Researchers all over the world are studying whether AIDS treatment drugs can be taken daily or before high-risk sex to prevent HIV transmission and are safe and effective  This week scientists presented evidence that healthy people can take the medication without suffering serious side effects.

With no vaccine on the horizon, scientists at the 16th International AIDS Conference said that a prevention pill could be crucial to slowing the epidemic that spreads to another 4 million people every year worldwide.

It would be most effective in Africa and Asia, where the virus is most spreading the fastest.  A prevention drug would be most effective with women in the developing world, as they wouldn’t have to rely on a man to use a condom.

Some specialists envision the drug being used sparingly, such as before engaging in dangerous behavior.  Some others, like prostitutes may take it all the time.  Recent research into this area has been clouded by controversy.  A study of prostituetes in Cambodia was halted after activists accused researchers of withholding information on prevention methods so they would have more infected women to study.

There is also the possibility that if someone taking a treatment medication as a prevention medication gets infected, then the virus could be resistant to the medication they were taking and it would become useless as a treatment.

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