Global HIV Epidemic

For Public Health

At a glance

As the U.S. government's leading public health agency, CDC has spent more than 40 years fighting HIV through scientific expertise, technical leadership, and global partnerships. These efforts—including two decades of impact through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—save lives abroad and protect Americans at home.

Leading historic progress against HIV

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For more than 40 years, CDC has led the fight against HIV through science, data, and partnerships that save lives and strengthen public health worldwide. Photo credit: © Richardo Franco

More than four decades since the first cases were reported, HIV remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Innovations in HIV care and lifesaving treatment have enabled people living with HIV to enjoy long, healthy lives. However, many people around the world still lack access to HIV prevention and lifesaving treatment.

Core strategies for a sustained and effective response against HIV include:

  • Strengthening country-led systems and accountability,
  • Reducing barriers to accessing HIV services,
  • Expanding access to quality, essential HIV services, and
  • Ensuring HIV treatment and prevention programs reach people who need them most.

For more than 40 years, CDC has been the world's most trusted partner in the fight against HIV—bringing scientific rigor, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to the countries and communities most affected. CDC works with governments and partners to improve HIV detection, treatment, and prevention—using data and science to drive action. These efforts prevent infection, protect communities, and reduce the risk of other global disease threats reaching the United States.

CDC's role in transforming the HIV epidemic

Over the past two decades, global HIV programs have driven historic progress—saving 26 million lives, reducing new infections, and transforming once-devastating epidemics. CDC has played a central role in this progress, applying scientific expertise and data-driven approaches to expand access to lifesaving HIV treatment, strengthening health systems, and supporting countries to own and sustain their epidemic response. These efforts, including those through PEPFAR, have contributed to major global gains, including steep declines in HIV-related deaths and millions of people accessing treatment that keeps them healthy and prevents further transmission.

Spotlight

Image of mother holding baby and a piece of paper in office setting

CDC's work has kept mothers, babies, and families alive and healthy.

For example, in 2024, CDC's support in Botswana enabled 98% of women living with HIV to receive lifesaving treatment and kept mother-to-child transmission low, leading to 1,700 babies born HIV-free.

Building public health systems that last

Woman wearing mask in lab setting, standing in front of equipment
Sustainable progress against HIV depends on strong public health infrastructure. CDC helps countries strengthen laboratory and surveillance systems that improve HIV services and save lives.

CDC's approach focuses on building durable, country-led systems that deliver results. By strengthening laboratory and surveillance systems, CDC helps countries identify gaps, improve program performance, and ensure that essential services reach people most affected. These efforts save lives and serve as the public health backbone needed to detect and respond to emerging disease threats before they spread across borders.

Sustaining this progress requires continued focus on efficiency, accountability, and long-term impact. CDC works closely with governments to increase country ownership, improve cost-effectiveness, and maximize the value of U.S. support. Strong HIV treatment and monitoring systems also help prevent the emergence and spread of drug-resistant HIV and tuberculosis (TB), a leading cause of death for people living with HIV. These systems reduce future healthcare-associated costs and protect the effectiveness of current treatments. By advancing both global health outcomes and U.S. health security, CDC's work delivers lasting benefits at home and abroad.

Monitoring HIV Drug Resistance with CADRE.

CDC leads global monitoring of HIV drug resistance (HIV DR) through the Cyclical Acquired HIV Drug Resistance (CADRE) surveillance program.
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Turning data into public health action

CDC uses data to drive action against HIV and TB, helping countries identify where disease burden is highest and target lifesaving service delivery accordingly. Through surveillance systems, routine program data, and population-based surveys, CDC helps countries enhance understanding of how HIV and TB spreads and where gaps in prevention and care remain. These approaches enable programs to act quickly, prevent new infections, and save lives while maximizing the impact of U.S. investments.

Building laboratory networks: A global early warning system

CDC strengthens the systems that make sustained progress possible. By supporting laboratory networks, data systems, and workforce capacity, CDC helps countries detect and respond to HIV, TB, and other emerging health threats.

Did you know?

CDC's strong laboratory systems act as a critical early warning network, helping identify outbreaks sooner, improve response, and reduce the risk of global health threats reaching the United States.

Advancing innovations and sustainable progress

CDC also advances innovations in analytics and program monitoring to improve performance and accountability. By applying advanced data tools, CDC helps programs improve case finding, optimize how resources are used, and ensure that services reach people most affected. These efforts strengthen country-led programs, improve efficiency, and support long-term, sustainable progress in controlling HIV and TB.

Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts.

CDC's Division of Global HIV & TB activities are implemented as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Non-HIV related TB activities are supported by non-PEPFAR funding.
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Content Source:
Global Health Center