Global HIV/AIDS rates at record highs

FORTY million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, including an estimated 2.5 million children under 15 years old.

Deaths and new cases of HIV/AIDS reached new highs in 2003 and are set to rise further as the epidemic keeps a stranglehold on sub-Saharan Africa and advances across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

New global estimates released yesterday based on improved data show about five million people were infected in 2003 and more than three million died.

"The AIDS epidemic continues to expand we haven't reached the limit yet," said Dr Peter Piot, head of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

"More people have become infected this year than ever before and more people have died from AIDS than ever before. It is the first cause of death in Africa and the fourth cause of death worldwide."

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the worst affected region of the world with about 3.2 million new infections and 2.3 million deaths in 2003. Southern Africa is home to about 30% of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, yet the region has less than 2% of the global population.

In Botswana and Swaziland the infection rate of HIV/AIDS among adults is 40%. One in five pregnant women in some African countries is infected with the virus, which is more easily transmitted from men to women than the other way around.

Piot said the epidemic, fuelled by intravenous drug use and unsafe sex, is spreading in densely populated India and China as well as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and in Eastern Europe where the worst affected areas include the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia.

And he predicted that it could be years before the back of the epidemic is broken in terms of new infections.

"The burden of the HIV epidemic will become bigger and bigger over time because it takes, on average, seven to 10 years after infection before you fall ill and, if there is no treatment, before you die," he said.

"In other words, even if all transmission of HIV stopped, people would still become ill. We are only at the beginning of the impact of AIDS, certainly in Africa."

But Piot added that the AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2003 report also provides hope. In several east African cities fewer people were infected this year than five years ago so prevention can work. There is also more money than ever being spent on AIDS.

"Thirdly, there is also a momentum on treatment," he added.

In a major boost to combat the epidemic, South Africa has announced a plan to provide free antiretroviral drugs to hundreds of thousands of infected people.

"This is of historic significance, not only for South Africa but also for the rest of Africa because others I'm sure will follow," said Piot.

"We need to be as passionate about making sure our children do not become infected with HIV as about treating people who are already infected today."