The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today officially changed the name of AIDS.gov, the federal government’s leading source for information about HIV, to HIV.gov. The announcement coincides with the 36th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s first report of the initial cases of what would become known as AIDS.
The name change reflects major scientific advances that have transformed an almost universally fatal disease to a condition that, if diagnosed and treated early and continuously, can be controlled and prevented from progressing to AIDS. In fact, there are more people living with HIV in the United States now than people living with AIDS.
In 2016, more than 8 million people used the AIDS.gov website and its social media channels to find information about HIV or to find HIV-related programs and services, including HIV testing, medical care and treatment. The name change also embraces the way most people now search online for information about the disease. “HIV” is a much more common Internet search term than “AIDS.”
“The shift to HIV.gov is proactive and inclusive, and it sends a strong, supportive message to the 1.1 million people across America who are living with HIV,†said Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC”s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. “The number of annual HIV infections in the U.S. fell 18 percent between 2008 and 2014, but progress has not been the same for all communities. HIV.gov will deliver current science, accurate information and links to effective resources for the people who need them most.”
WHO updates Essential Medicines list with new advice on use of antibiotics
New advice on which antibiotics to use for common infections and which to preserve for the most serious circumstances is among the additions to the WHO Model list of essential medicines for 2017. Other additions include medicines for HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and leukemia.
The updated list adds 30 medicines for adults and 25 for children, and specifies new uses for 9 already-listed products, bringing the total to 433 drugs deemed essential for addressing the most important public health needs. The WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) is used by many countries to increase access to medicines and guide decisions about which products they ensure are available for their populations.
