Australia declared on Monday the Aids epidemic is no longer a public health issue there, a month after the United Nations adopted an ambitious target to eliminate the threat globally by 2030.
The government-backed Australian Federation of Aids Organisations (AFAO) and top scientists said the number of people being diagnosed with Aids in Australia was now so small it was no longer reported.
Australia is incredibly fortunate to be in the position and its because of farsighted government policy
Aids cases in Australia peaked in 1994, at 953 cases, according to the Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society.
Since then, following the introduction of antiretroviral treatment, that prevent Aids developing in people who are infected with the HIV virus, and awareness campaigns, Aids diagnoses have declined sharply.
“Australia is incredibly fortunate to be in the position and its because of farsighted government policy,” said Darryl O’Donnell, chief executive AFAO.
“We had community organisations of gay men, sex workers and drug users doing outreach campaigns that were extraordinarily effective,” O’Donnell said.