Funding cuts and repressive laws raise risk of new HIV epidemic, says UNAids

UNAids executive director, Winnie Byanyima, said cases would likely rise as people were unable to be diagnosed or treated due to cuts. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

A funding crisis and increasing repression of human rights are making the resurgence of an HIV epidemic more likely, the international agency tackling Aids has warned.

Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids, said: “It’s the biggest disruption since the global HIV response was put together and it poses a major threat to the progress we have had.”