Consultant predicts the day 'HIV will be cured'

A consultant physician with nearly four decades of experience in infectious diseases says he can now envision a time when HIV will be fully curable. Dr Brendan McCarron, 64, currently based at the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, recalled witnessing numerous deaths during the 1980s and 1990s while treating patients in Glasgow.

He described the arrival of antiviral therapy in 1996 as a transformative moment and credited public figures, including Diana, Princess of Wales, for helping shift public attitudes toward HIV and Aids.

According to Dr McCarron, modern treatment allows patients to look forward to long and healthy lives, and he often reassures them that a cure is likely to be developed within their lifetime.

HIV weakens the immune system and increases vulnerability to severe illness. It spreads when infected bodily fluids enter the bloodstream. Aids refers to a late stage of HIV that leads to a range of serious health conditions. There is currently no definitive cure.

Dr McCarron began his medical career in 1985 and moved into infectious disease work the following year. He said that, during the early years of the epidemic, he regularly attended funerals and saw many young lives cut short.

He noted that public understanding began to change in the late 1980s, influenced by government campaigns and television storylines such as the character Mark Fowler in EastEnders. High profile cases involving Princess Diana, Rock Hudson and Freddie Mercury also helped bring the issue into public focus.

Princess Diana played a key role in challenging misinformation, including by publicly shaking hands with a man living with HIV, countering the belief that casual contact could transmit the virus.

The introduction of antiviral medicines in the 1990s dramatically improved survival rates. Dr McCarron recalled that in June 1996 his ward in Glasgow had around twenty patients in critical condition, yet by August only two remained in hospital, with the others having recovered enough to return home. The remaining two eventually recovered as well.

He believes that a cure for HIV is now realistically within reach. He often reminds his younger patients that he is likely to reach the end of life before they do, despite their diagnosis.

To mark World Aids Day, the government announced funding of 170m for its HIV Action Plan, which includes continued support for routine testing in emergency departments. The James Cook Hospital already offers this service for patients who choose to be tested.

Dr McCarron said routine screening provides two major benefits. It allows early treatment for those who test positive, improving both wellbeing and longevity, and it enhances public health by reducing undiagnosed infections.

Author: Harper Simmons