“This news gives us great hope that a cure for HIV in children is possible and could bring us one step closer to an AIDS-free generation,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “This also underscores the need for research and innovation, especially in the area of early diagnostics.”
In 2011 UNAIDS and its partners launched a global plan for the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive. Significant progress has been made and continued support and research are needed.
“While we wait for these results to be confirmed with further research, it is potentially great news,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “This case also demonstrates what we already know—it is vital to test newborn babies at risk as soon as possible.”
According to World Health Organization and UNICEF data, only 28 percent of HIV-exposed babies were tested for HIV within six weeks of birth in 2010. Obstacles to early diagnosis and treatment include the high cost of diagnostics and difficulty of getting timely results and limited access to services and medicines. There were 330,000 children newly infected with HIV in 2011. At the end of 2011, 28 percent of children under the age of 15 living with HIV are on HIV treatment, compared to 54 percent of eligible adults.
Now two and a half years old, the toddler continues to thrive without antiretroviral therapy and has no identifiable levels of HIV. However, UNAIDS cautions that more studies need to be conducted to understand the outcomes and whether the current findings can be replicated.
http://www.unicefusa.org/news/releases/unaids-unicef-baby-hiv-aids-functionally-cured.html