[Public health and eradication of infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus]

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is integrated into the cellular genome remaining active or latent indefinitely. Antiretroviral therapy suppresses viral replication to undetectable levels but does not eradicate the virus. New therapeutic strategies are being developed, such as gene therapy, shock and kill, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies or therapeutic vaccines, which together with biomedical interventions, especially pre-exposure prophylaxis, are generating high optimism among the scientific community as weapons for a viral eradication. However, we do not pay enough attention to human behavior as an essential element to obtain eradication. We need to promote Public Health with the necessary human and economic tools to achieve eradication. The sole development of effective therapeutic strategies will not prevent the human immunodeficiency virus from continuing among us if we do not promote and develop Public Health.