‘AIDS’ gives inside view of science, politics of epidemic
In new book, HIV expert explores events that shaped the spread and response to AIDS
By Beth Mole
AIDS: Between Science and Politics
Peter Piot
Columbia Univ. Press, $29.95
If by some marvel of medicine, doctors could instantaneously halt the spread of HIV, about 35 million people would still be infected with the virus. All of them would need expensive antiretroviral treatment for decades. And in that time frame, millions of kids would still be orphaned by AIDS.
The somber fantasy seems even more grim given that the virus is still spreading unabated through some high-risk populations, discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation still bolsters infection in many places, and making drugs available to patients requires seemingly never-ending fund-raising. The fight against HIV and AIDS is far from over, writes Piot in his new book.