Rise in HIV – False Belief in Cure

September 29, 2007 |  by Jenn Ackerman  |  HIV & AIDS, News, journalism, photography, photojournalism  | 

One of the significant reasons I began my research and documentary work on HIV & AIDS was the fact that many falsely believe that 1) the symptoms of HIV are not as bad as they used to be, 2) it is not a risk in America anymore and 3) there is a cure… all of which are false, unfortunately.

An article on BBC News from this past week addresses the relationship between this rise in HIV and false belief:

A false belief among young HIV patients that the virus can be cured is fueling a rise in infection levels, a specialist has claimed.

The Terrence Higgins Trust says the number of HIV infections has more than doubled in the last six years.

According to the Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity for HIV sufferers, the number of people with the virus has risen from 30,000 in 2001 to 70,000 this year.

The poll of 1,000 people found more than 20% of people aged 18 to 24 mistakenly thought there was a cure for HIV.



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