AIDS

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is defined as a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the depletion of the immune system caused by infection with HIV. Although treatments for both AIDS and HIV exist, there is no known cure. The rate of clinical disease progression varies widely between individuals and has been shown to be affected by many factors such as host susceptibility, immune function, health care, the presence of co-infections and peculiarities of the viral strain.

Global epidemic

UNAIDS and the WHO estimated that between 36 and 44 million people around the world were living with HIV in December 2004 http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/EPIupdate2004_html_en/Epi04_02_en.htm#P16_3133. It was estimated that during 2004, between 4.3 and 6.4 million people were newly infected with HIV and between 2.8 and 3.5 million people with AIDS died. Sub-Saharan Africa remains by far the worst-affected region, with 23.4 million to 28.4 million people living with HIV at the end of 2004. Just under two thirds (64%) of all people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa, as are more than three quarters (76%) of all women living with HIV. http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/EPIupdate2004_html_en/Epi04_03_en.htm#P28_3962 South & South East Asia are second most affected with 15%. AIDS accounts for the deaths of 500,000 children.

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Source: UNAIDS and the WHO 2004 estimates. The ranges define the boundaries within which the actual numbers lie, based on the best available information. http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/EPIupdate2004_html_en/epi04_00_en.htm

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