Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Dr. Emre Vudalı emphasized that with the benefits of advanced medicine; AIDS has ceased to be a deadly disease and has among the group of chronic diseases.
This year on 1st December World AIDS Day, ‘Equalize’ has been decided as the theme of World AIDS Day by the United Nations HIV/AIDS Joint Program (UNAIDS) in which various activities are held to increase awareness and sensitivity to HIV/AIDS.
Explaining the difference between HIV and AIDS, Vudalı said, “HIV and AIDS are perceived as the same, but added that the fundamental difference is HIV is the name of the virus, while AIDS is the name given to the third stage of this disease, meaning that due to it being the last stage the immune system drops.
This stage makes the body vulnerable to cancers and opportunistic infections.
Unfortunately, patients lose their life during this stage, Vudalı said and added that not every HIV patient is in the AIDS stage, but every AIDS-infected person has HIV infection.
According to the Health Ministry data, Vudalı the first HIV case in North Cyprus was recorded in 1997. Following 5 years of standstill, 2 more cases emerged in 2002. In 2022, the number of cases reached 108. While 6 people were diagnosed with HIV in the last year, one AIDS patient died. Since 1997, when the first case was recorded in the country, 8 AIDS patients died. The vast majority of HIV-positive people are men. Last year, there were 103 HIV cases in the country.
“HIV-positive people can lead a quality and healthy life”
Stating that there are 3 stages of the disease, Dr. Emre Vudalı explained that the first stage lasting one to one and a half months on average is known as “Acute Retroviral”, the second stage lasts 6-8 years is known as “Silent stage” and the third stage lasting 1-2 years is called “AIDS”. He noted that one person who did not receive treatment for the infection died within 10 years.
Stating that there are currently no cases in the AIDS stage in the country and all HIV cases can continue their work and social lives, Vudalı emphasized that HIV-positive people who start medication at the right time can live a quality and healthy life. Even people with a late HIV diagnosis, in the AIDS stage, can regain their health with medication.
