HIV/AIDS
In the more than two decades since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, approximately 65 million to 70 million people worldwide have become infected with HIV, including more than 25 million who already have died. If more is not done to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is on course to be one of the worst in history, with millions more people estimated to become infected by the end of this decade. The HIV/AIDS pandemic presents political, economic, public health, social and scientific challenges to nations worldwide.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.
HIV destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+ T cells. These cells are critical to the normal function of the human immune system, which defends the body against illness. When HIV weakens the immune system, a person is more susceptible to developing a variety of cancers and becoming infected with viruses, bacteria and parasites.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
A person who tests positive for HIV can be diagnosed with AIDS when a laboratory test shows that his or her immune system is severely weakened by the virus or when he or she develops at least one of about 25 different opportunistic infections -- diseases that might not affect a person with a normal immune system but that take advantage of damaged immune systems.
How can it be transmitted?
HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid or breastmilk from an HIV-positive person enters the body of an HIV-negative person. HIV can enter the body through a vein, the lining of the anus or rectum, the lining of the vagina and/or cervix, the opening to the penis, the mouth, other mucous membranes -- such as the eyes or inside of the nose -- or cuts and sores. Intact, healthy skin is an excellent barrier against HIV and other viruses and bacteria.
Worldwide, the most common way that HIV is transmitted is through sexual transmission, including anal, vaginal or oral sex with an HIV-positive person.
HIV also can be transmitted by sharing needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who is HIV-positive, or from an HIV-positive woman to her infant before or during birth or through breastfeeding after birth. HIV also can be transmitted through receipt of infected blood or blood clotting factors.
Current Trends
As of the end of 2005, 40.3 million people were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. An estimated 4.9 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2005. Three million people died of AIDS-related causes in 2005. Women represent a growing proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS and now comprise nearly half (46%) of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Young people under the age of 25 are estimated to account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
Not A Singular Epidemic
According to UNAIDS, there is no single AIDS epidemic worldwide. Instead, many regions and countries are experiencing diverse epidemics, some of which remain in their early stages. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most-affected region in the world as measured by HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, followed by the Caribbean. There also is growing concern about the "next wave" of the epidemic emerging in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia.
Source: Global Health Reporting www.globalhealthreporting.org