations. Differences in exposure, access to prevention, healthcare availability and social circumstances mean that certain groups experience much higher rates of infection.
According to the UNAIDS global HIV factsheet published in July 2026, gay men and other men who have sex with men face an estimated HIV acquisition risk 18 times higher than that of adults in the general population.
The corresponding relative risk is approximately 17 times higher among sex workers, 34 times higher among people who inject drugs and 17 times higher among transgender women.
These differences are influenced by numerous circumstances, including the prevalence of HIV within sexual or injecting networks, access to preventive medication, discrimination and barriers to healthcare.
People experiencing imprisonment, unstable housing or limited healthcare access may also face increased vulnerability.
The figures do not suggest that belonging to a particular group automatically causes infection. HIV transmission depends on actual exposure to the virus, and effective prevention methods can substantially reduce or eliminate relevant risks.
Why are young women particularly vulnerable in parts of Africa?
Although HIV can affect everyone, adolescent girls and young women face a particularly heavy burden in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
The factors contributing to this pattern extend beyond biology. Economic insecurity, unequal relationships, gender-based violence and difficulties negotiating condom use can increase exposure while limiting access to healthcare and preventive medication.
According to the Global Fund's September 2026 assessment, girls and young women aged 15 to 24 remain substantially more likely to acquire HIV than adolescent boys and young men in eastern and southern Africa.
Some young women may have partners who are considerably older, placing them in sexual networks where HIV prevalence is already high. Others face obstacles in accessing confidential HIV testing, contraception, sexual health education or preventive medication.
The broader global figures also demonstrate the importance of HIV among women. In 2025, women and girls accounted for approximately 53% of all people living with HIV worldwide and 44% of new infections.
Reducing these inequalities remains an important part of international HIV prevention programmes.
Which countries have the highest HIV burden?
HIV occurs in every region of the world, but the greatest concentration of people living with the virus remains in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to WHO's updated global HIV data, approximately 26.3 million people living with HIV were located in the WHO African Region in 2025, accounting for around 64% of the global total.
South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV in any single country. UNAIDS estimated in June 2025 that approximately 7.8 million people in the country were living with the virus.
Other countries carrying substantial HIV burdens include Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, the country with the largest number of infections is not necessarily the country where the greatest proportion of the population is affected.
Eswatini, a relatively small country in southern Africa, has historically recorded one of the world's highest adult HIV prevalence rates. Estimates compiled from UNAIDS data indicate that more than one in five adults aged 15 to 49 were living with HIV in 2024.
Other southern African countries, including Lesotho and Botswana, have also experienced exceptionally high adult prevalence rates.
These patterns reflect decades of transmission, population characteristics and differences in prevention and healthcare systems. They should not be interpreted as meaning that every person in these countries faces the same risk.
HIV is also widespread across Asia and the Americas
Although Africa carries the greatest share of the global HIV burden, millions of people are also living with the virus elsewhere.
According to the 2026 UNAIDS regional estimates, approximately 7.1 million people were living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific during 2025.
Countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines have experienced substantial epidemics, although transmission patterns and treatment coverage differ considerably between them.
Latin America accounted for approximately 2.6 million people living with HIV in 2025, with Brazil representing a significant share of the regional burden. The Caribbean had approximately 340,000 people living with the virus, including substantial epidemics in Haiti and other countries.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia accounted for approximately two million people living with HIV, while western and central Europe and North America together accounted for around 2.4 million.
These regional estimates are influenced by population size. A country can have a large number of people living with HIV while maintaining a relatively low prevalence rate, whereas a smaller country may have fewer total cases but a much larger proportion of its population affected.
Where are new HIV infections increasing?
The global trend has improved considerably since the most severe years of the epidemic. However, a decline in worldwide infections does not mean every region is making progress.
According to the UNAIDS special report released on July 27, 2026, new HIV infections increased in three regions and 21 countries during 2025.
Longer-term estimates show that eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa have experienced increases in annual new infections since 2010.
Between 2010 and 2025, new infections increased by approximately 17% in eastern Europe and Central Asia, 25% in Latin America and 78% in the Middle East and North Africa.
By comparison, new infections declined substantially in eastern and southern Africa, where expanded testing, prevention programmes and antiretroviral treatment have helped reduce transmission.
The contrast demonstrates that HIV is not following one uniform global trajectory. Some countries are approaching international treatment targets, while others face renewed transmission or deteriorating access to essential services.
How serious is HIV in Europe?
HIV remains an important public health concern across Europe, although effective healthcare systems and widespread treatment have substantially improved survival in many countries.
According to the ECDC and WHO's European HIV surveillance report published in November 2025, 105,922 people received an HIV diagnosis across reporting countries in the WHO European Region during 2024.
Of those diagnoses, 24,164 occurred within the European Union and European Economic Area. The wider WHO European Region includes countries in Central Asia, where transmission patterns and healthcare access differ considerably from those in western Europe.
One of the most concerning findings was the high proportion of late diagnoses. Approximately 54% of people diagnosed with HIV in the reporting European countries during 2024 were identified after the infection had already caused a substantial decline in immune function.
Late diagnosis increases the likelihood of serious complications because patients may spend years without receiving effective treatment.
Transmission patterns also vary. Sex between men accounts for a substantial proportion of diagnoses in many western European countries, while heterosexual transmission and injecting drug use remain particularly important in other parts of the region.
A late diagnosis does not necessarily mean a recently acquired infection. In many cases, it reflects an infection that remained unidentified for several years.
How do doctors diagnose HIV?
HIV cannot reliably be diagnosed from symptoms alone. Fever, fatigue, swollen glands and rashes can occur with numerous infections, while many people living with HIV have no symptoms.
Testing therefore remains the only reliable way to establish whether someone has acquired the virus.
Several types of HIV tests are available. Antibody tests identify the immune system's response to infection, while combined antigen-antibody tests detect both antibodies and an HIV protein known as p24. Nucleic acid tests detect the virus directly and can identify some infections earlier than other methods.
According to the CDC's guidance on HIV testing, a nucleic acid test can usually detect infection approximately 10 to 33 days after exposure. Laboratory antigen-antibody tests using blood from a vein generally detect infection after approximately 18 to 45 days.
Antibody-only tests generally have a longer window period, often detecting infection between 23 and 90 days after exposure.
These windows are important because a negative result obtained shortly after exposure does not necessarily exclude HIV. People who may have been exposed should obtain advice about the appropriate test and when repeat testing is needed.
A positive screening result also requires confirmatory testing before a definitive diagnosis is established.
Can HIV be treated successfully?
The development of antiretroviral therapy has fundamentally changed the outlook for people diagnosed with HIV.
Before effective treatment became widely available, the virus frequently progressed to severe immune deficiency, leaving patients vulnerable to life-threatening infections and cancers. Today, treatment can suppress HIV replication to extremely low levels and allow the immune system to recover.
Antiretroviral therapy, commonly known as ART, works by interfering with different stages of the virus's reproductive cycle. Treatment usually combines several medicines to prevent HIV from multiplying and reduce the risk of drug resistance.
According to the WHO's updated treatment recommendations released in January 2026, dolutegravir-based treatment remains a preferred option for many patients beginning or continuing therapy.
Other commonly used medicines include tenofovir, emtricitabine, lamivudine and bictegravir. For many people, several medications can be combined into a single tablet taken once daily.
Long-acting injectable treatment is also available for selected patients. These regimens can reduce the need for daily pills, although eligibility depends on viral suppression, medical history, drug resistance and other clinical considerations.
Treatment is generally recommended as soon as possible after diagnosis. Starting early improves the likelihood of preserving immune function and reduces the risk of long-term complications.
Can someone with HIV have sex without transmitting the virus?
One of the most important scientific developments in modern HIV medicine is the confirmation that successful treatment can prevent sexual transmission.
When a person takes effective antiretroviral medication, the amount of HIV in their blood, known as the viral load, can fall to a level considered undetectable or virally suppressed.
Large studies involving couples with different HIV statuses have demonstrated that people who maintain viral suppression do not transmit HIV to their sexual partners.
This principle is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable, commonly abbreviated U=U.
According to the CDC's HIV treatment and prevention guidance, people who maintain a viral load below 200 copies per millilitre through treatment have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV.
This is not simply a reduction in the likelihood of transmission. When viral suppression is maintained, the evidence establishes that sexual HIV transmission does not occur.
However, U=U specifically addresses sexual transmission. It should not automatically be applied to breastfeeding or sharing injecting equipment, where separate medical guidance is required.
Effective HIV treatment also does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.
How long can someone live with HIV?
A positive HIV diagnosis no longer means that someone will necessarily experience a substantially shortened life.
When infection is diagnosed early and effective treatment is maintained, many people can expect to live long, productive lives, often approaching the life expectancy of people without HIV.
A large study published in The Lancet HIV in 2023 examined life expectancy among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Europe and North America.
Researchers found that people with well-preserved immune function who received effective treatment had life expectancy estimates only a few years below those of the general population.
However, outcomes were considerably worse among patients whose CD4 counts remained very low, highlighting the consequences of delayed diagnosis and advanced immune damage.
Long-term health also depends on other conditions, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, hepatitis, smoking-related illness and certain cancers.
Regular medical follow-up remains important even when HIV is successfully suppressed. Doctors monitor viral load, immune function, treatment safety and other health risks to help patients maintain good health throughout their lives.
Can AIDS be reversed once it develops?
Developing AIDS represents serious immune damage, but it does not mean that recovery is impossible.
When a person with advanced HIV begins effective antiretroviral therapy, viral replication can decline rapidly. Over time, CD4 cell counts may increase, allowing the immune system to regain part of its ability to defend the body against infections.
Patients may also require targeted treatment for opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis or severe pneumonia.
According to the WHO's guidelines on managing advanced HIV disease, updated in December 2025, rapid access to antiretroviral therapy, screening for serious infections and appropriate preventive treatment are essential for reducing mortality.
The extent of immune recovery varies. Some people regain substantial immune function, while others continue to experience complications, particularly when treatment begins after prolonged immune-system damage.
This is another reason why early testing is so important. HIV can often be managed successfully before AIDS develops, but recovering from advanced disease can be considerably more difficult than preventing it.
What is PrEP, and how effective is it?
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is preventive medication taken by people who do not have HIV but may experience exposures capable of transmitting the virus.
The medication works by preventing HIV from establishing a lasting infection after exposure. It is particularly useful for people whose sexual or injecting-related circumstances place them at increased risk.
According to the CDC's September 2026 PrEP guidance, PrEP can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV through sex by approximately 99% when taken as prescribed.
For many years, daily oral medication was the principal form of PrEP. However, newer options have expanded the possibilities for HIV prevention.
Long-acting injectable cabotegravir can provide protection through injections administered every two months after the initial dosing schedule.
More recently, lenacapavir has introduced the possibility of effective HIV prevention with injections given only twice annually.
These approaches are particularly promising for people who find it difficult to take medication every day or who prefer a more discreet, long-lasting form of protection.
PrEP does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy, and people considering it should receive appropriate HIV testing and medical assessment.
A twice-yearly injection could transform HIV prevention
Among the most significant recent developments in HIV prevention is lenacapavir, a long-acting antiretroviral medication administered approximately every six months.
The medicine works by targeting the HIV capsid, a structure that protects the virus's genetic material and plays an important role in its ability to reproduce.
Clinical trials demonstrated exceptionally high effectiveness in preventing HIV acquisition. In the PURPOSE 1 trial, no new HIV infections were observed among participants receiving lenacapavir during the primary analysis period.
Another major trial, PURPOSE 2, also demonstrated a substantial reduction in HIV infections compared with expected background incidence.
Following these findings, the US Food and Drug Administration approved lenacapavir for HIV prevention in June 2025.
The WHO subsequently recommended twice-yearly lenacapavir as an additional PrEP option, describing the treatment as a potentially important development in global HIV prevention.
However, the medication is not a cure for HIV, and it is intended to prevent infection in people who do not have the virus.
Access remains a significant challenge. Although the treatment offers a promising alternative to daily medication, availability and affordability differ between countries, particularly in regions with limited healthcare funding.
Can HIV still be prevented after possible exposure?
Yes. People who may have been exposed to HIV can sometimes prevent infection by beginning emergency medication shortly after the exposure.
This approach is known as post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. It involves taking antiretroviral medication for 28 days to prevent the virus from establishing an infection.
PEP may be considered following condomless sex involving a potential HIV exposure, accidental needlestick injuries or the sharing of injecting equipment.
According to the CDC's clinical recommendations updated on October 7, 2026, treatment should begin as quickly as possible, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours after exposure.
The earlier treatment begins, the greater the likelihood that it will prevent infection.
PEP is not necessary after every sexual encounter or contact with someone living with HIV. For example, a partner who maintains an undetectable viral load through treatment does not sexually transmit the virus.
Nevertheless, anyone concerned about a potentially significant recent exposure should seek urgent medical advice rather than waiting for symptoms or an HIV test to become positive.
Can a mother with HIV give birth to a baby without the virus?
Modern HIV treatment has made it possible for most women living with HIV to have children without transmitting the virus.
Transmission can occur during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, but the risk can be reduced dramatically when the mother receives effective treatment and the baby receives appropriate preventive care.
In the United States and Europe, comprehensive prevention programmes have reduced mother-to-child HIV transmission to approximately 1% or less.
According to the US National Institutes of Health's March 2026 pregnancy guidance, early HIV diagnosis, sustained antiretroviral treatment, appropriate delivery planning and preventive medication for newborns are central to reducing transmission.
Infant feeding recommendations depend on the healthcare setting, access to safe alternatives and individual circumstances. Formula feeding eliminates postnatal HIV exposure through breast milk when it is prepared safely, while breastfeeding under effective maternal treatment carries a much lower but not necessarily zero risk.
WHO recommendations account for the benefits of breastfeeding, local healthcare conditions and access to safe nutrition.
Despite progress, approximately 93,000 children acquired HIV globally in 2025, highlighting continuing gaps in diagnosis, prevention and maternal healthcare.
Why are children still dying from HIV?
One of the most concerning findings from the latest global statistics is the disparity between adults and children in access to HIV treatment.
According to UNAIDS' 2026 global estimates, approximately 1.3 million children younger than 15 were living with HIV in 2025.
Yet only 55% of these children were receiving antiretroviral therapy, compared with 79% of adults living with HIV.
The consequences are considerable. WHO estimates indicate that approximately 61,000 children died from HIV-related causes during 2025.
Young children can experience rapid disease progression when HIV is not diagnosed and treated early. Their developing immune systems may be especially vulnerable to severe infections, poor nutrition and other complications.
Providing treatment for children can also be more complex because medication formulations, dosage requirements and healthcare infrastructure may differ from those used for adults.
Many affected children live in countries where limited access to laboratory testing, paediatric medication and specialist care continues to delay diagnosis and treatment.
Is there a vaccine against HIV?
Despite decades of scientific research, no approved vaccine is currently available to prevent HIV infection.
This makes HIV different from several other major viral infections, including hepatitis B and certain forms of Ebola, for which effective vaccines have been developed.
HIV presents particularly difficult challenges for vaccine researchers because the virus mutates rapidly and can evade many immune responses. It also attacks cells involved in coordinating immunity, making it harder to develop a durable protective response.
Scientists have investigated several approaches, including vaccines designed to stimulate broadly neutralising antibodies capable of recognising multiple HIV variants.
According to the US government's August 2026 HIV vaccination update, no preventive or therapeutic HIV vaccine had received approval.
Research is continuing, but currently available preventive tools include condoms, PrEP, sterile injecting equipment, testing and effective treatment that prevents sexual transmission.
The absence of a vaccine should not be interpreted as an absence of effective prevention. Existing measures can dramatically reduce the risk of infection when they are accessible and used appropriately.
Has anyone ever been cured of HIV?
Although there is no routinely available cure for HIV, a small number of people have achieved prolonged remission after undergoing highly specialised medical procedures.
Some of the best-known cases involve patients who received stem cell transplants while being treated for serious blood cancers. In certain cases, donor cells carried genetic characteristics that made them resistant to particular forms of HIV infection.
The first widely recognised case involved Timothy Ray Brown, often called the Berlin patient, who achieved sustained HIV remission after receiving a stem cell transplant for leukaemia.
Other patients have subsequently achieved similar outcomes, providing important insights into how HIV might eventually be eliminated or controlled without lifelong medication.
According to a 2026 study published in Nature Microbiology, researchers documented another case of long-term HIV remission following stem cell transplantation for a serious blood disorder.
However, these procedures carry substantial risks and are used to treat life-threatening cancers, not as routine HIV treatment.
They cannot currently be recommended as a general cure for people living with HIV. Researchers are instead using the findings to investigate safer approaches, including immune-based treatments, gene editing and strategies targeting the virus's hidden reservoirs.
Why is HIV so difficult to eliminate completely?
Even when antiretroviral therapy reduces the virus in the bloodstream to undetectable levels, HIV can persist inside certain infected cells.
The virus inserts genetic material into the DNA of infected cells, creating what scientists describe as viral reservoirs. Some infected cells may remain inactive for long periods without producing significant quantities of new virus.
Because these cells are not actively producing detectable viral particles, they can be difficult for both the immune system and existing medicines to identify and eliminate.
This explains why HIV treatment generally needs to continue indefinitely. If treatment is interrupted, the virus can begin reproducing again, sometimes causing viral load to rise substantially.
Researchers are investigating several strategies to address these reservoirs, including approaches intended to awaken dormant virus, strengthen immune recognition or modify cells to make them resistant to HIV.
Although the research offers long-term possibilities, none of these strategies currently provides a widely available cure.
How many people die from HIV and AIDS?
HIV-related mortality has fallen dramatically since the worst years of the global epidemic, but the number of deaths remains substantial.
According to the UNAIDS global factsheet published in July 2026, approximately 570,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses during 2025.
That represents a decline of approximately 73% compared with the epidemic's mortality peak in 2004, when an estimated 2.1 million people died.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, approximately 44.2 million people are estimated to have died from HIV-related causes.
The deaths associated with HIV are often caused by infections and complications that develop after severe immune-system damage. These include tuberculosis, serious fungal infections, bacterial infections and certain cancers.
It would be misleading to calculate one universal HIV fatality percentage by dividing annual deaths by the number of people currently living with the virus.
Someone receiving effective treatment and maintaining good immune function faces a very different prognosis from a person diagnosed with advanced AIDS who has no access to medication.
Age, underlying health conditions, treatment availability, immune function and the severity of opportunistic infections all influence the likelihood of survival.
How deadly is untreated HIV?
Without effective treatment, HIV generally causes progressive immune-system damage. The pace varies considerably, but many untreated adults eventually develop AIDS, often after several years.
Once a patient develops advanced AIDS and remains without treatment, the risk of life-threatening infections and complications rises substantially.
According to the CDC, people with AIDS who do not receive HIV treatment typically survive approximately three years, although individual outcomes can differ considerably.
Some patients die much sooner, particularly when severe opportunistic infections develop. Others may survive longer, but the likelihood of serious complications remains high without effective medical care.
Treatment changes this outlook fundamentally.
A person diagnosed early, started promptly on antiretroviral medication and maintained in care may never develop AIDS and can often expect a long life.
This contrast is central to understanding HIV mortality. The virus remains capable of causing fatal disease, but many deaths can be prevented through timely diagnosis, medication and appropriate treatment of related illnesses.
Why are so many people still dying when treatment exists?
The principal barriers are no longer exclusively scientific. Effective medicines are available, but millions of people cannot obtain them consistently or do not know that they are infected.
In 2025, approximately 32.1 million of the 41 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy.
That represents 78% of the global HIV population, a remarkable increase from the 7.6 million people receiving treatment in 2010.
Nevertheless, almost nine million people were still outside treatment programmes.
Some live in areas where medication is expensive or difficult to obtain. Others encounter shortages, transportation barriers, limited laboratory facilities or healthcare systems struggling with insufficient funding.
Stigma and discrimination can also discourage testing or treatment. People may fear losing employment, experiencing violence, being rejected by family members or facing criminal penalties connected to their sexuality or drug use.
The UNAIDS report released in July 2026 warned that reductions in international funding were threatening prevention programmes and community healthcare services.
International HIV financing declined by approximately 18% between 2024 and 2025, raising concerns about the sustainability of treatment and prevention programmes in countries heavily dependent on external assistance.
What do the latest HIV figures reveal about the future?
There has been extraordinary progress in reducing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. New infections have declined by approximately 42% since 2010, while mortality has fallen substantially because more people can access effective treatment.
The latest UNAIDS figures also indicate that 88% of people living with HIV knew their status in 2025. Among those diagnosed, 89% were receiving treatment, and 95% of people on treatment had achieved viral suppression.
These improvements demonstrate how effective modern HIV medicine has become.
Nevertheless, the world remains below the international 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to receive treatment and 95% of those receiving treatment to achieve viral suppression.
New infections are increasing in some regions, treatment gaps remain particularly severe among children, and financial pressures are threatening programmes that have helped reduce transmission.
The development of long-acting preventive medication offers considerable promise, but scientific advances alone cannot eliminate the epidemic unless they reach the populations who need them.
Why an HIV diagnosis means something very different in 2026
HIV remains a lifelong infection for almost everyone who acquires it, but its medical consequences have changed dramatically over the past four decades.
Today, people who receive appropriate treatment can maintain strong immune function, build families, pursue careers and live long, healthy lives. They can also have sexual relationships without transmitting HIV when sustained viral suppression is achieved.
At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people continue to die each year, often because they are diagnosed too late or cannot obtain consistent treatment.
The difference between those outcomes is not simply the presence of the virus. It is whether HIV is recognised early, whether effective medication is available and whether individuals can remain connected to healthcare throughout their lives.
For people concerned about a recent exposure, testing and timely medical advice remain essential. For those already living with HIV, effective treatment offers both personal protection and a powerful means of preventing further transmission.
The global epidemic has not ended, but decades of medical research have established something that once seemed almost impossible: living with HIV no longer has to mean developing AIDS, and having HIV does not mean passing the virus on to a sexual partner.
This article is made and published by Aksel Kryhlmand, who may have used AI in the preparation.