Audio By Carbonatix
The world’s oldest-living person with HIV is celebrating his 100th birthday — stunning doctors who call him an “icon of hope” for people living with the disease, according to a new report.
“I feel happy,” the man, who only wanted to be known as Miguel, told CTV News. “I’ve spent these years without hardship and pain.”
Miguel was first diagnosed with the disease 16 years ago in a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, but is a picture of perfect health because of antiretroviral medication, his doctors said.
“If people take the medication, they can live as other people,” Dr. Ines Pintassilgo said. “That’s the main conclusion, I think.”
“I think that’s what he teaches us, that you can live with HIV as long as you have all the other background and living lifestyle and comorbidities [chronic diseases] under control,” Pintassilgo added.
Miguel never smoked and lived a very active life — but attributes his longevity to a far more simple remedy.
“The reason why I have reached such a long age is because every day when I go to bed I make a cup of lemon tea,” he explained. “The good slice of lemon with the rind and the pulp and everything.”
Life expectancy for people living with HIV has increased significantly with the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in the 1990s.
Today, a 20-year-old HIV-positive person taking medication has a life expectancy of 78 years — the life expectancy of the average US male, according to a study published in Lancet HIV in 2017.
Miguel did not want his full identity to be revealed and denied he was a “special case.”Nisse, Jake
The Portuguese medical miracle is the subject of an upcoming case study where he is dubbed “The Lisbon Patient.”
Miguel denied he was a “special case,” but experts said his story could be life-changing for the 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to the UN.
“Of course 100 years is something special!” HIV specialist Dr. Giovanni Guaraldi told CTV News from Modena, Italy. “This guy (is) like an icon of hope for people living with HIV.”
“You still can experience healthy ageing,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
World Cup 2026: Black Stars players to receive $100,000 as appearance fee – Sports Minister
55 minutes -
Nigerian retired general abducted with his wife in the north-west
59 minutes -
TTU crowned Overall Best Innovator at ARCTUG 2026
1 hour -
NPP members oppose resumption of Asante Mampong polling station elections
2 hours -
Educators, traditional leaders call for stronger link between humanities and skills development
2 hours -
Severe rainstorm wreaks havoc at Adaklu Kodzobi Ando
2 hours -
Hundreds arrested and dozens of police injured after Champions League riots in France
2 hours -
AMECO launches 80th anniversary with a focus on infrastructure development
2 hours -
Health Ministry receives pulse oximeter donation to support Free Primary Healthcare initiative
2 hours -
Will controlling hostel rents solve the accommodation challenges on our campuses?
2 hours -
2026 U17 WWCQ: Black Maidens to face Senegal in final round
3 hours -
McDan graces Hitz Rep Ur Jersey at Aviation Social Centre, makes commentary debut in UCL final
4 hours -
Damang Gold Mine invests $250 million in mining equipment
5 hours -
Richard Ankomah beats competition to win Hitz FM Rep Ur Jersey 2026 Quiz
6 hours -
Afriyie Wutah marks birthday with ‘Summer Jam’ featuring Maxi Priest
6 hours