The world faces a risk of the HIV epidemic "rebounding" because of growing numbers of infections, experts warn today.
Treatment is now successful but the world cannot "treat" itself out of the epidemic, according to a major analysis published by The Lancet.
The experts say the rate of new infections is not falling fast enough, warning of high population growth in countries which are worst infected.
The experts say that fast action now could still enable the epidemic to be ended by 2030.
The report has been prepared by a group led by Professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and included Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS, the United Nations organisation set up to tackle the problem.
The report warns of complacency in many countries, saying that prevention of infection must continue to be as important as treatment.
Professor Piot said: “We must face hard truths – if the current rate of new HIV infections continues, merely sustaining the major efforts we already have in place will not be enough to stop deaths from AIDS increasing within five years in many places.
“Expanding sustainable access to treatment is essential, but we will not treat ourselves out of the AIDS epidemic.
"We must also reinvigorate HIV prevention efforts, particularly among populations at highest risk, while removing legal and societal discrimination.”
Defeating AIDS—advancing global health. Lancet 5 June 2015 [abstract]
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