News outlets discuss findings from a new UNAIDS report, titled Fast-Track to end AIDS by 2030 and released ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1.

Agence France-Presse: Doubling numbers on HIV drugs could ‘break’ epidemic: U.N.
“The U.N. on Tuesday urged countries to ‘break the AIDS epidemic’ by doubling the number of people receiving HIV treatment within the next five years. In a new report, UNAIDS hailed ‘extraordinary’ progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS over the past 15 years, insisting the world had a chance of meeting the U.N. goal of eliminating AIDS as a global health threat by 2030…” (11/24).

The Economist: The latest report from UNAIDS shows great progress against the disease
“…Crucially, viral-load suppression [through effective treatment] not only stops the life-threatening symptoms of AIDS appearing, but also makes it much less likely that an infected individual will pass the virus on. This, plus other transmission-breaking techniques — male circumcision (which is 60 percent protective), the use of condoms and even prophylactic drug treatment for those at particular risk — is expected to continue bringing the new-infection rate down sharply over the next five years…” (11/24).

The Guardian: More than 15m people on life-saving HIV drugs, report says
“…A new report from UNAIDS shows that the numbers on life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medication have doubled in five years from 7.5 million in 2010 to 15.8 million. ‘Every five years we have more than doubled the number of people on life-saving treatment,’ said Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS. ‘We need to do it just one more time to break the AIDS epidemic and keep it from rebounding’…” (Boseley, 11/24).

Reuters: Almost 16 million on HIV treatment as AIDS pandemic tide turns
“…By the end of 2014, 36.9 million people were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, and more than half of them do not have access to treatment. The World Health Organization says all people diagnosed as HIV-positive should have immediate access to antiretroviral AIDS drugs, which hold the virus in check and give patients a good chance of a long and relatively healthy life…” (Kelland/Nebehay, 11/24).