Health journalists covering the HIV global epidemic over the years have had a head start in covering the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been similar challenges in understanding and translating the science – underpinning the immunology, virology and epidemiology, and getting to grips with the genomic sequencing of the HI Virus and that of SARS-CoV-2.
Knowledge of the clinical trials process for drugs and vaccines have put health journalists at the head of the pack.
Similarly, they will have understood the importance and value of engaging with credible sources from the scientific community as well as knowing which online sites to trust.
HIV has been with us for decades, and the challenge of keeping the story alive and impactful continues. Many countries continue to face new COVID-19 waves, with not enough of their citizens vaccinated. The story will not disappear soon.
Importantly, the early battle for access to cheap, generic antiretroviral drug access for people in the global South is being mirrored with the inequitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for low-income countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic has similarities and differences to the AIDS global epidemic.
Similarities:
- Both viruses are examples of zoonosis. They originated from animals and are now able to infect humans. Most research suggests that both viruses become transmissible to humans following consumption of animals with the original infection.
- During the early days of the HIV global epidemic and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, most of the world’s governments responded with denial, downplaying, delayed responses, and neglect. Both have instilled great fear in the population, caused disruption of everyday life, and led to the deaths of many people.
- Both have been characterized by misinformation, disinformation (conspiracies, myths, and rumours), and mistrust in governments and health systems.
- Both have shown a diminished trust in science.
- Both have led to discrimination and stigmatisation of those infected and marginalised communities.
- Both need public compliance. Containing SARS-CoV-2 depends on following protocols such as testing, physical distancing and wearing masks. Similarly, people with HIV, or those who suspect exposure to the virus, test for an infection and receive treatment to lower their viral load to reduce symptoms and the risk of transmission. Behaviours such as proper condom use and not sharing needles can also reduce transmission.
- There are several treatment options for HIV and emergency approval has been given for a few COVID-19 medicines (e.g., Dexamethasone), studies are ongoing into treatment option for COVID-19.
Differences:
- HIV is a retrovirus and SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus.
- Transmission: HIV spreads through the exchange of various bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, meaning the virus may be transmitted through respiratory droplets via coughing, sneezing, or talking.
- There are vaccines that can give sufficient immunity against COVID-19. There is no vaccine for HIV or AIDS.
- Another significant difference between HIV and SARS-CoV-2 is their timelines. While positive cases and deaths from HIV and AIDS continue worldwide, the spread of HIV since its discovery in the 1980s is slow compared with COVID-19’s millions of cases since its identification in late 2019.