OPINION: Global health community must recognize merits of HIV treatment as prevention

"Many interesting research questions now lie ahead. But most urgent will be the assessment of the practical impact of these findings and their public health importance in generalised epidemics," according to a Lancet editorial about last week's release of study results showing early HIV treatment dramatically reduces transmission risk. "Another immediate issue will be to reflect these findings in ongoing and future prevention trials," the Lancet adds. 

"Findings now need to be translated into policy and action," the editorial states, calling for PEPFAR and the Global Fund "to reassess their prevention portfolios ... There is now an ethical imperative for guidelines to be revised to start treatment much earlier than recommended" (5/21).