Bad science and bogus treatments

Not everything you hear about HIV and AIDS is true. As well as inaccurate information and flawed scientific studies, there are miracle cures, conspiracy theories and AIDS denialism.

 

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  • Myths and facts

    There's a lot of misunderstanding and HIV and AIDS. Not everything you hear about HIV and AIDS is true.Some of the myths are about how...

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Bad science and bogus treatments news from aidsmap

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Bad science and bogus treatments news selected from other sources

  • ‘You don’t have AIDS’: RT documentary takes on Russia’s top HIV denialist

    The spread of HIV/AIDS in Russia is often called an epidemic, but the fight against the disease has a peculiar enemy: denialists who say it's all a hoax. They aren't just bloggers and celebrities, but influential medics too.

    01 July 2019 | Russia Today

  • Low trust in vaccines 'a global crisis'

    Public mistrust of vaccines means the world is taking a step backwards in the fight against deadly yet preventable infectious diseases, warn experts. A Wellcome Trust analysis includes responses from more than 140,000 people in over 140 countries. Eastern Europe was the world region most sceptical of vaccines, with only 50% of people confident vaccines were safe, with Western Europe in second place, at 59%. People in France were also among the most likely to disagree that vaccines were effective, at 19%, and to disagree that vaccines were important for children to have, at 10%. The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health.

    19 June 2019 | BBC

  • 2 Chinese Babies With Edited Genes May Face Higher Risk Of Premature Death

    There are new concerns about the world's first genetically modified babies. It appears that the genetic variation a Chinese scientist was trying to re-create when he edited twin girls' DNA may be more harmful than helpful to health overall, according to a study published Monday.

    04 June 2019 | NPR

  • Russia wants to make HIV/Aids denialism illegal to halt epidemic

    Denialists have been gaining attention in country where treatment rates are already low.

    07 May 2019 | The Guardian

  • He Jiankui's gene editing experiment ignored other HIV strains

    He Jiankui's claim that he gave two girls lifetime immunity from HIV ignored the existence of HIV strains that circumvent the gene he edited.

    15 April 2019 | STAT

  • Planner sentenced for role in £60m 'HIV cure' investment scam

    Two fraudsters who attempted to steal more than £60m through a fraudulent tax avoidance investment scheme claiming to invest in HIV research have been jailed for a total of 14 and a half years.

    26 February 2019 | Financial Planning Today

  • A Cure for HPV? Not So Fast…

    Can photodynamic therapy eliminate the virus than causes cervical, anal and oral cancer?

    11 February 2019 | Poz

  • Zimbabwe pastor Walter Magaya convicted over 'HIV cure'

    A court in Zimbabwe has convicted a popular self-styled prophet of fraud and fined him $700 (£540) for falsely claiming he had a herbal cure for HIV and Aids. Walter Magaya earlier pleaded guilty to contravening the Medicines Control Act by selling an unapproved drug.

    06 February 2019 | BBC News

  • Quest to Solve Assassination Mystery Revives an AIDS Conspiracy Theory

    A former militia member claims that his organization used phony vaccinations in the early 1990s to spread H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, in an attempt to wipe out the black population in South Africa. Scientists immediately cast doubt on the claim, which they called medically dubious.

    28 January 2019 | New York Times

  • China confirms birth of gene-edited babies, blames scientist He Jiankui for breaking rules

    Official Xinhua news agency says preliminary investigations revealed that scientist had acted on his own and forged review papers

    21 January 2019 | South China Morning Post
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Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.