Within half a century, the world has experienced two elusive and deadly viral diseases responsible for pandemics. While there are many similarities between the ongoing HIV pandemic and the current pandemic resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, there are also noticeable differences.

In this article, we discuss the SARS-CoV-2 and HIV viruses, the similarities and differences of the illnesses and their pandemics, and future outlooks.
HIV attacks a person’s immune system, rendering their bodies unable to fight off illnesses. Left untreated, a person with HIV can
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infection caused by a novel strain of coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). People with COVID-19 can develop
HIV is a Lentivirus, which is a genus of
HIV attacks the immune system by infecting immune cells called CD4 cells. After infecting these immune cells, HIV uses it to
SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that comes from a large family of viruses called
While illness due to SARS-CoV-2 may often be mild to moderate, in some cases people can become seriously ill. In this situation, the body produces an
SARS-CoV-2 is primarily an airborne infection, meaning the virus may be
During the early days of both pandemics, aside from shock, most of the world’s governments responded with denial, downplaying, delayed responses, and neglect. Both pandemics have instilled great fear in the population, caused disruption of everyday life, and led to the deaths of many people.
Another similarity is the necessity of public compliance. With COVID-19, containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus largely depends on people following guidance and protocols, such as physical distancing, using face coverings, maintaining hygiene, performing contact tracing, and monitoring.
Similarly, people with HIV, or those who suspect exposure to the virus, test for an infection and receive treatment to lower their viral load to reduce symptoms and the risk of transmission. Behaviors such as proper condom use and not sharing needles can also reduce transmission.
Additionally,
A significant difference between the two pandemics is their timelines. While positive cases and deaths from HIV and AIDS continue worldwide, the spread of HIV since its discovery in the 1980s is slow compared with COVID-19’s millions of cases since its recognition in late
Public health has largely managed to contain COVID-19 within several months through rigorous testing, contact tracing, and stringent health measures. Meanwhile, despite the world adopting the World Health Organization’s (WHO)
Also, while there are already several successful vaccines that can provide sufficient immunity against COVID-19, there is still no success in creating a vaccine for HIV or AIDS.
Both viruses can spread from people who unknowingly have the infection but present with no symptoms. However, while HIV is
In comparison, the
One stark difference between the two viruses is that SARS-CoV-2 is very easily transmittable due to it being an airborne infection, whereas HIV transmission relies on contact with infected bodily fluids. Furthermore, people may develop symptoms of COVID-19
Based on the WHO’s coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard, there have been over 200 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including over 4 million deaths due to the disease. Meanwhile, since the beginning of the HIV pandemic, there has been almost
Notably, a 2021 study mentions that more than
There are currently no effective cures for the illnesses caused by either virus. However, treatments to reduce symptom severity and prevent or reduce the risk of transmission exist.
In some cases, people may be able to manage and relieve mild symptoms of COVID-19 at home. For more severe cases that require hospitalization, the
The
- physical distancing
- wearing masks or face coverings
- proper and constant hand washing
- avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated places
- proper hygiene
Additionally, many safe and effective
Individuals with HIV receive antiretroviral therapies (ART), which are treatment regimens consisting of two or more drugs that suppress the virus from replicating. This can help a person to
Preventive measures are still in place to prevent the spread of both viruses. The
- modifying sexual practices, including abstinence or condom use
- no needle sharing
- use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
COVID-19 vaccine rollouts are continuing across the globe, aiming to reach herd immunity as soon as possible. Based on Our World in Data, roughly 29% of the world population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and approximately 15% of the population are fully vaccinated.
However, there is still a disparity between wealthy and low income countries when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Currently, only 1.1% of people in low income countries have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Currently, there are
Meanwhile, due to the nature of HIV, it is more difficult to develop an effective vaccine. However, research is ongoing. Currently, research efforts include two late-stage, multinational vaccine clinical trials called
Additionally, researchers are working on developing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNabs), which may be able to stop a wide range of HIV strains. A 2020 study suggests the potential of using adeno-associated viruses and monkeys to produce monoclonal antibodies that may offer lifelong protection against HIV.
COVID-19 and HIV are diseases caused by two contagious viruses that are responsible for global pandemics. The viruses share certain similarities like their origin, but they also have stark differences in their symptoms, mode of transmission, and disease course.
Due to these differences, public health measures vary in the preventive measures they employ. At present, there are no vaccines against HIV, but treatment options exist that can help manage the condition. As for COVID-19, safe and effective vaccines are available that can reduce viral transmission and symptom severity.