Despite the great progress in medical science, there is no cure for HIV so far and Pakistan has an estimated 97,000 HIV infected people which were around 74,000 in 2001. Situation is becoming alarming in Pakistan and at present biggest problem is HBV and HCV infection as 7.4 percent Pakistani population is infected with Hepatitis B and C.
Talking to APP President National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) Aftab Ahmed said "We also should not forget HIV as it could be much severe in future and at present we are not sure about exact number of cases of HIV infection in Pakistan".
AIDS progressively result in reduction of effectiveness of immune response and as a result the infected person becomes more susceptible to infections and cancers. He said the major routes of HIV transmission are unsafe sex, blood transfusion, use of contaminated needles, from infected mother to child during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth, breast feeding etc.
Health care professionals, homosexuals, barbers, sex workers, and intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at high risk for HIV Infection, he went on to add. He was of the view that people with AIDS are also more prone to develop various cancers ie cervical cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphomas.
An infected person does not show any symptom after HIV infection and generally it takes few years for the symptoms to appear. The average time of AIDS progression from HIV infection is 9 to 10 years. The symptoms of AIDS are usually the same as of any systemic infection (Fever, swollen glands, sweats, weakness, chill and weight loss).
Aftab Ahmed said since the discovery of the virus no effective vaccine has been prepared against it mainly due to rapid mutations in viral genome. According to UNAIDS reports, 60 million people have been infected with HIV so far that resulted in 25 million deaths. 33.4 million people are living with HIV around the world.
The maximum numbers of HIV infected people are living in South Africa, Nigeria and India respectively. Scientist Aftab Ahmed stressed to adopt policies to stop HIV infection in Pakistan and asked the stakeholders to play active role by starting awareness campaign at all levels.