https://www.aidsmap.com/ en https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/sep-2026/aidsmap-supporter-survey aidsmap is one of the world’s most trusted sources of information about HIV. Whether you come to aidsmap for the latest news, use it in your work, or rely on it to support your health, we’d love to hear more about you.  Tell us what you think of aidsmap and what we can do to keep it freely available to everyone who needs it.  This survey takes about five minutes. Every question is optional, and your answers help shape the future of the site.  https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/sep-2026/aidsmap-supporter-survey News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/community-based-hiv-services-are-crucial-venezuelan-migrants-colombia Nearly 7% of a large group of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia tested positive for HIV, according to a presentation by José Guillen from Red Somos at the recent 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) held in Rio de Janeiro. Most were linked to treatment and were able to achieve viral suppression, despite administrative and legal barriers. Krishen Samuel https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/community-based-hiv-services-are-crucial-venezuelan-migrants-colombia News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/scourge-lgbtq-criminalisation-moving-across-african-countries-and-its-impact-hiv “The evidence is overwhelming: criminalisation does not prevent HIV – it fuels it,” Immaculate Owomugisha Bazare, Director of the Centre for Women Justice, Uganda, said in a plenary presentation at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) held in Rio de Janeiro recently. Krishen Samuel https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/scourge-lgbtq-criminalisation-moving-across-african-countries-and-its-impact-hiv News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/lean-people-hiv-can-still-develop-fatty-liver-disease Lean people who are classified as having normal weight according to body mass index (BMI) may still develop fatty liver disease and its complications, and those living with HIV may be at higher risk, according to study findings presented last week at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro. “Normal BMI does not exclude clinically relevant liver disease in HIV,” said Florence Bascombe, a senior research nurse at University College London. Liz Highleyman https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/lean-people-hiv-can-still-develop-fatty-liver-disease News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/new-class-drugs-could-sharpen-bodys-immune-response-hiv A new class of drugs called CD4 mimetics could be used to sensitise the immune system to HIV, the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro heard last week. It is becoming clear that broadly neutralising antibodies, whether infused as a drug or generated by a vaccine, may not be sufficient to cure HIV, or even to lead to long-term remission off antiretroviral therapy. Gus Cairns https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/new-class-drugs-could-sharpen-bodys-immune-response-hiv News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/racism-remains-central-driver-global-hiv-epidemics At the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) held in Rio de Janeiro last week, a special session was devoted to racism as a driver of HIV outcomes. Krishen Samuel https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/racism-remains-central-driver-global-hiv-epidemics News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/chemsex-everywhere-often-invisible-and-unaddressed A series of presentations at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil had the title 'Chemsex everywhere: Interventions across contexts,' which encapsulated two realities. Gus Cairns https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/chemsex-everywhere-often-invisible-and-unaddressed News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/doxypep-linked-reduction-syphilis-and-chlamydia-among-gay-men-australia Rates of syphilis and chlamydia fell substantially among men who have sex with men after the introduction of doxyPEP guidance in Australia, though there was not a corresponding decline in gonorrhoea, according to a report last week at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro. Liz Highleyman https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/doxypep-linked-reduction-syphilis-and-chlamydia-among-gay-men-australia News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/could-leronlimab-ccr5-blocker-be-used-facilitate-stem-cell-transplant-cures-hiv The 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro last week heard about two more cases of HIV remission in people who had received stem cell transplants for leukaemia. These procedures had also cured their HIV, apparently by replacing all the cells in their body capable of producing HIV with non-infected cells. Gus Cairns https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/could-leronlimab-ccr5-blocker-be-used-facilitate-stem-cell-transplant-cures-hiv News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/returning-hiv-care-does-not-erase-effects-treatment-interruption-studies-show People with HIV in South Africa are ten times more likely to develop tuberculosis while interrupting treatment than while taking it, the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro heard last week. Even after resuming treatment and achieving viral suppression, their risk stayed 50% higher. Edith Magak https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/returning-hiv-care-does-not-erase-effects-treatment-interruption-studies-show News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/enhanced-access-diagnostic-screening-improves-care-advanced-hiv Two studies presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) last week show that wider access to diagnostic testing and consistent implementation of screening guidance could each improve the diagnosis of opportunistic infections in people with low CD4 counts. World Health Organization (WHO) guidance recommends that all people with HIV should receive a CD4 cell test at diagnosis or when re-engaging with care after a treatment gap. Keith Alcorn https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/enhanced-access-diagnostic-screening-improves-care-advanced-hiv News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/alternative-first-line-hiv-regimen-limits-excess-weight-gain Starting treatment with a regimen containing doravirine and tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) resulted in less weight gain than starting treatment with a regimen containing dolutegravir and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a South African study reported this week at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Keith Alcorn https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/alternative-first-line-hiv-regimen-limits-excess-weight-gain News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/new-us-hiv-agreements-leave-civil-society-and-key-populations-sidelines The United States is “changing the model, not the mission” of its global HIV programmes, Jeff Graham, acting US Global AIDS Coordinator, told a pre-conference session organised by the US government at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro on 26 July. Minutes into his presentation, activists took the stage chanting “You lie, people die, restore PEPFAR now.” Edith Magak https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/new-us-hiv-agreements-leave-civil-society-and-key-populations-sidelines News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/fijis-perfect-hiv-storm Fiji – a country that would not have been on the agenda at a major HIV conference a decade ago – is now home to the world’s fastest growing HIV epidemic, driven mainly by people injecting methamphetamine (meth). “It’s important to talk about what’s happening in Fiji, as it can happen anywhere in the world,” said Dr Jason Mitchell, the head of Fiji’s National HIV Outbreak Cluster Response Task Force at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Krishen Samuel https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/aug-2026/fijis-perfect-hiv-storm News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/two-more-people-cured-hiv-after-stem-cell-transplants-offering-more-clues-long-term Two more people appear to be free of HIV after stem cell transplants for cancer treatment, according to case presentations this week at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro. If they remain in remission, they will be the 12th and 13th cases of a cure after the procedure. Liz Highleyman https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/two-more-people-cured-hiv-after-stem-cell-transplants-offering-more-clues-long-term News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/over-40-ugandan-mothers-whose-infants-acquired-hiv-were-only-diagnosed-while More than four in ten mothers of infants who acquired HIV in Uganda were not diagnosed until they were already breastfeeding, according to a national clinical audit presented this week at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro. Edith Magak https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/over-40-ugandan-mothers-whose-infants-acquired-hiv-were-only-diagnosed-while News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/pepfar-cuts-close-key-population-services-and-accelerate-decline-childrens-hiv Cuts in US overseas funding for HIV treatment and prevention have led to widespread closure of community-based services and services for key populations, according to a survey of organisations that had been receiving US funds, presented this week at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Keith Alcorn https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/pepfar-cuts-close-key-population-services-and-accelerate-decline-childrens-hiv News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/promise-monthly-oral-pill-sparks-renewed-interest-post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep An unexpected but welcome development at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio was the reappearance of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV as a subject for scientific study and funding. Gus Cairns https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/promise-monthly-oral-pill-sparks-renewed-interest-post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/once-weekly-islatravir-lenacapavir-combination-pill-maintains-hiv-viral-suppression A once-weekly single-tablet regimen containing islatravir and lenacapavir maintained viral suppression in people with HIV who switched from standard daily oral treatment, according to a pair of studies presented yesterday at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro. Liz Highleyman https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/once-weekly-islatravir-lenacapavir-combination-pill-maintains-hiv-viral-suppression News about aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/islatravir-plus-ulonivirine-shows-promise-weekly-oral-hiv-treatment An experimental combination pill containing islatravir and ulonivirine shows promise as a weekly oral treatment option, according to study results presented yesterday at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro. Daily antiretroviral treatment is usually highly effective, but some people have trouble taking a pill every day. Oral medications that can be taken once a week could help relieve ‘pill fatigue’ and improve adherence for those who do not wish to use long-acting injectables. Liz Highleyman https://www.aidsmap.com/news//news/jul-2026/islatravir-plus-ulonivirine-shows-promise-weekly-oral-hiv-treatment News about aidsmap