On Jul. 27, 1982, a meeting in Washington, DC, attended by federal officials, university researchers, community activists, and others. Since its original description 32 years ago, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become one of the most significant infectious diseases worldwide and has challenged public health systems in every country affected by the epidemic.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection. HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. Since its original description, HIV has become one of the most significant infectious diseases worldwide and has challenged public health systems in every country affected by the epidemic.

The current global estimate (2013) for people living with the HIV or AIDS diagnoses is 34 million. Worldwide, there were 2.7 million new HIV infections in 2010, including 390 000 children, numbers that were 21% below the number of new infections at the peak of the epidemic in 1997.

Major scientific advances of the past 30 years have paved the way for therapeutic agents that can effectively suppress HIV viral replication. A major challenge in HIV eradication is the presence of HIV reservoirs that persist, despite effective treatments and optimal medication adherence and require lifelong treatment for those infected.

Future treatments will focus on targeting these reservoirs and also on reducing the role of chronic inflammatory conditions and comorbidities that promote HIV disease progression. Efforts in developing an effective vaccine are promising and, if the current trends in developping new HIV treatment and prevention approaches continue, the global target of zero new infections may soon be realized.