Hyderabad: Misleading claims about mandatory HIV testing in Karnataka colleges have once again put HIV in the national spotlight.

While health authorities have clarified that the reports were based on a misinterpretation of programme data and that HIV testing remains voluntary, the discussion has also drawn attention to a more important reality.

570,000 deaths from HIV-related illnesses in 2025

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HIV continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives globally every year. In 2025 alone, an estimated 570,000 people died from HIV-related illnesses, while another 1.2 million people acquired the infection.

Despite four decades of scientific progress, there is still no cure for HIV.

However, doctors say early diagnosis and timely treatment have transformed HIV from a life-threatening disease into a manageable chronic condition for millions of people.

HIV is not the same as AIDS

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the body’s immune system by damaging white blood cells that fight infections. If left untreated, HIV can gradually progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of the infection.

This distinction is important because people diagnosed early and treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can live long, healthy lives without ever developing AIDS.

At the end of 2025, an estimated 41 million people were living with HIV worldwide, according to WHO. Since the epidemic began, HIV-related illnesses have claimed an estimated 44.2 million lives.

How HIV spreads and how it doesn’t

HIV spreads through specific body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It can also be transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

It does not spread through hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, using the same toilet, coughing, sneezing or casual contact. These misconceptions continue to fuel stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

Another important fact is that people living with HIV who take ART consistently and achieve an undetectable viral load do not transmit the virus to their sexual partners.

Symptoms may not appear for weeks

Many people infected with HIV do not develop symptoms immediately. Some experience flu-like illness in the first few weeks, including fever, sore throat, headache or rash.

As the immune system weakens, untreated HIV can lead to swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, persistent fever, diarrhoea and cough. Without treatment, it can increase the risk of serious infections such as tuberculosis and certain cancers.

Informed consent must for testing

The recent discussion around Karnataka also highlighted an important legal and medical principle.

Under India’s HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, HIV testing cannot be made mandatory.

Testing should only be conducted after counselling and with informed consent.

WHO also recommends voluntary HIV testing, especially for people who may have been exposed to the virus. Rapid tests can provide same-day results, while HIV self-testing has expanded access to screening.

A positive screening result should always be confirmed by a trained healthcare professional.

Prevention has evolved beyond condoms

While consistent condom use remains an effective method of prevention, HIV prevention has expanded significantly in recent years.

WHO recommends Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for people at higher risk of infection. PrEP is an antiretroviral medicine taken before potential exposure to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. People with a recent high-risk exposure may also receive Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) if treatment is started promptly.

Safe injection practices, regular HIV testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections also reduce the risk of transmission.

While the recent Karnataka claims have been clarified, health experts say the renewed public attention should be used to spread accurate information about HIV.

Early testing, voluntary counselling, access to treatment and breaking myths remain the most effective tools in reducing both transmission and stigma.