december 1, world aids day

According to UNAIDS, eight-year trends show that new HIV infections have been reduced by 17% while the number of AIDS-related deaths has decreased by 10% in five years. The epidemic has leveled off considerably. In addition, an estimated 33.4 million people are living almost normal lives with HIV/AIDS (22.4 millions in Africa alone) due to the benefits of antiretroviral treatments.

Read editorial

By Region

Sub-Saharan Africa – This is, by far, the most affected region of the world. In this region the epidemic continues to have an enormous impact on families, public services and national economies. On the other hand, there is a rapid scaling-up of antiretroviral therapies, generating huge public health gains.

Asia – This region ranks second in terms of the number of people living with HIV. The epidemic has long been concentrated in specific populations, namely IV drug users, sex workers and their clients and men who have sex with men. However, it is now expanding into other populations and heterosexual transmission has become predominant.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia – This is the only region where HIV prevalence remains on the rise, primarily due to IV drug use. However, because drug users frequently engage in sex work, sexual transmission is increasing.

Caribbean – This region has been more heavily affected than any other region outside sub-Saharan Africa; heterosexual transmission tied to sex work is the primary route for HIV transmission, although new evidence suggests that substantial transmission is occurring among men who have sex with men.

Latin America – Men who have sex with men account for the largest share of HIV transmission in the region. Although the burden of infection is notably increasing among IV drug users and sex workers, only a very few prevention programs focus specifically on these populations.

North Africa and The Middle East – Here epidemics typically concentrate among IV drug users, male homosexuals and sex workers and their clients. Exceptions are Djibouti and southern Sudan where transmission is co-occurring at the same level in the general population.

North America, Central and Western Europe – Progress in reducing new HIV infections has stalled in this area. Between 2000 and 2007, the rate of newly reported cases nearly doubled in Europe. And in the US the annual number of new HIV infections in 2006 was 40% greater than was previously projected.