Fauci says so-called "early events" that occur within the first few hours of infection have a large impact on the course of the disease, and he emphasized the need for treatments that target the disease in its most vulnerable stage.
Special attention is being given to this year's International AIDS Conference as a deadline approaches for the goal of universal access to HIV prevention and treatment.
Fauci said that the underlying theme of this year's conference is the necessity of viewing the AIDS issue as an issue of human rights. Fauci said that of the 33 million people infected with AIDS, 90 percent live in the developing world, and 60 percent live in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also stated that early and adequate treatment of those infected has led to a lifespan that is “almost normal” in many cases, but he added that only 30-40 percent of those infected have access to treatment drugs.
VOA is planning extensive coverage of the July 18-23 AIDS conference and has developed a number of media campaigns focusing on the AIDS issue, particularly in Africa.
Dr. Fauci’s briefing was broadcast live on the VOA website. The on demand links for the briefing can be found at: http://author.voanews.com/english/About/2010-06-25-AIDS-briefing.cfm. For continuing VOA coverage of the AIDS issue and other news visit our website at: www.voanews.com.
The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 125 million people. Programs are produced in 44 languages and are intended exclusively for audiences outside of the United States.
For more information, call VOA Public Relations at (202) 203-4959, or e-mail askvoa@voanews.com.
