Number of people with HIV on ART climbs to more than 5 million

The number of individuals with HIV who initiated antiretroviral therapy in 2009 was 1.2 million, bringing the total to 5.2 million individuals in low- and middle-income countries worldwide who are receiving care, according to WHO estimates reported Monday at the 18th International AIDS Conference.

“This is the largest increase in people accessing treatment in a single year. It is an extremely encouraging development,” Hiroki Nakatani, MD, WHO assistant director-general for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, said in a press release.

A call for earlier treatment has been put forth by WHO officials. It is the first update of ART-related guidelines in 4 years.

Model data suggest that HIV-related mortality can be reduced by as much as 20% between 2010 and 2015 if WHO recommendations are implemented globally. Analysis also indicates that mortality associated with HIV-TB coinfection could be reduced by as much as 90% if earlier treatment protocols are initiated.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates that the cost for treatment will be about $9 billion in 2010. However, the updated WHO guidelines would increase the number of individuals recommended for treatment from 10 million to an estimated 15 million.

For more information, please visit the WHO website.