Cuba Stops Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

[Socialist]

Cuba is the first country in the world to stop the transmission of the AIDS virus from mothers to their babies, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Cuba's also stopped the transmission of syphilis from mothers to newborns -- two feats that show it's possible to control epidemics of both infections.

"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. "This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation."

"ELIMINATING TRANSMISSION OF A VIRUS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS POSSIBLE."

Babies can be infected with HIV at birth or by breastfeeding if the mother is infected. If the mother gets HIV drugs before and after giving birth, and if the newborn is given drugs, the risk falls to less than 1 percent.

But that means the mother must have been tested and know she is infected, and of course the drugs must be available.

WHO estimates that 1.4 million women with HIV become pregnant every year. Without treatment, there's as much as a 45 percent chance that they will infect their newborns.

Cuba Stops Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission - NBC News

 

[Delta4Embassy]

I'm not a physician so maybe I missed the point. But isn't all they did was give anti-HIV meds to the newborn as a profilactic? And isn't that just "hey, what would happen if we did this?"

 

[DarkFury]

I'm not a physician so maybe I missed the point. But isn't all they did was give anti-HIV meds to the newborn as a profilactic? And isn't that just "hey, what would happen if we did this?"

WE did do it, a little over a year ago. The Aussies DID it TWO years ago.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Cuba is the first country in the world to stop the transmission of the AIDS virus from mothers to their babies, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Cuba's also stopped the transmission of syphilis from mothers to newborns -- two feats that show it's possible to control epidemics of both infections.

"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. "This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation."

"ELIMINATING TRANSMISSION OF A VIRUS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS POSSIBLE."

Babies can be infected with HIV at birth or by breastfeeding if the mother is infected. If the mother gets HIV drugs before and after giving birth, and if the newborn is given drugs, the risk falls to less than 1 percent.

But that means the mother must have been tested and know she is infected, and of course the drugs must be available.

WHO estimates that 1.4 million women with HIV become pregnant every year. Without treatment, there's as much as a 45 percent chance that they will infect their newborns.

Cuba Stops Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission - NBC News

When are you hopping on an inner tube bound for Cuba?

 

[Political Junky]

Cuba is the first country in the world to stop the transmission of the AIDS virus from mothers to their babies, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Cuba's also stopped the transmission of syphilis from mothers to newborns -- two feats that show it's possible to control epidemics of both infections.

"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. "This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation."

"ELIMINATING TRANSMISSION OF A VIRUS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS POSSIBLE."

Babies can be infected with HIV at birth or by breastfeeding if the mother is infected. If the mother gets HIV drugs before and after giving birth, and if the newborn is given drugs, the risk falls to less than 1 percent.

But that means the mother must have been tested and know she is infected, and of course the drugs must be available.

WHO estimates that 1.4 million women with HIV become pregnant every year. Without treatment, there's as much as a 45 percent chance that they will infect their newborns.

Cuba Stops Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission - NBC News

When are you hopping on an inner tube bound for Cuba?

You're so yesterday.
Havana anyone JetBlue launches direct flights from New York City. video - CSMonitor.com