Positively Positive - Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS News
HIV and AIDS News from around the world
Worldwide 91.4 million people have been infected with HIV.
Worldwide 44.1 million people with HIV have died.
Worldwide, 40.8 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2024.
.
Practicing Safe Sex is our best resource in preventing HIV infection through sexual contact.
Sexual contact accounts for 95 percent of all new HIV infections worldwide.
Safe Sex = Disease Prevention – STAY SAFE!
Use A Condom Every Time!
“HIV needs to be in the media each and every day as most people only see snippets of news and these are not effective enough. For this reason, in 2007, I decided to include an HIV/AIDS News page where people could find information on many HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) related issues, Infectious Disease,
and more.
I collaborate with individuals, groups, and organizations throughout the world, to include their HIV/AIDS news articles, press releases, events, workshops, conferences, and more on PositivelyPositive.ca. News items stay on the HIV/AIDS News page for a month,
and then News items go into the HIV/AIDS News Archives.”
Bradford McIntyre
 
House of Ruth Opens Apartment Complex for People Affected by HIV in Kentucky
March 13, 2026, - By Trent Straube - POZ - The 40-unit complex in Louisville, Kentucky, includes a food pantry and supportive services for people with HIV. Conference.
In its largest project to date, the nonprofit House of Ruth opened a three-story, housing complex dubbed the Red Key Landing for people affected by HIV in Louisville, Kentucky, reports WDRB.com. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this week with city officials and guests.
House of Ruth has provided housing and support for people affected by HIV since its founding in 1992.
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Gallery: 2026 Dance Marathon raises HIV/AIDS awareness through performance-filled night
March 13, 2026 - By By Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon, Holden Yung, Joshua Neira - DAILY BRUIN - The Pediatric AIDS Coalition held its annual Dance Marathon from 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday to support pediatric AIDS research and treatment. The coalition has raised over $6 million since the fundraiser’s debut in 2002. Attendees took to Ackerman Grand Ballroom dressed as sea creatures and surgeons for the first of many theme shifts throughout the performance-filled night.
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HIV heart inflammation is mediated by HIV infected myeloid cells, HIV-tat secretion, and aberrant function of Connexin43-containing channels
13 March 2026 - Nature - Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) have a 2 times higher risk of HIV-associated cardiovascular disease (HIV-CVD) compared to people without HIV, despite effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART), but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we demonstrated the presence of myeloid cells containing HIV DNA sequences (HIV+) in human ventricular heart tissues from people with HIV in the ART era. HIV+ cells show residual HIV-Tat expression that is associated with upregulation of Connexin43 (Cx43) expression, gap junctional communication, and hemichannel (HC) activity. HIV-Tat binds to the Cx43 promoter, increasing Cx43 mRNA and protein expression. Cx43 enhanced expression by HIV-Tat was localized in the intercalated disk, as well as in the lateral membrane of cardiomyocytes, resulting in Cx43-containing HC openings and release of PGE2 and ATP, as well as facilitating the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Overall, our data demonstrated that HIV+ cells, even during ART, secrete HIV-Tat, compromising GJ and HC-mediated communication and promoting localized inflammation, which could contribute to arrhythmia..
A New Method Produces CAR-T Cells to Keep Fighting Disease Longer
March 13, 2026—(BRONX, NY) - Strategy May Bolster Blood Cancer Therapy and Move HIV Research Closer to a Cure
A research team led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine scientists has developed a new strategy to engineer immune cells that dramatically prolongs their effectiveness after being infused into patients to fight cancer and HIV, addressing a major limitation of current treatments. Their findings, published today in Science Advances, describe a manufacturing approach that, compared to the existing process, generates longer-lasting immune cells that provide more sustained control of human blood cancers and suppression of HIV-infection in mouse models.
“Our goal was to engineer therapeutic immune cells so they would not only be powerful killers but also long-lived and capable of self-renewal, to markedly extend their effectiveness after infusion into patients,” said senior author Harris Goldstein, M.D., professor of pediatrics and of microbiology & immunology and director of the Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY-Mount Sinai Center for AIDS Research. “By improving how we generate CAR-T cells, a treatment that acts as a ‘living drug,’ we would prolong their functional activity and prevent disease relapse after their potency wanes.” Dr. Goldstein also holds the Charles Michael Chair in Autoimmune Diseases at Einstein.
Younger, mobile men especially likely to not know they have HIV in eastern and southern Africa
13 March 2026 - By Krishen Samuel - aidsmap - One in seven men living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa are unaware that they have the virus, according to research presented at the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) in Denver, US by Dr Craig Heck of Columbia University. Younger men and those who sometimes live away from home were more likely not to know their status.
According to UNAIDS data, while 83% of adolescent girls and women on treatment in these regions had reached viral suppression in 2024, only 76% of adolescent boys and men aged 15 and older had. What’s more, in addition to starting off worse on the continuum, men also saw larger drop offs at each level, from testing to treatment to viral suppression. To reach UNAIDS 95:95:95 targets – HIV awareness, on treatment, virally suppressed – it’s crucial to close these gaps..
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Reunion Project looks to inspire next generation of people living with HIV
March 11, 2026 - By Alec Karam - WINDY CITY TIMES - The Reunion Project met in Chicago to unite long-term HIV survivors and allies to find connection and support through a weekend of panels designed to instill community across generations.
“We want to bring people together to show their stories of survival and resilience,” said Reunion Project Executive Director Jeff Berry. “There’s hope in community, and there’s strength in community, and there’s love in community.”..
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Building protection against infectious diseases with nanostructured vaccines
(BOSTON) Mar. 11, 2026 - By Benjamin Boettner - Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University - Wyss Institute’s DoriVac combined vaccine and adjuvant technology uses nanoscale precision enabled by DNA origami to induce broad immunity against infectious viruses
The COVID-19 pandemic brought messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines to the forefront of global health care. After their clinical trial stages, the first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was administered on 8 December 2020 and mathematical models suggest that mRNA vaccines prevented at least 14.4 million deaths from COVID-19 in the first year alone. Their extraordinary effectiveness in having softened the blow of the disease, has led to the development of mRNA vaccines to also combat other infectious pathogens. Clinical trials for influenza virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), HIV, Zika, Epstein-Barr virus, and tuberculosis bacteria are all on the way. Importantly, however, COVID-19 research has revealed shortcomings of mRNA vaccines that highlight the need for different approaches.
A little-known respiratory virus, human metapneumovirus, surging in Northern California
(SACRAMENTO) March 10, 2026 - By Public Affairs - UC Davis Health - Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of serious illness
If you came down with a respiratory infection this spring that wasn’t the flu or COVID-19, it may have been a virus you’ve never heard of: Human metapneumovirus or HMPV.
The virus was first discovered in 2001 but is less well known than its viral relative, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Both are in the Pneumoviridae family.
HMPV is seasonal — like the annual flu — and it is currently spiking in the U.S., according to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), which monitors viral activity.
HIV in Malawi: digital filing system saved lives and boosted care – research
March 10, 2026 - The Conversation - In the global fight against HIV/Aids, one of the most exciting innovations is not a new drug, but a better filing system.
This is what we’re seeing in Malawi, one of the most HIV-affected countries in the world. About 7% of the population there live with the virus.
The country is one of the few meeting the United Nations 95-95-95 targets (95% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed are treated, and 95% of those on treatment have a viral load below 200 copies per millilitre). Sustaining this progress is a massive challenge in large clinics, and requires not only medical staff and supplies but efficient management of patient data.
Wistar Scientists Develop Two-Vaccine Strategy to Fight T Cell Lymphoma
PHILADELPHIA — (MAR. 10, 2026) - The Wistar Institute -T cell lymphomas are notoriously difficult to treat because immunotherapy, despite being one of the most effective therapies for treating cancer, can’t easily distinguish cancerous T cells from healthy ones. Now, scientists at The Wistar Institute have designed a two-vaccine approach that not only targets the tumors’ unique molecular identity but counters the evasion strategy the cancer employs in response. Their findings, published in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, demonstrate that combining a vaccine targeting the cancer’s T cell receptors (TCR) with a second vaccine targeting cancer-specific mutations significantly improves tumor control and survival in preclinical models. The approach offers hope for treating one of oncology’s most intractable blood cancers.
New Frontiers in HIV Cure Science
9-Mar-2026 - by UNC Health - UNC Health - In a new chapter of global HIV cure science, Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, a researcher at the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and the UNC HIV Cure Center, has launched one clinical trial, and plans to start the second in the next few months, designed to make infected cells visible to targeted immune clearing strategies.
“This is a moment of real momentum,” said Dr. Gay, professor of medicine in infectious diseases. We’re testing two promising approaches to expose and clear the HIV reservoir, and we’re doing it with partners who bring tremendous expertise. Each will bring us closer to understanding how HIV might one day be controlled without daily therapy.”
In My Day revisits the first years of BC’s HIV/AIDS crisis through real voices and stories
March 9, 2026 - All Points West - CBC - In the mid-1980s, an HIV diagnosis was often a death sentence. For fifteen years, communities in Vancouver and Victoria fought a battle that changed our province forever. “In My Day” is a play built from the real words of people who were there. It opens at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre later this week. Playwright Rick Waines and actor Elliot Baskin Smith spoke with guest host Kathryn Marlow.
Listen...
Despite high risks of HIV, condom use low among displaced youths in Uganda
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - March 9, 2026 - By Sharita Forrest - News Bureau, University of Illinois - While the rate of HIV in Kampala, Uganda, is more than double the national average, a recent survey of displaced youths in the city found that only about 20% consistently used condoms and just half of the study participants had been tested for HIV in the past year.
Moses Okumu, a professor of social work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, led the study, which included more than 330 young people ages 16-24 who were living in one of five informal settlements.
“Our findings show that both past-year access to HIV self-test kits, HIV testing and consistent condom use remain markedly below national and international targets, despite respondents reporting moderate condom-use self-efficacy,” Okumu said.
ECDC AND AFRICA CDC STRENGTHEN JOINT COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY
Stockholm, 9 March, 2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - MoU signing deepens
inter-continental partnership
Today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, signed their first Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen health security in Africa and Europe.
The Memorandum was signed by ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner and H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC during a 2-day visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Dr Rendi-Wagner and a team of ECDC experts.
The Memorandum formalises a decade of collaboration and close partnership between the two agencies in areas critical to global health. The Memorandum establishes a framework for enhanced collaboration in the areas of disease surveillance, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness and response and will include joint actions in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, vaccine-preventable diseases, and emerging and re-emerging health threats. It will also support collaboration on data analytics, modelling and foresight, laboratory capabilities, workforce development and public health training.
Global Virus Network opens International Headquarters at University of South Florida
March 9, 2026 - By Nora Samaranayake - USF Health - University of South Florida - Today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, signed their first Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen health security in Africa and Europe.
The Memorandum was signed by ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner and H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC during a 2-day visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Dr Rendi-Wagner and a team of ECDC experts.
HIV Stigma Is Common and Increasing; Here’s How That’s Harmful
March 8, 2026 - By Trent Straube - POZ - What’s more, most HIV stigma is based on fear and blame, finds a new report from the Williams Institute.
HIV-related stigma in the United States is not only widespread but also growing—and it affects the health and well-being of people living with HIV, including leading to unjust HIV crime laws, according to the results of a study by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
Notably, the report found that 43% of U.S. adults held at least one stigmatizing belief about people with HIV in 2024—an increase from 31% in 2021.
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International Women’s Day: Rights, justice, and action for women and girls
GENEVA, 6 March - UNAIDS - Globally, in 2024, around 4,000 adolescent girls and young women newly acquired HIV every week—3,300 of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa, where women and girls make up around two in every three new HIV infections.
The statistics do not end there.
Nearly one in four adolescent girls experiences physical or sexual violence before the age of 20.
According to UNFPA, fewer than half of women globally are able to make their own decisions about sex, contraception and health care.
Punitive laws continue to fuel the HIV epidemic and undermine sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Such inequality is not a law of nature, it is a consequence.
This is what happens when women and girls are denied rights and denied justice.
Jesse Jackson’s Early HIV/AIDS Advocacy Transformed The Course Of The Disease
Mar 06, 2026 - By Joshua P. Cohen - Forbes - Speakers at the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s celebration of life in Chicago on Friday will certainly reflect on his civil rights, religious and political leadership. But one of Jackson’s most important legacies was raising awareness around the HIV/AIDS epidemic at a time when it was a taboo topic in political circles.
His advocacy began shortly after the disease emerged in the early 1980s. Jackson, who died Feb. 17 at age 84, led a push for more funding for research on prevention and treatment.
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US measles total approaches 1,300 infections
March 6, 2026 - By Jim Wappes - CIDRAP - Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy - University of Minnesota - The US measles count climbed by 145 today, reaching 1,281 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update, with cases in Texas now approaching 100.
For all of last year US officials confirmed 2,258 infections, a number the nation appears on pace to surpass this year. The Pan American Health Organization recently announcedit has pushed back its decision on whether the country loses its measles elimination status—which it gained in 2000—to November, after the midterm elections.
New antiretrovirals in the pipeline could be part of twice-yearly HIV treatment
6 March 2026 - By Liz Highleyman - aidsmap - Three experimental injectable antiretrovirals – a novel capsid inhibitor and two next-generation integrase inhibitors – could be components of future long-acting HIV treatment regimens, according to study results presented last week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) in Denver.
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13 HIV/AIDS activists arrested on Capitol Hill
March 5, 2026 - By Michael K. Lavers - Washington Blade - Protesters demanded full PEPFAR funding
U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday arrested 13 HIV/AIDS activists in the Cannon House Office Building Rotunda.
The activists — members of Housing Works, Health GAP, and the Treatment Action Group — joined former PEPFAR staffers in demanding full funding of the program that President George W. Bush created in 2003. They chanted “AIDS cuts kill, PEPFAR now!” and unfurled banners from the Rotunda’s second floor that read “Trump and (Office of Management and Budget Director Russell) Vought kill people with AIDS worldwide,” “Over 200,000 deaths since January 2025,” and “Hands off PEPFAR” before their arrest.
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Targeting a Dangerous Gut Infection
March 5, 2026 - by Genevieve Rajewski - Tufts Now - Tufts University - New Tufts University School of Medicine studies reveal how Clostridioides difficile behaves inside the body
Affecting roughly half a million Americans each year, bacterial infections caused by Clostridioides difficile—commonly known as C. diff—are a serious and persistent problem for patients and hospitals alike. The bacterium can cause severe diarrhea, life-threatening inflammation of the colon, and recurring illness that dramatically reduces quality of life—especially for older adults, who face the highest risk of complications and death.
C. diff remains difficult to control for a combination of factors. The bacterium survives many disinfectants, allowing it to easily spread in health care settings, where it is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea. After entering the body through the mouth, the bacterium travels to the colon, where it colonizes and starts releasing toxins that damage tissues. About one in nine patients treated for C. diff will develop another infection within weeks or months—often unpredictably—with the risk of a repeat infection increasing from there. And some strains of the bacterium have become resistant to the first-line antibiotics used to treat it.
UB researchers help develop new class of powerful antibodies to treat HIV using AI
BUFFALO, N.Y. - March 5, 2026 - By Laurie Kaiser - University at Buffalo - Medication may be necessary only once or twice per year in some patients, according to published study
Not that long ago, a diagnosis of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, was considered a death sentence. Today, advancements in medicine have rendered HIV a manageable condition that allows most individuals to enjoy a typical lifespan.
What it often takes to achieve that level of longevity, however, is one or more medications that have to be reliably taken daily for a lifetime and it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, explains Nicholas Smith, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacy practice in the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS).
HIV/AIDS in Dominica
March 5, 2026 - The Borgen Project - Dominica is a small island country in the Eastern Caribbean with a population of around 70,000. Historically, the Caribbean has been one of the regions that HIV/AIDS has affected the most in the world, with an overall incidence rate surpassed only by Africa.
Considered an epidemic in the Latin American-Caribbean region since the beginning of the 1980s, HIV has had a widespread and lasting impact across many countries. Many Caribbean countries witness a prevalence rate of more than 1%, markedly above the international average of 0.7%.
Despite the fact that the greater region is still witnessing a ‘generalized epidemic’ of HIV, Dominica has made remarkable progress in tackling the disease and today accounts for some of the lowest rates of transmission and new infections in its locality, thanks to targeted testing efforts, expanded training and local education programs. Here is more information about HIV/AIDS in Dominica.
Machine-learning immune-system analysis study may hold clues to personalized medicine
TORONTO, March. 4, 2026 - YORK UNIVERSITY - Study found clear vaccine-initiated immune response biomarkers between HIV positive and HIV negative groups, but outliers underscore varied, intricate nature of the immune system
How people with compromised immune systems respond to vaccines is an important area of immunological research. A new study led by York University found that not only could machine-learning models accurately pinpoint differences in healthy controls and those living with HIV, but also found outliers in both groups that provide fascinating glimpses into the complex nature of the immune system and what personalized medicine could look like in the future, accounting for variables such as age, comorbidities and genetics.
Peter Staley Brings Fire, History and Hope in Speech to HIV Scientists
Mar 4 2026 - By Mark S. King - My Fabulous Disease - At the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in February, HIV activism icon Peter Staley delivered much more than a history lesson on the impact of HIV activism back in the day. He called the thousands of researchers and scientists gathered there to continue actions to fight authoritarianism in all its forms, most especially in regards to the dismantling of public health under the Trump regime.
Along the way, Peter offered fascinating insight into his relationship with figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, an early adversary who has become a close friend and ally, and beseeched the attendees to stand strong until this public health nightmare fades into history itself while voters turn out the fascist strongmen ruining the country.
Peter’s speech was titled, “‘Annus Horribilis’ and The War on Science: Thoughts on Resisting and Rebuilding,”
Western leads new international, public-private initiative for equitable access to HIV cure
March 03, 2026 - By Jeff Renaud - Western News - Western University - IMMUNEQUITY is reimagining a cure with innovation and accessibility inseparable goals
At Western University, a bold idea is taking shape: what if lifesaving medical breakthroughs were designed from the very beginning to reach everyone who needs them?
For Eric Arts, Canada Research Chair in HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control, the question is not only ethical, but urgent. After decades of progress in HIV treatment and vaccine development, the internationally renowned virologist has seen both the extraordinary power of biomedical discovery and the painful delays in who benefits from it.
“Where you live still determines whether you benefit from medical breakthroughs,” said Arts, a microbiology and immunology professor at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. “In the world of HIV, that inequity is stark.”
New tool reveals the secrets of HIV-infected cells
SAN FRANCISCO - 3-MAR-2026 - Gladstone Institutes - Developed by Gladstone scientists, HIV-seq could uncover new opportunities for treating HIV.
For people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), life-saving antiretroviral therapy keeps their HIV-infected immune cells from making new copies of the virus, preventing illness and transmission.
Historically, these infected cells have been known as the “latent” HIV reservoir—implying that the HIV within the infected cells is completely inactive.
“But notion that the entirety of the HIV reservoir is latent is actually a misleading description, because some reservoir cells can still be quite active,” says Nadia Roan, PhD,senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes. “Even though antiretroviral therapy keeps full-fledged HIV virus from being made, some of the infected cells continue spitting out viral products.”
HIV patients are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events
March 3, 2026 - By Sonia Fernandez - The Current - UC Santa Barbara - Extreme weather events (EWEs), such as floods, blizzards, hurricanes or droughts, threaten everyday normalcy for millions of people around the globe. Coupled with trying to get timely health care, EWE exposure can change the course of an infectious illness for both individuals and local populations. But who — and where — is most at risk?
Focusing on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), scientists from UC Santa Barbara, UC San Francisco and City University of New York (CUNY) have collaborated to begin answering this question. In the process, they have created a historical record that links real-life climate and weather data to a large multi-national (2.2 million) cohort of people living with and at risk for HIV.
“People living with HIV are an especially vulnerable population, many of whom live in areas that are historically and/or increasingly prone to severe weather events,” said UCSB geographer Frank Davenport. “There was not a lot of research in this area and this was a unique opportunity to expand our overall understanding of the health impacts of extreme weather events.”
US study shows rising prevalence of fungal infection
March 2, 2026 - By Chris Dall - CIDRAP - University of Minnesota - Analysis of a nationally representative sample of electronic health record (EHR) data shows aspergillosis diagnoses increased by more than 5% annually in the United States from 2013 through 2023, US researchers reported late last week in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Aspergillosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of Aspergillus, a common mold that’s ubiquitous indoors and outdoors. While most people don’t get sick from inhaling Aspergillus, it can cause severe and deadly infections in people who have lung disease or are immune-compromised (such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients), with an overall death rate of 20%. Recent data also raise concerns that rising resistance to antifungal medications is making treatment more difficult.
Inside the battle to end the Aids pandemic in the face of Trump’s cuts
02 March 2026 - The Independent - Activists who dispute safety of vaccines are pushing to limit immunization requirements in schools
In a clinic in Cape Town earlier this year, a woman rolled up her sleeve and became the first person enrolled in what is one of the most consequential HIV treatment trials ever attempted on African soil.
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As measles spreads in South Carolina, RFK Jr’s allies work to gut vaccine laws
March 2, 2026 - By Michelle R Smith - The Guardian - Citing rising costs and shortfalls in federal support, about 20 states are toughening eligibility requirements for patients in drug assistance programs.
As South Carolina grapples with a measles outbreak that has infected nearly 1,000 people, groups with ties to the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, are pushing to eliminate immunization requirements that protect children.
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States Move to Limit Access to H.I.V. Treatment
March 2, 2026 - By Apoorva Mandavilli - The New York Times - Citing rising costs and shortfalls in federal support, about 20 states are toughening eligibility requirements for patients in drug assistance programs.
Tens of thousands of Americans are losing access to treatment for H.I.V. as nearly 20 states impose restrictions on assistance programs and several others weigh such changes.
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Among Jesse Jackson’s Key Legacies Was Raising Awareness Around HIV/AIDS
Mar 01, 2026 - By Joshua P. Cohen- Forbes - Reverend Jesse Jackson died last month. He was one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Among his most important legacies was raising awareness around the HIV/AIDS epidemic at a time that it was a taboo topic in political circles. His advocacy began shortly after the disease emerged in the early 1980s. Jackson helped set the stage for a push for more funding for research on prevention and treatment.
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Machine learning: shortcut or short-circuit to enhanced HIV outcomes?
28 Feb 2026 - By Krishen Samuel - aidsmap - At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) held in Denver, US this week, scientists discussed how machine learning and generative AI can be used to improve various HIV outcomes.
There are lingering, and often perplexing, questions as to exactly how these technologies will be mobilised to do this. Dr Ravi Goyal, a moderator for one of the AI sessions from the University of California, San Diego, aired some of this doubt: “We’ve been told that it’s going to revolutionise public health, it’s going to revolutionise our healthcare system. But if you’re like me, I don’t know, maybe you don’t quite believe the hype, maybe you haven’t quite seen it yet. And don’t get me wrong, machine learning and generative AI are very impressive in demos and in labs, but that doesn’t mean that it always translates into better patient outcomes.”
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Denmark becomes first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis
Geneva - Copenhagen - February 27 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Denmark for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, recognizing the country's sustained commitment to ensuring every child is born free of these infections.
“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis marks a major public health achievement for Denmark,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone demonstrates that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases.”
Florida suddenly cuts off 12,000 people from receiving their HIV meds
In a shocking move, the state’s Department of Health utilized its “11th hour” emergency rule just one day ahead of a lawsuit hearing.
Feb 27, 2026 - By Desiree Guerrero - ADVOCATE - HIV patients and advocates in Florida are reeling after the Department of Health’s sudden move to cut off about 12,000 people from receiving affordable HIV medication, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
The Department utilized an “11th hour” legal loophole on Tuesday, just one day before a hearing in a lawsuit filed against the state by AIDS Healthcare Foundation over changes to its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
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‘Paradigm-shifting’ study confirms effectiveness of long-acting HIV treatment
February 26, 2026 - By Megan Burgasser - UC NEWS - University of Cincinnati - UC is leading site for groundbreaking LATITUDE trial addressing barriers to daily oral medication
A recent clinical trial involving the University of Cincinnati targeted the challenges of medication adherence in people living with HIV. Results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
UC was the leading enrolling site in the U.S., with 32 of the 453 participants taking part in the LATITUDE study, a Phase III randomized trial that tested the efficacy of monthly injectable antiretroviral therapies cabotegravir and rilpivirine instead of daily oral antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The findings indicate that both injectable drugs are superior in preventing regimen failure among people living with HIV who have struggled with medication adherence.
Kenya becomes first in East Africa to launch six-month HIV prevention injection
Nairobi - 26 February 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - When a friend’s father urgently needed a blood donation, Samson Mutua had to say no. He had been engaging in “risky behaviour” and had never tested for HIV. He could not be sure he was safe to donate.
Years later, Mutua, now 27, has become the first Kenyan to receive lenacapavir, a new injectable option that protects against HIV for six months with just two injections a year. Kenya is the first country in East Africa, and one of the first globally, to roll out the drug, marking a significant step forward after 42 years of HIV response in the country.
Florida Department of Health cuts thousands of dollars in funds from HIV and AIDS drug program
February 26, 2026 - By CBS Miami Team - CBS NEWS - The Florida Department of Health issued emergency rules Wednesday that will block thousands of Floridians from accessing their HIV medication.
Starting Sunday, the state will cut its subsidies for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and funds will only be available for people at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, a drop from 400%.
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CLARIFICATION ON ZIMBABWE’S HEALTH DIPLOMACY
February 25, 2026 - Herald Online - Nick Mangwana-Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in the Republic of Zimbabwe
Recent extensive media reports have drawn attention to a leaked internal government communication between the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Secretary for Health and Child Care, and the Secretary for Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
This correspondence detailed His Excellency President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa’s directive that negotiations on a proposed health funding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the United States’ America First Global Health Strategy be immediately terminated.
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The Promise: A Final Interview With Butch McKay
February 25, - By Craig Washington - POZ - The late HIV activist was the founder of the Positive Living Conference.
I first attended the Positive Living Conference in September 2024 and again this past October 23 to 26, 2025. As a Black queer man living with HIV for 41 years — and as a writer, organizer and HIV prevention worker — I regard the Positive Living Conference, hosted by the nonprofit organization OASIS Florida, as a sacred space that must be safeguarded.
On the last day of the 2025 conference, I spoke with the late Butch McKay, founder of the Positive Living Conference and executive director of OASIS Florida, about what the gathering means to so many and why we must not take it for granted, as it could easily be taken away. Butch shared more than I expected. He talked about what led to his involvement in AIDS education service and advocacy, although he was HIV negative. He recalled the friends who motivated him and the life-changing conversations they had. He noted some of his most memorable moments from past conferences.
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Dual immune modulators delay, but don’t prevent, HIV rebound after stopping antiretrovirals
25 Feb 2026 - By Liz Highleyman - aidsmap - A pair of immune-modulating drugs, budigalimab and trosunilimab, appeared to slow viral rebound in about a quarter of people with HIV who stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to study results presented this week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) in Denver. Some participants eventually saw their viral load rise with further follow-up, however, and development of this combination will not continue.
While antiretrovirals can keep HIV replication suppressed indefinitely, the virus inserts its genetic blueprints into the DNA of human cells, establishing a long-lasting reservoir that is unreachable by the drugs and usually invisible to the immune system, making a true cure nearly impossible. But researchers are exploring numerous approaches that may help keep the virus in remission after stopping treatment, known as a functional cure.
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Gilead’s Single-Tablet Regimen of Bictegravir and Lenacapavir Maintained Virological Suppression in People With HIV Who Switched Antiretroviral Therapy
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- February 25, 2026 - Gilead – Novel Investigational Combination Pairs Bictegravir, a Global Guideline-Recommended Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor with a High Barrier to Resistance with Lenacapavir, a First-in-Class Capsid Inhibitor –
– Phase 3 ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 Results will Inform Regulatory Filings –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the presentation of new Phase 3 ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 trial data at CROI 2026 showing a treatment switch to an investigational, single-tablet combination regimen of bictegravir 75 mg/lenacapavir 50 mg (BIC/LEN) was effective in people living with HIV with virological suppression, including those switching from complex multi-tablet regimens or a global guideline-recommended single-tablet regimen. The novel combination of BIC/LEN was generally well tolerated, with no significant or new safety concerns identified.
“The ARTISTRY trials represent the latest example of Gilead’s commitment to advancing HIV treatment through continuous scientific innovation,” said Jared Baeten, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Sciences. “This once-daily single-tablet regimen combines the durability of bictegravir with lenacapavir, a first‑in‑class capsid inhibitor. The novel treatment combination is designed to sustain virologic suppression for those seeking new options. We look forward to working with regulatory authorities to potentially bring this combination forward to people with HIV.”
Large clinical trial finds zoliflodacin promising for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea
February 24 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Researchers recruited more than 900 people to explore different regimens for gonorrhea
A clinical trial of the new antibiotic zoliflodacin found it was as effective as standard therapy
Side effects associated with zoliflodacin were generally mild to moderate
The germs that cause gonorrhea (N. gonorrhoeae) are most commonly spread during condomless anal, oral and vaginal intercourse. These germs can also be passed from mother to child during the birthing process.
People with gonorrhea do not always experience symptoms. However, in people who were assigned male at birth (AMAB), gonorrhea can cause discharge from the urethra as well as a burning sensation while urinating. If left untreated, the germs that cause gonorrhea can affect the testicles and prostate.
People assigned female at birth (AFAB) who have gonorrhea can develop a burning sensation while urinating, discharge from the vagina, pain in the lower abdomen, and vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex. What’s more, gonorrhea can contribute to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and other complications.
Maria Davis: Living Out Loud with HIV
February 24, 2026 - amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research - The beloved HIV advocate and music promoter talks about the importance of finding your voice, self-care, and sustaining AIDS research
If you are lucky enough to hear Maria Davis speak about her experiences as a person living with HIV, you would find it hard to believe this passionate advocate ever chose to turn down the volume.
But HIV stigma is powerful.
7 reasons why measles is more dangerous than you think
24 February 2026 - by Linda Geddes - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - From hidden immune damage to delayed brain disease, measles carries risks that extend far beyond a childhood rash.
Measles is highly contagious, deadly and yet preventable with a safe, effective vaccine. While millions worldwide deal with the lifelong complications caused the virus, some choose to downplay the threat.
Here are seven reasons why measles is more dangerous than you might think.
Florida’s proposed cuts to AIDS drug program threaten patient care and public health
February 24, 2026 - By Jonathan Appelbaum - The Conversation - More than 128,000 Floridians are living with HIV. The state has the second-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses after Georgia, with approximately 4,500 new diagnoses in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available.
But access to treatment could be in jeopardy if potential budget cuts, announced in January 2026 by the Florida Department of Health, are enacted.
These changes, set to go into effect on March 1, would cut funding for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which helps more than 31,000 Floridians with HIV/AIDS afford care.
Drugs, denial and stigma: the babies and children swept up in Fiji’s HIV nightmare
24 Feb 2026 - By Michelle Duff in Suva - The Guardian - Vulnerable young people, partners of drug users and victims of sexual violence also among those afflicted in world’s fastest growing HIV epidemic
The night her baby’s heart stopped, Clare* blamed herself. Had she taken her out in the cold too much? Had she damaged her lungs by drinking iced water when she was pregnant? She fixated on Andi’s tiny chest, willing it to suck in air, rushing her to hospital in Fiji for the second time in as many days.
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An entire generation of AIDS survivors is now struggling with a hidden epidemic
February 23, 2026 - By Daniel Villarreal - LGBTQ Nation - Tez Anderson didn’t understand why he was experiencing extreme stress, isolation, and nightmares until he realized he has AIDS Survivor Syndrome.
Tez Anderson decided to get tested for HIV after he moved to San Francisco in 1986 at the age of 25 and began dating his new boyfriend. When the results came back positive two weeks later, the doctor told Anderson he had 18 to 24 months to live. It was two days after his 26th birthday.
Devastated by the news, Anderson began planning his death. But decades later, he remained relatively healthy while watching many friends and acquaintances die of HIV-related illnesses. As he approached age 50, Anderson realized, “Oh, my God, I’m going to be an old man with AIDS. What am I going to do?”
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U.S. Nears 1,000 Measles Cases in 2026 — Largest Outbreak in a Generation
Newswise - 23-Feb-2026 - by George Washington University – Newswise — The U.S. is approaching a troubling milestone: nearly 1,000 measles cases in the first two months of 2026 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With 982 cases already reported across 26 states — more than four times this time last year — the country is experiencing the largest single measles outbreak in a generation. South Carolina is at the epicenter, with nearly 800 cases since January and at least 20 hospitalizations. Cases are also rising in Utah, Arizona and Florida, including a cluster at Ave Maria University.
Mpox in people living with and without HIV, including people on PrEP, during a multistate outbreak in Spain in 2022
20 February 2026 - Nature - Abstract
Spain reported the highest cumulative incidence of mpox in Europe during the 2022 outbreak, which disproportionately affected people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-negative individuals using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study to analyze epidemiological, clinical, and disease progression characteristics of mpox among PLWH, HIV-negative individuals, and PrEP user cases and non-user cases in Spain. Data were collected from June 2022 to January 2023, including 1,158 men aged ≥ 18 years; 35.3% were PLWH and 42.7% of HIV-negative individuals were PrEP users. Adjusted OR and the 95% CI were calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. More frequently PLWH than HIV-negative cases were having sex only with men (aOR = 10.92;3.76–31.69), chemsex (aOR = 2.02;1.38–2.97), another type of immunosuppression (aOR = 2.57;1.07–6.21) and non-anogenital and non-oral exanthems (aOR = 1.64;1.23–2.19). More frequent in PLWH compared to PrEP user cases were lower education levels (aOR = 23.21;2.87–187.52), fever (aOR = 1.42;0.98–2.06), non-anogenital and non-oral exanthems (aOR = 2.40;1.67–3.45) and another type of immunosuppression (aOR = 9.32;1.16–75.16) and more frequent in PrEP user cases than in non-PrEP user cases were risk factors related to sexual activity and concurrent sexually transmitted infections. PLWH did not experience more severe mpox than HIV-negative persons. These findings underscore the need for tailored prevention and clinical approaches.
Military Reinstates Ban, Prohibits People With HIV From Enlisting
February 20, 2026 - By Trent Straube - POZ - A 2024 ruling stated people with HIV and an undetectable viral load pose no risk and can enlist. This week, an appeals court reversed that ruling.
A federal appeals court ruled that the Pentagon may reinstate its ban on the enlistment of people living with HIV, even if they maintain an undetectable viral load. This overturns a previous ruling by a lower court that found the HIV ban unconstitutional.
Specifically, a conservative three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on February 18 reversed a 2024 lower court ruling. The panel said it deferred to the military, which sought to reinstate the ban, saying the military itself best understood the reasons for banning enlistment, reports Courthouse News Service.
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Orphaned by War at age 11, a Global-Health Researcher Builds a Support System for Ugandan Youth Affected by HIV/AIDS
Feb 20, 2026 - By Robert Polner - New York University (NYU) - Fred Ssewamala returns to the community of his birth to nurture hope for poor orphans and their extended families
Known affectionately as “Dr. Fred” around the halls of New York University’s Silver School of Social Work where he teaches, Fred Ssewamala leads a researcher’s life rooted in purpose. Eight or nine times a year, he makes the 24-hour journey to the tiny Ugandan village where he was born—a rural community 19 miles north of the capital of Kampala—to confront a crisis he knows intimately.
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UAB leads study to mitigate the medication adherence barriers in those living with HIV
Feb. 19, 2023 - UAB | The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Medication adherence remains a challenge across all chronic conditions, commonly imposed by financial, physical or educational factors with impact on personal health outcomes. In infectious diseases like HIV, in addition to impacting individual health, reduced adherence to medications also results in ongoing transmission of the virus, reflecting the significant public health impact and limiting efforts to end the HIV epidemic.
Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham led a study from the ACTG, an NIH-funded global clinical trials network focused on HIV and other infectious diseases, to target the challenges of adherence in those living with HIV.
Redesigned Hepatitis C Drug Becomes a Powerful New Treatment for COVID-19
Newswise - 19-Feb-2026 - by Department of Energy, Office of Science – Scientists transformed an old drug into a potent COVID-19 treatment effective against drug-resistant variants.
Researchers have redesigned the hepatitis C drug boceprevir to create a more effective treatment for COVID-19. Some virus variants no longer respond well to current therapies, like Paxlovid, due to mutations in the main COVID-19 virus protease (Mpro). This is a key enzyme the virus uses to replicate. Mpro is essential to the virus and remains intact from variant to variant. As such, it is an ideal target for treatments to focus on. Using X-ray crystal structures, scientists refined boceprevir atom by atom. They worked to improve how the drug binds within key pockets of the enzyme. The researchers used the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (a DOE Office of Science User Facility) to analyze the crystal structure when the drug was attached to Mpro.
Deciphering D
19 FEB 2026 - By Jon Cohen - Science - A mysterious influenza strain infects livestock around the world. Scientists worry it can become a threat to humans as well
Nuevo León state in Mexico—At dawn one morning in December 2025, researchers in the sprawling city of Monterrey, Mexico, loaded a large passenger van with syringes, swabs, test tubes, air samplers, and coolers. They then drove through the flat countryside for 2 hours, leaving the gap-toothed Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in the distance, until they reached a feed lot that had 24,000 head of cattle. “Everywhere you look, all the way to the horizon, it’s cows,” said Gregory Gray, an infectious disease clinician and epidemiologist from the University of Texas Medical Branch..
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Federal appeals court sides with Pentagon against science, reinstating U.S. military’s HIV enlistment ban
“We are deeply disappointed that the Fourth Circuit has chosen to uphold discrimination over medical reality,” said Gregory Nevins, Senior Counsel and Employment Fairness Project Director for Lambda
Feb 19, 2026 - By Christopher Wiggins - ADVOCATE - In a ruling that reasserts broad judicial deference to the U.S. military and delivers a major setback to HIV and LGBTQ+ advocates, a federal appeals court on Wednesday reinstated the Pentagon’s long-standing ban on people living with HIV enlisting in the armed forces, undoing a lower-court decision that had briefly opened the door to qualified recruits with undetectable viral loads.
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Exposing a hidden anchor for HIV replication
February 18, 2026 - by Tracey Bryant - University of Delaware - International collaboration involving UD uncovers key piece of virus’s machinery
The tiny shell protecting the HIV virus resembles a slightly rounded ice cream cone, but there is nothing sweet about it.
More than 40 million people worldwide live with AIDS because of this virus, and treatments must continually evolve as HIV mutates. During the acute stage of infection, a single human cell can produce as many as 10,000 new HIV particles.
At the University of Delaware, Professor Juan R. Perilla and his research team in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have spent over a decade probing the structure and function of HIV’s protective shell, or capsid, and the proteins packed inside. Their goal is to identify new targets for drugs that could stop HIV in its tracks.
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Editorial: Money for HIV/AIDS is drying up
February 18, 2026 - by BAR Editorial Board - Bay Area Reporter - We’re sounding the alarm. Money for HIV/AIDS is drying up.
For decades, nonprofits that provide HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs have relied on federal funding. Thanks to President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his incompetent health and human services secretary, today’s federal funding landscape is in peril. As we first reported online, many HIV/AIDS nonprofits were informed this month that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants have been terminated. According to ABC News, the grants totaled $600 million nationally.
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Casey House releases Big Fucking Deal, a short film examining the compounding effects of stigma for people living with HIV
TORONTO, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casey House - Study reveals only 44% of Canadians are confident that people living with HIV receive stigma-free health care when they need it – a gap the film recognizes through storytelling
Casey House – a hospital unlike any other providing care for people living with and at risk of HIV – today announces the release of Big Fucking Deal, directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis, as part of the hospital’s ongoing Smash Stigma campaign.
Thanks to decades of scientific innovation, HIV is medically manageable for many people. But the ability to access and sustain consistent HIV care is not equally shared, especially when barriers compound and reinforce one another. A study commissioned by Casey House found that more than half of Canadians (54%) don’t feel they understand what it means to live with HIV today – a gap that leaves stigma unchallenged and barriers unseen. Big Fucking Deal responds by demonstrating how stigma intensifies and outcomes diverge when an HIV diagnosis intersects with challenges such as housing insecurity, substance use dependency, mental health challenges, and discrimination tied to identity.
“We’ve made extraordinary progress in HIV treatment, but equity has not kept pace,” said Joanne Simons, CEO, Casey House. “This film, the sixth edition of our longstanding Smash Stigma initiative, is a call to see the full humanity of people living with HIV. It asks Canadians to replace assumption with understanding and empathy, especially when other challenges are present in people’s lives.”
UNAIDS rallies African leaders to remain united to end AIDS
GENEVA, 17 February 2026 - UNAIDS - At the 39th African Union summit, UNAIDS urged African leaders to stay united, keep HIV high on the political agenda and move towards sustainable financing for health and development.
“AIDS is not over in Africa and continued African leadership is essential,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Now is the moment to raise ambition, safeguard our gains and ensure Africa drives the global agenda for a sustainable and sovereign health future.”
Scientists develop first-of-its-kind antibody to block Epstein Barr virus
SEATTLE – February 17, 2026 – Fred Hutch Cancer Center - Fred Hutch Cancer Center scientists reached a crucial milestone in blocking Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a pathogen estimated to infect 95% of the global population that is linked to multiple types of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other chronic health conditions.
Using mice with human antibody genes, the research team developed new genetically human monoclonal antibodies that prevent two key antigens on the surface of the virus from binding to and entering human immune cells. Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the study highlights one of the newly identified monoclonal antibodies that successfully blocked infection in mice with human immune systems when they were challenged with EBV.
HHS confirms acting director Jim O’Neill out at CDC
February 17, 2026 - By Anthony Stitt - Healio - An HHS spokesman said O’Neill’s last day was on Friday.
A former official said there is a “continued leadership vacuum” at the CDC.
With ’;Neill out – and no permanent replacement named – the CDC remains without a leader more than a year into the second Trump administration. And that is a major concern to some former CDC officials.
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U.S. rejection of new mRNA flu vaccine ‘sends chills,’ epidemiologist says
Feb 17, 2026 - PBS Neshour - PBS - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced recently that it will not review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, despite late-stage trials showing it was safe and effective. The rejection has many in and outside the industry concerned about the Trump administration’s approach to vaccine development and recommendations. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Michael Osterholm.
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Gilead to Present New HIV Treatment and Prevention Data at CROI 2026, With a Focus on Expanding Options
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- February 17, 2026 - Gilead - – Pivotal Phase 3 Findings Support the Potential of a Novel Single-Tablet Combination of Bictegravir and Lenacapavir for HIV Treatment –
– Latest Data from the PURPOSE Program Further Demonstrates the Safety and Efficacy Profile of Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced details of new clinical and real-world data from its innovative HIV treatment and prevention portfolio and research pipeline that will be presented at the 33rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) being held from February 22-25 in Denver, Colorado. Focusing on expanding therapeutic options to meet the diverse needs of communities affected by HIV, notable late-breaking abstracts include Phase 3 results from the ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 trials that explored the efficacy and safety of an investigational, single-tablet combination regimen of bictegravir and lenacapavir for HIV treatment.
“Striving for continuous progress in HIV means delivering transformative therapies that support people across their entire treatment journey, aiming for sustained long-term health,” said Jared Baeten, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Sciences. “Our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic globally fuels our scientific innovation and our goal to develop novel options that are responsive to the needs and preferences of people with HIV.”
Politics and Healthcare Colliding: HIV/AIDS in Serbia
February 16, 2026 - The Borgen Project - Prejudiced attitudes toward homosexuality in Serbia are preventing early diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which has resulted in suffering and even death, as reported in 2013. Progressive groups and residents have spoken out over the years, claiming that hostile attitudes toward homosexuality in socially conservative Serbia have fostered this culture of fear. In extreme cases, individuals endanger themselves. The World Bank states that HIV/AIDS in Serbia affects 0.1% of the population, but despite this, the number of untreated cases or late-stage diagnoses remains a concern.
Fighting HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Healthy Economic Future for Women
February 16, 2026 - The Borgen Project - Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally, with approximately 2 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) as of 2023. Studies show women and adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa are more than twice as likely to contract HIV as men and are more likely to face social stigma for taking HIV medication. Factors contributing to the disparity include poverty, limited access to education and gender-based violence, which increase vulnerability among women and girls.
Organizations, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative and the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, work with trusted local leaders to combat stigma and expand access to HIV testing and treatment. By promoting updated perspectives within communities, these efforts educate adolescents and broader populations about gender equality and sexual health. Advocates say the programs provide women with critical mental and physical support, thereby improving employment opportunities and long-term stability.
Together, We Have Power
February 16, 2026 - By Jennifer Morton - POZ - Advocacy for people living with and at risk for HIV remains essential.
Advocacy for people living with and at risk for HIV remains essential. Decisions made at the local, state and national levels directly affect access to HIV prevention, treatment, education and care. Advocacy isn’t limited to marches or policy meetings; both large and small actions can help end the epidemic. Advocacy can happen during everyday conversations and in online spaces, classrooms and communities.
The efforts of individuals who speak up, share knowledge, challenge stigma or support inclusive policies add up. Collectively, they help protect hard-won progress and move us closer to stopping HIV.
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Last call for handmade hearts to uplift San Diego women living with HIV
Feb. 16, 2026 - by Elizabeth Ireland - Times of San Diego - With ’;Neill out – and no permanent replacement named – the CDC remains without a leader more than a year into the second Trump administration. And that is a major concern to some former CDC officials.
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Public Health Agency of Canada visits ECDC for enhanced collaboration and to strengthen global health security
Stockholm, 16 February 2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and its Director, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, welcomed the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Nancy Hamzawi, to ECDC on Monday, 16 February 2026.
During the visit, ECDC and the Public Health Agency of Canada adopted a joint action plan marking their longstanding collaboration and outlining areas for collaboration of mutual interest within public health. The action plan underlines the importance of close collaboration to ensure preparedness and prevention of infectious diseases and to strengthen global health security. The two agencies also explored future opportunities for joint international missions in outbreak investigation and activities.
Vaccine denial sets Americans up for more chronic illness
February 15, 2026 - By Christine Miller, and Janna K. Moen - Live Science - Despite well-established links between pathogens and chronic illness, the U.S. government continues to weaken public health measures to treat and prevent infectious diseases — a strategy that will ultimately make Americans even sicker.
For most of modern medical history, scientists have framed infectious disease as having two possible outcomes: recovery or death. You either get better, or you do not survive. But this binary has never fully captured reality.
For a substantial number of people, illness does not simply end — it lingers, reshaping and even
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‘We almost lost you in the night’ - the life-threatening rise of measles in the UK
15 Feb 2026 - By Mayeni Jones - The Guardian - It is one of the most infectious diseases around, and can cause blindness and hearing loss – and can also be fatal. Why are cases now soaring and what can be done about it?
Saijal Ladd’s week in hospital remains a blur. The very worst days still feel like a fog, punctuated by two nightmarish memories. First, attempting to speak to a consultant to discuss if she should be rushed to ICU, but being unable to form words through her breathlessness. And later, a family member’s exhausted face mouthing: “We almost lost you in the night.”
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Time to death and its predictors among adults living with HIV receiving ART in Ethiopia applying proportional hazard model
13 February 2026 - Nature - Abstract
Globally, more than 32.7 million AIDS-related deaths have occurred, and about 38 million people were living with HIV by the end of 2019, yet only half had access to ART. Despite Ethiopia’s long-standing ART program, evidence on mortality and its predictors remains limited in the study area, creating an information gap for policymakers. This study aimed to assess time to death and its predictors among adults living with HIV on ART at public health facilities, Northeast Ethiopia. A retrospective follow-up study was used among 602 study participants selected by simple random sampling method from clients enrolled for ART from July 8, 2010 to July 7, 2020 in public health facilities of Kemise town. Descriptive statistics was used to describe cohort characteristics and Kaplan–Meier analysis to estimate survival probability. Bi-variable and multivariable Cox-regression analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality. Hazard ratios along with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value ≤ 0.05. Among 602 ART naïve study cohort, 108 patients were died with cumulative incidence density of 4.14 (95% CI (3.43, 5.00) per 100 Person Year Observed (PYO). The predictors of mortality were rural residents [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.51, 95% CI (1.01, 2.28)], not taking co-trimoxazole prophylactic therapy(CPT) [AHR = 4.52, 95% CI (2.83, 7.21)], having co-morbidities [AHR = 1.64, 95% CI (1.06–2.55)], Patients with opportunistic infections (OIs) [AHR = 4.45, 95% CI (2.07, 9.59)], bedridden functional status [AHR = 3.21, 95% CI (1.52, 6.77)], unsuppressed viral load [AHR = 2.45, 95% CI (1.17, 5.10)], TB co-infection[AHR = 3.91, 95% CI (1.89, 8.08)], baseline CD4 count of ≤ 50 cell/mm3 [AHR = 2.87, 95% CI (1.28, 6.44)] and CD4 count of 51–200 cell/mm3 [AHR = 2.12, 95% CI (1.06, 4.24)]. Patients with opportunistic infections, rural residents, bedridden functional status, CD4 count of ≤ 50 cell/mm3 and 51–200 cell/mm3, TB co-infection, having comorbidities, not taking CPT and high viral load status had higher hazard of die from AIDS-related illnesses. Substantial efforts are required for the prevention, early identification, and treatment of opportunistic infections. Earlier ART initiation and expansion of services to rural areas are also highly recommended to reduce mortality among adults on ART.
Statement on the planned hepatitis B birth dose vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau
13 February 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine is an effective, and essential public health intervention, with a proven record. It prevents life-threatening liver disease by stopping mother-to-child transmission at birth. It has been used for over three decades, with more than 115 countries including it in their national schedules. Protecting newborns with a timely birth dose not only provides individual benefit but is also central to national and global elimination efforts.
Env-antibody coevolution identifies B cell priming as the principal bottleneck to HIV V2 apex broadly neutralizing antibody development
13 Feb 2026 - Science Immunology - Science - Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are rarely elicited during HIV-1 infection. To identify obstacles to bNAb development, we longitudinally studied 122 rhesus macaques infected by 1 of 16 different simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs). We identified the V2 apex region of the envelope (Env) as the most common bNAb target and a subset of Envs that preferentially elicited these antibodies. In 10 macaques, we delineated Env-antibody coevolution from B cell priming to bNAb development. Antibody phylogenies revealed permissive developmental pathways guided by evolving Envs that contained few mutations in or near the V2 apex C-strand, which were a sensitive indicator of apex-targeted responses. The absence of such mutations reflected a failure in bNAb priming. These results indicate that efficiency of B cell priming, and not complexities in Env-guided affinity maturation, is a primary obstacle to V2 apex bNAb elicitation in SHIV-infected macaques and identify specific HIV-1 Envs to advance as vaccine platforms.
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Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation
13 February 2026 - By Max Kozlov - Science - Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.
Staff members at the United States’s premier infectious-disease research institute have been instructed to remove the words “biodefense” and “pandemic preparedness” from the institute’s web pages, according to e-mails Nature has obtained.
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Anti-Marburg antibody from Vanderbilt Health sent to Ethiopia during outbreak
February 13, 2026 - By Bill Snyder - Vanderbilt Health News - There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines to protect against the infection, which can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and in roughly 50% of cases, death.
MBP091, an investigational, anti-Marburg virus antibody identified by Vanderbilt Health researchers and under development by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., was provided to Ethiopian health officials during that country’s first outbreak of the deadly viral infection late last year.
Nine people died and five recovered from Marburg virus disease during the outbreak, which began in mid-November in Ethiopia’s southern region. Successful containment of the outbreak was declared Jan. 26.
A close cousin of Ebola, another hemorrhagic virus, Marburg is transmitted by fruit bats and exposure to body fluids from infected individuals. There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines to protect against the infection, which can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and in roughly 50% of cases, death.
Broadway Cares Awards $3.2 Million to U.S. Food and Meal Delivery Programs
Feb. 13, 2026 - By Andrew Gans - PLAYBILL - Over 150 food service organizations around the country will benefit from the grants.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded a record $3,207,500 to 158 food pantries, meal delivery services, and congregate meal programs nationwide.
A committee of 19 actors and stage managers, who all played an integral role in Broadway Cares’ in-theatre fall fundraising, awarded the grants February 10. The 2026 grants eclipse the previous record, set last year at $2.9 million. Distributed annually, these grants mark the first round of Broadway Cares’ 2026 National Grants Program.
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America’s disease surveillance system is going dark. Here’s what we can build to replace it
Feb. 13, 2026 - By Allen Sinclair,and Stephen Stafford - STAT News - We can’t just wait for Washington to do the right thing
Part of the UK Aids memorial quilt has gone on show to mark the 40th anniversary of an HIV support group.
A study published recently in Annals of Internal Medicine confirmed what many clinicians had begun to suspect: Nearly half of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s regularly updated surveillance databases have gone dark. Of 82 databases that were updated at least monthly at the start of 2025, 38 have stopped — no new data, no explanation, no timeline for resumption. Eighty-seven percent of the paused databases are vaccination-related..
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Aids quilt display marks 40 years of HIV support
February 13 , 2026 - By Allen Sinclair,and Stephen Stafford - BBC - Part of the UK Aids memorial quilt has gone on show to mark the 40th anniversary of an HIV support group.
As part of the anniversary events for Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), six panels are being displayed at the University of Reading Students' Union.
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Gut Microbes Actively Support Immunity in People Living with HIV
February 12, 2026 - Weizmann Wonder Wander - Weizmann Institute of Science - A study conducted in Israel and Ethiopia, led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Hadassah, reveals that the microbiome partly compensates for the immune damage caused by the viral infection
The circumstances surrounding a study on a deadly virus could hardly have been more dramatic. One of its first authors was forced to flee his homeland when it became a war zone. More than two thousand kilometers away, the laboratory of a team leader was destroyed by a ballistic missile. Despite these setbacks, after nearly a decade of work in Ethiopia and Israel, the team has brought its findings to publication. Their study, appearing today in Nature Microbiology, shows that gut microbes help bolster immunity in people living with HIV – and that, one day, these microbes may be harnessed to protect this population from infections driven by immune deficiency.
The research was led by Prof. Eran Elinav, whose lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot was among those wrecked by an Iranian missile in June 2025, and by physician-scientist Prof. Hila Elinav, an expert in infectious diseases and head of the Hadassah AIDS Center in Jerusalem. The two are not only scientific collaborators but also husband and wife.
Health Canada approves Maviret for the treatment of acute hepatitis C infection
February 12, 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Until recently, hepatitis C treatments were only approved for use in Canada for chronic infections
Health Canada has approved the use of a direct-acting antiviral before the infection becomes chronic
This allows hepatitis C to be treated earlier, reducing wait times and avoiding liver damage
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection infects the liver and causes inflammation in this vital organ. In some people, the immune system is able to contain and destroy HCV during this initial, or acute, phase of infection. However, in cases where the immune system is not able to contain acute HCV, it becomes a chronic infection. Over time, healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Gradually, the liver becomes increasingly dysfunctional, and a variety of problems ensue. Some people develop persistent fatigue. Later, they can develop internal bleeding, fluid buildup in the abdomen and serious abdominal infections. Eventually, difficulty thinking clearly and problems with memory occur. As the liver becomes increasingly unable to filter the blood of waste products, the skin gradually turns yellow (jaundice). The risk of liver cancer increases as the amount of scar tissue expands. Thus, if HCV is left undiagnosed and untreated, it can result in death.
Physicians for Human Rights and Council for Global Equality Sue U.S. State Department for Release of Critical AIDS Relief Data
February 11, 2026 - Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) - Physicians for Human Rights and the Council for Global Equality filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to compel the U.S. Department of State to comply with the Freedom of Information Act
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Council for Global Equality (CGE) filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to compel the U.S. Department of State to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and release critical data and planning documents related to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward.
PAHO Urges Americas Region to Increase Measles Response
FEBRUARY 11, 2026 - By Susan Kreimer - Infectious Disease Special Edition (IDSE) - To curb transmission of measles and protect vulnerable groups, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an epidemiological alert for the Region of the Americas, urging nations to increase surveillance, vaccination, and swift outbreak response activities.
Kenneth Lackner Scholarship
FEBRUARY 11, 2026 - Ribbon Commuity - Ribbon Community will be awarding a Kenneth Lackner Scholarship of $2,500 in March 2026. This scholarship provides funding for education at a recognized, Canadian postsecondary education institution.
Kenneth Lackner worked as a bookkeeping assistant when Ribbon Community was AIDS Vancouver. When he died in 2017, Kenneth generously gifted AIDS Vancouver funds for this scholarship. We are grateful to Kenneth for making this scholarship possible, and all his contributions.
This scholarship was initially administered by the LOUD Foundation. In 2023, AIDS Vancouver began administering the scholarship independently.
 
We’re Still Here:
Honouring Every Voice, Every Journey
February 11, 2026 - The Reunion Project San Francisco Bay Area - A convening for long-term survivors of HIV and allies in the San Francisco Bay Area
Friday and Saturday, February 13-14, 2026
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
940 Howard Street (between 5th & 6th St.), San Francisco, CA
The Reunion Project, the alliance of HIV long-term survivors, will be hosting our next two-day community convening themed “We’re Still Here: Honoring Every Voice, Every Journey”.
Activities on both days will be held between 9am-5pm with sessions and community discussions addressing the health, wellness, and employment concerns of all individuals living and aging with HIV in the San Francisco Bay Area area.
Daniel O’Day
Feb 11, 2026 - By Alice Park - TIME - Advancing the fight against HIV
The HIV epidemic has been simmering for more than 40 years, and while anti-viral medications have saved millions of lives, there is still no vaccine to protect people from getting infected in the first place—crucial to eliminating the disease. Anti-HIV medications can reduce the risk of getting infected, but people need to take the oral medication daily, a barrier that prohibits many from taking advantage of the therapy. CEO Daniel O’Day’s team at Gilead changed that in June 2025, when its drug lenacapavir became the first twice-yearly medication approved by the U.S. FDA to prevent HIV infection.
Read more...
OraSure to Launch OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test in Canada
BETHLEHEM, Pa., Feb. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. - OraSure Technologies, Inc. (“OraSure”) (NASDAQ: OSUR), a leader in point-of-need and home diagnostic tests and sample management solutions, today announced its OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test has received a license from Health Canada for use in Canada.
The OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test is a point-of-care rapid antibody test. It is Canada’s first oral HIV self-test and detects antibodies for both HIV-1 and HIV-2, enabling individuals to find out their HIV status with a simple oral swab in as little as 20 minutes. The simplicity of the product makes it ideal for testing in a range of locations, including in the privacy of one’s home, at the pharmacy, or at community-based testing events.
Opposite effects of chronic HIV infection and antiretroviral medication on organismal and organ-specific biological aging
10 February 2026 - Nature - Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) on combination antiretroviral therapy have an elevated risk for aging-related non-AIDS comorbidities. We assess whether HIV infection accelerates biological aging in two independent cohorts of PWH using six organ-specific and three organism-wide aging clocks derived from plasma proteomics of healthy individuals. Proteomic age acceleration significantly correlates with DNA methylation age and is linked to comorbidities and mortality. HIV infection accelerates systemic biological aging, with Mendelian randomization demonstrating causality between organ aging and inflammatory or metabolic complications. Accelerated aging in PWH is further related to the total HIV reservoir, and specific antiretroviral drugs reduce age acceleration. These data reveal important causal effects between chronic HIV infection, antiretroviral medication, biological aging and age-associated diseases, highlighting targets for improving health span in PWH.
Oral HIV self-test approved for sale in Canada
Feb 10, 2026 - CBC News - CBC - Can give results in 20 minutes, company says, without blood sample
People in Canada have a new, less invasive way to test for HIV at home, following Health Canada's approval of an oral self-test.
U.S.-based OraSure Technologies said Tuesday its OraQuick HIV self-test has been greenlit for sale, making it the first of its kind approved in Canada.
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Pelosi Statement on Rescindment of Federal Health Funding for California
February 10, 2026 - Representative Nancy Pelosi | Nancy Pelosi - House.gov - Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on reports that the Trump Administration will rescind $600 million in federal funding for public health in California and three other states:
“The Trump Administration’s decision to rip $600 million in Congressionally appropriated public health funding from California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous.
Immigration and poverty tied to heightened HIV risk in the Netherlands
10 February 2026 - Krishen Samuel - aidsmap -There is a strong social gradient associated with HIV diagnoses in the Netherlands, Dr Vita Jongen from Stichting HIV Monitoring and colleagues report in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. People who are poorer or are first-generation immigrants are much more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, while intersections between poverty and migration further increase their vulnerability.
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TV stars unite to urge public to test for HIV, as new polling data shows only one in five have
9 February 2026 - Terrence Higgins Trust - During National HIV Testing Week anyone in England can order a free HIV test.
Famous faces from TV have endorsed National HIV Testing Week, which begins today [9 February]. The stars, including Charlene White from Loose Women, TV doctor Dr Ranj, and I Kissed a Boy’s Adam Williams, are encouraging the public to order a free HIV home test kit and know their HIV status.
The push comes as new polling data has revealed only 20% of adults in England say they have ever tested for HIV. One in five women (21%) said they had not tested because they had never been offered a test, while nearly three in ten men (29%) said that they had not tested because, although they had had condomless sex, they did not think their partners could have HIV.
Stopping Nipah Before It Spreads
Newswise - 9-Feb-2026 - By Tufts University - Tufts University - Following a recent outbreak in India, two Tufts University experts explain how Nipah virus moves from animals to people—and how smarter prevention can reduce future risk
In a world still feeling the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, news of a potential new viral threat can quickly raise alarm. That was the case following reports in India of a recent outbreak of Nipah virus, which causes an often-fatal disease with no approved vaccines or treatments.
Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats (Pteropus species), which do not become ill but can pass the virus to people or livestock through contaminated food or close contact. Once humans are infected, the virus can spread from person to person, usually through direct contact with bodily fluids while caring for someone who is seriously sick. In people, Nipah most often causes severe brain swelling, known as encephalitis, and sometimes respiratory illness.
Community spread drives ongoing measles transmission in Europe
9 Feb 2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - Preliminary data for 2025 show a significant drop in the number of reported measles cases across European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries compared with 2024. However, these figures are still twice as high than those reported in 2023. As the number of measles infections typically peaks during late winter and early spring, now is the time for everyone to check their measles vaccination status.
The latest monthly report from ECDC for December 2025 shows that between January and December 2025, 7 655 measles cases were reported by 30 countries. Eight of these individuals died following measles infection: four in France, three in Romania, and one in the Netherlands. While the total number of infections in 2025 represents a significant decrease compared with the more than 35 000 cases in 2024, it is almost double the cases reported in 2023.
The BC-CfE observes African, Caribbean and Black Canadian HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
February 7, 2022 - BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) - Today, February 7th, is the eighth annual African, Caribbean and Black Canadian HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This commemorative day helps raise awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS within Canada’s ACB communities and is also an opportunity to combat HIV-related stigma and fear.
Canada’s marking of this day was inspired by the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day observed in the U.S. since 1999.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD)
February 7, 2026 - CDC | National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention - At a glance
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to highlight the progress of HIV testing, prevention, and treatment efforts and consider our ongoing challenges to preventing HIV transmission among Black or African American people (hereafter referred to as Black people) in the United States. This year's theme, Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Communities.
Sustained Funding & Combating HIV/AIDS in Comoros
February 7, 2026 - The Borgen Project - HIV/AIDS in Comoros: A Fragile Success
HIV prevalence in Comoros remains below 1%, one of the lowest rates in sub-Saharan Africa. This success is largely due to early prevention strategies, cultural factors and donor-supported health programs. However, limited domestic health financing means that HIV/AIDS services depend heavily on external support for antiretroviral treatment (ART), testing services and public awareness campaigns. Any reduction in funding risks service disruption, increased transmission and setbacks to national health goals. Donor-supported programs have included nationwide HIV awareness campaigns, voluntary counseling and testing services and integration of HIV services into primary health care, all of which have contributed to maintaining low prevalence levels. Here is why sustained funding matters.
Ending the AIDS crisis is within reach – but the UK has to lead the way by not cutting key funding
07 February 2026 - The Independent - Aid cuts by the US, and planned cuts by the UK, risk undermining decades of progress and could put millions of lives in danger, writes Beccy Cooper
For more than three decades, the United Kingdom has stood at the forefront of the global fight against HIV and AIDS. At a time when the world faced one of the deadliest public health crises in history, UK development policy, funding, and diplomacy became a backbone of the international response.
Read more...
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: a time for action on many fronts
With Black Americans disproportionately affected by HIV, it's a day to encourage testing, prevention, and treatment but also to talk about systemic barriers.
Feb 07, 2026 - By Trudy Ring - ADVOCATE - Today, February 7, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The day, observed annually since 1999, highlights the importance of HIV prevention, routine testing, and early care for a population still disproportionately affected by the disease. Here’s what to know about HIV in the Black community.
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Black Women’s HIV Stories Have Long Been Undertold. This Magazine Hopes To Change That.
Feb 7, 2026 - By Njera Perkins - HuffPost - Still Here is on a mission to re-center the voices and experiences of Black women who have been disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS.
There was a time in the ’90s when it was pretty commonplace to hear a mention of HIV or AIDS in regular, everyday conversations. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for the subjects to come up in pop culture either — especially after public figures like Magic Johnson and Eazy-E came forward about their positive diagnoses, forcing many to confront an alarming crisis that had been unfolding since the early 1980s.
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From Measles to STIs: Infectious Diseases Winter Olympians Should Prepare For
February 6, 2026 - By Tayler Shaw - CU Anschutz News | University of Colorado Anschutz - CU Anschutz infectious diseases physician Shelley Kon, MD, explains how Olympians and fans can best protect themselves from illnesses.
At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, set to take place in northern Italy from February 6-22, it’s not just excitement and anticipation that can be contagious. With around 2,900 athletes competing and more than a million tickets sold, this global phenomenon can also pose a heightened risk of catching an infectious disease.
The flu, COVID, measles, norovirus, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the top conditions to look out for, warns Shelley Kon, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Medicine and medical director of infection prevention and control at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This is especially true for athletes who are temporarily living in Olympic Villages, she explains.
Canadian Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day — February 7
Ottawa - February 6, 2026 - AIDS Committee of Ottawa - Our Health. Our Voices. Our Future.
Saturday, February 7, 2026
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
19 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Join us as we centre Black communities, lived experience, and collective care at our Canadian Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day event.
This gathering is about connection, dialogue, and action—building a future where Black voices lead the conversation on HIV, health equity, and wellness.
We’re honoured to be joined by an incredible group of panellists
Congresswoman Waters Introduces Resolution to Honor National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 6, 2026 - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) - Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and a congressional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, introduced H.Res.1039 in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is observed every year on February 7. Her resolution is cosponsored by 29 of her congressional colleagues and endorsed by several HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations.
But what is Nipah virus, and how concerned should we be?
“National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day set aside to increase HIV awareness and enhance prevention, testing and treatment among African Americans,” said Congresswoman Waters. “It is a day to commemorate the impact of HIV/AIDS on Black Americans and encourage continued efforts to reduce the incidence of HIV, eliminate health disparities, improve access to care and treatment, and show support for all those who are living with HIV/AIDS.”
Black Americans are disproportionately criminalized for living with HIV. Here’s how
Through “heightened surveillance, arrest, and conviction,&rdquol Black Americans are more likely to be criminalized for their HIV.
February 6, 2026 - By Ryan Adamczeski - ADVOCATE - Black people in the U.S. aren’t just more likely to have HIV — they're more likely to be criminalized for it.
Black Americans accounted for about 38 percent of new HIV diagnoses and 39 percent of people living with HIV in 2023, according to a report from the Williams Institute, despite making up around 12 percent of the population.
Read more...
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2026
February 6, 2026 - By Trent Straube - POZ - #NBHAAD amplifies the facts that Black Americans are more likely than others to be affected by HIV as well as HIV criminalization.
Saturday, February 7, marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) 2026. It’s a time to recognize that Black Americans, notably those living in the South, face higher rates of HIV diagnoses than any other race or ethnic group.
The awareness day also amplifies efforts around HIV education, prevention, care and treatment. For example, the Williams Institute released a report on the disproportionate effects of HIV criminalization on Black Americans.
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As US cash dries up South Africa’s fight to stop Aids gets harder
February 6, 2026 - By Mayeni Jones - BBC - The impact of a flourish of the US president's pen in Washington a year ago continues to be felt on individual lives some 13,000km (8,000 miles) away in South Africa.
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How “invisible” vaccine scaffolding boosts HIV immune response
LA JOLLA, CA - 5-Feb-2026 -Scripps Research - Scripps Research scientists designed a DNA scaffold that carries HIV vaccine proteins into the body and sharpens the immune response against the virus.
One of the biggest hurdles in developing an HIV vaccine is coaxing the body to produce the right kind of immune cells and antibodies. In most vaccines, HIV proteins are attached to a larger protein scaffolding that mimics a virus. Then, a person’s immune system produces a range of antibodies that recognize different bits of those proteins. Often, however, some of those antibodies react not to HIV itself—but to the scaffold used to deliver the vaccine.
New approach to HIV treatment offers hope to reduce daily drug needs
February 05, 2026 - By Patty Zamora - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - Enhanced immune cells show promise in targeting viral reservoirs that current medications can’t eliminate
More than 30 million people with HIV must take antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications daily to keep the virus under control, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The drugs are effective but don’t eliminate the virus; HIV remains hidden in “reservoirs” throughout the body, ready to reactivate if treatment stops.
But researchers at Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, have made a significant breakthrough in HIV treatment. They’ve shown that NK (Natural Killer) cells—specialized immune cells that naturally target virus-infected and tumor cells—can be enhanced to better fight HIV infections.
What the World Needs to Know About Honoring Survival, Protecting Our Futures, and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Feb 4, 2026 - by Waheedah Shabazz-El - THE REUNION PROJECT - Each year on February 7, we observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—a day that calls us not only to raise awareness, but to tell the truth about HIV in Black communities. For The Reunion Project, this day is deeply personal. It is about survival. It is about remembrance. And it is about honoring the leadership of those who have lived through the epidemic and are still here.
Black communities continue to experience a disproportionate impact of HIV in the United States. These disparities did not happen by accident. They are the result of structural racism, inequitable access to healthcare, poverty, stigma, medical mistrust, and decades of neglect. Too often, the story is reduced to statistics, while the humanity of Black people living with HIV—especially long-term survivors—is overlooked.
Could these two genes make T cells unstoppable?
LA JOLLA - February 4, 2026 - Salk Institute for Biological Studies - Scientists discover “recipe” for reversing T cell exhaustion and restoring tumor-killing abilities
A multi-institutional study led by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and UC San Diego has uncovered new genetic rules that determine how immune cells, known as CD8 “killer” T cells, choose between becoming long-lasting, protective defenders or slipping into exhausted, dysfunctional states. Turning off just two of these genes allowed exhausted T cells to regain their tumor-killing capacity.
The findings, published in Nature on January 28, 2026, establish a predictive framework that can help scientists intentionally program T cells to sustain immune memory while preserving their ability to fight cancer and infections, with broad implications for cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease research.
Landmark HIV study shows scalable model for integrating depression care into HIV services in Uganda
ENTEBBE, UGANDA 3 February 2026 - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - A major study published in The Lancet HIV has shown that integrating structured depression care into routine HIV services can significantly and sustainably reduce depression among adults living with HIV in Uganda using a model designed for resource-constrained health systems.
The cluster-randomized controlled trial, conducted across 40 public HIV clinics in central and southwestern Uganda, evaluated the HIV+D intervention: a collaborative stepped-care model coordinated by trained lay counsellors and comprising psychoeducation, behavioural activation, antidepressant medication, and referral to a mental health worker when needed. Adults receiving HIV+D experienced substantially greater reductions in depression severity than those receiving enhanced usual HIV care.
LOLA YOUNG TO PERFORM AT 34TH ANNUAL ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION ACADEMY AWARDS® VIEWING PARTY
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION - Hosted by Elton John and David Furnish along with Co-Hosts Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, the Legendary Oscar Night Event Will Raise Funds to Support the Foundation’s Efforts to end AIDS
The Elton John AIDS Foundation today announced that GRAMMY® Award-winning, double-platinum selling British artist Lola Young will take the stage for a live performance at the 34th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party in West Hollywood, CA on March 15, 2026.
Fresh off her GRAMMY® win for Best Pop Solo Performance and five Brit Awards nominations, Young will perform some of her biggest hits during Hollywood's biggest night, bringing her raw storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and unmistakable edge to one of the most iconic events on the Oscars calendar.
Florida Health Department Retreats on HIV/AIDS Drug Cuts
CHICAGO--(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- February 3, 2026 - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - In a notice published earlier today, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) retreated on its decision to make cuts to the State’s AIDS drug program, which provides life-saving medications and health insurance support to over 30,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS. Alleging that an undocumented $120 million budget shortfall necessitated the cuts, the cuts to the program, originally scheduled to be enacted on March 1st, would adversely impact the life-saving care for over 16,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS.
The State will now go through formal rulemaking to make changes to the program. This comes after AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) brought suit alleging the Department violated the law by not going through this process.
Wistar Scientists Demonstrate First-Ever Single-Shot HIV Vaccine Neutralization Success
PHILADELPHIA — (TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 2026) - The Wistar Institute -Scientists at The Wistar Institute have developed an HIV vaccine candidate that achieves something never before observed in the field: inducing neutralizing antibodies against HIV after a single immunization in nonhuman primates. The innovative approach, published in Nature Immunology, could significantly shorten and simplify HIV vaccination protocols, making them more accessible worldwide.
The research, led by Amelia Escolano, Ph.D., assistant professor in Wistar’s Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center and the senior author of the study, centers on an engineered HIV envelope protein, WIN332, that challenges scientific assumptions about how to design an effective HIV vaccine.
93 Countries Worldwide at Risk of Losing Nearly 23 Million More People by 2030
BARCELONA, NEW YORK | February 2, 2026 - The Rockefeller Foundation - ISGlobal, supported by Rockefeller Foundation, analyzed impact of severe global aid cuts in 38 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, 21 in Asia, 12 in Latin America, 12 in MENA, and 10 in Europe
New study published in The Lancet finds slashing global aid, particularly by U.S. and European countries, will reverse decades of progress in fighting diseases
The Lancet Global Health published a new peer-reviewed study today by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which warns that a precipitous drop in global aid could lead to 22.6 million additional deaths by 2030 across 93 low- and middle- income countries, including 5.4 million children under the age of five. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity RF Catalytic Capital, the analysis demonstrates that Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for 38 of the 93 countries analyzed, is particularly at risk, and with 21 of the countries in Asia, 12 in Latin America, 12 in the Middle East and North Africa, and 10 in Europe, including Ukraine, severe cuts to official development assistance (ODA) could be felt globally. ISGlobal’s research also reveals that over the course of 2002-2021, ODA helped reduce child mortality by 39%; prevent HIV/AIDS deaths by 70%, with a 56% reduction in deaths from both malaria and nutritional deficiencies; and increased additional global health outcomes in these 93 countries, which are home to 75% of the world’s population.
ACTION ALERT: Urge the House to Pass 2026 Spending Bill to Fund HIV Programs
February 1, 2026 - By Save HIV Funding- POZ - Also demand that your representative limit funding of the Department of Homeland Security. Here’s how to call and what to say.
On Friday evening, January 30, the Senate passed a 5 bill Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) spending package that includes funding for global and domestic HIV programs! As a result of substantial pressure from constituents and advocacy groups nationwide, the White House, Senate Republican Leadership, and Senate Democrats agreed to limit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding to two weeks. During this two-week period, the White House and Congress are expected to develop an agreement on DHS oversight and policy changes related to ICE and immigration enforcement.
The Senate bill must now go back to the House of Representatives for final passage, with a vote in the House maybe as early as Monday, February 2. We need your help now!
Read more...
Cambodia reports 30% drop in AIDS-related deaths as kingdom pursues 2030 target
February 1, 2026 - Khmer Times - The report detailed that 697 people died from the disease in 2025, comprising 688 adults and nine children. This downward trend marks a milestone for the Southeast Asian nation as it intensifies efforts to eliminate the virus as a public health threat by the end of the decade.
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