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HIV infects 200,000 more in Latin America, Caribbean
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-22 10:03
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the infection that causes Acquired
Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has infected 200,000 new victims across Latin
America and the Caribbean, bringing the total number of infections to 2.1
million, the United Nations said in a report published on Monday.
UNAIDS, the UN organ charged with tackling the disease, said that AIDS had
killed 66,000 people in Latin America and 24,000 in the Caribbean, and that only
Haiti was showing signs of slowing the epidemic. Tests administered to pregnant
Haitians during 2003 and 2004 showed HIV infection had fallen to 3.1 percent,
half of 1993's rate.
In the wider Caribbean, the UN reported increased use of condoms among sex
workers and an expansion in testing and counselling provision. UNAIDS lauded
Brazil for plan to provide AIDS treatment to 17,000 people free of charge by the
end of this year. The UNAIDS said Brazil had set an example for the region.
The largest numbers of AIDS cases were in Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.
Brazil estimates that 600,000 people there have the infection, in a population
of 182 million. Neighboring Colombia estimates there are 220,000 cases, although
it reckons that only 44,500 know that they have the disease.
UNAIDS said that the highest incidence of the disease was in Belize,
Guatemala and Honduras, where around one percent of the population is infected.
The report said that the main transmission routes were unprotected sex, both
heterosexual and homosexual, as well as intravenous drug use.
UNAIDS added that nearly half of new infections worldwide were in women, the
highest every proportion.
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