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U.N.: HIV epidemic continues to spread
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-21 21:54
The global HIV epidemic continues to expand, with more
than 40 million people now estimated to have the AIDS virus, but in some
countries prevention efforts are finally starting to pay off, the United Nations
says.
Canada's Deborah
Landey, the new Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Progamme
on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, holds a copy of the AIDS epidemic update December
2005 report, during the presentation of the report at the United Nations
in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, Nov. 21, 2005. The new joint UNAIDS/WHO
report titled 'AIDS Epidemic Update 2005' contained updated global and
regional estimates on HIV and AIDS and new trends in the epidemic's
evolution. This year's report will have a special section on HIV
prevention. [AP] |
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in
1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in history. An estimated
3.1 million people died from the virus last year and another 4.9 million people
became infected, according to a U.N. update published Monday.
The deaths and new infection estimates were in line with those from last
year, when the total number of people living with the virus was estimated at
39.4 million.
However, for the first time there is solid evidence that increased efforts to
combat the disease over the last five years have led to fewer new infections in
some places, said UNAIDS chief Peter Piot.
Previously improvements had been seen in places such as Senegal, Uganda and
Thailand, but those were rare exceptions.
"Now we have Kenya, several of the Caribbean countries and Zimbabwe with a
decline," Piot said, adding that Zimbabwe is the first place in Southern Africa,
the hardest-hit area, to show improvement.
These are all countries that have invested heavily in safe-sex campaigns and
other prevention programs, with the result that prevalence of HIV among the
young has declined.
"People are starting later with their first sexual
intercourse, they are having fewer partners, there's more condom use," Piot
said.
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