More (potentially) good AIDS-related news

Yesterday, while I was busy talking about the recent UNAIDS announcement that the global HIV epidemic has been “halted,” the media was busy talking about a new drug called Truvada.

As a piece on the CTV News website explains, Truvada is an antiretroviral drug used by HIV patients to reduce their viral load. But a recent study, which was published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine, “found that when uninfected gay and bisexual men took the medication daily, it helped reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.”

Experts admit that the findings are exciting, but they’re careful to note that the study focused on a very specific population group. Many also stress that the pill can’t be considered a viable substitute for more effective prevention methods, such as condoms – especially since many of the developing countries affected by HIV and AIDS already have trouble paying for medications such as Truvada.

Speaking of which, the Pope has finally, finally declared that condom use is a lesser evil than transmitting HIV to a partner through unsafe sex. Thanks, your holiness!

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