Prevention and treatment for HIV infection and AIDS

Even though HIV is preventable through effective public health measures, the HIV epidemic persists largely unchanged in the countries of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) – with around 30 000 newly reported diagnoses every year.

ECDC estimates that around 810 000 people are currently living with HIV in the EU/EEA – of which 122 000 (15%) are not aware of their infection.

If diagnosed and treated early enough, people can live long and healthy lives with HIV. To reach the estimated 15% who are not aware of their infection, Europe needs to increase efforts to promote and facilitate more testing for HIV. And link those diagnosed to care.

Response should be strengthened and tailored to each country’s specific needs in order to control the HIV epidemic in Europe. This includes implementation of targeted, evidence-based HIV prevention programmes for key populations who are most at risk but might not be reached by (or are not responding to) current interventions like men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and migrants from countries with generalised epidemics.

HIV testing

The HIV epidemic in the European Union and European Economic Area shows one persistent trend: almost every second person diagnosed with HIV is a so-called late presenter in an advanced stage of HIV infection when their immune system already starts to fail.

This high proportion of late diagnoses observed during the last decade suggests problems with access to, and uptake of, HIV testing and counselling in many countries.

A quick and simple blood test will tell if one is infected or not – knowledge that can help protect their own health and that of others.

Why is testing important?

There is no cure for HIV but early diagnosis allows access to lifesaving treatment. At the same time, effective treatment leads to an undetectable viral load and this practically eliminates the risk of transmitting HIV further
Early diagnosis prolongs healthy life and reduces cost to the healthcare system;
To protect partners and unborn children: HIV transmission can be prevented once status is known.

Where to test?

With the European Test Finder, it only takes a few seconds to locate a testing site near you.

European test finder

HIV treatment

Treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) enables people with HIV infection to live a long, healthy and productive life. It also reduces their viral load significantly and this has been shown to be important in preventing onward transmission of HIV.

The effectiveness of HIV treatment depends on starting treatment early and adhering to it. Retention in care is essential to improve adherence and to correctly monitor the health of people who are on treatment.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an antiretroviral therapy-based HIV prevention strategy to prevent or at least reduce the risk of HIV infection in adults who have not been infected with the virus but are at high risk of infection.

Use of antiretroviral medication for PrEP has been approved in the European Union. As an additional prevention option it has the potential to reduce HIV transmission and contribute to reversing the increase in new infections in Europe.