The world has finally reached the beginning of the end of the Aids pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years, according to a leading campaign group fighting HIV.

The United Nations Aids agency urged increased funding for early treatment of people with HIV following a new international study showing it could dramatically reduce the number of new infections through sexual transmission.

Researchers are optimistic a vaccine for HIV/Aids will be available within 10 years, but it’s unlikely to be fully effective against all strains of the virus, a US health expert said today in Australia.