HIV Infections Top 1 Million in Eastern Europe
Originally published by Reuters Health, November 28, 2001
WESTPORT, CT — The AIDS epidemic is spreading rapidly in Eastern Europe and Asia; it is threatening the regional stability in Africa; and greater global prevention efforts are needed, according to a report by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The annual AIDS Epidemic Update 2001 was release on Wednesday in anticipation of World AIDS Day on December 1.
"AIDS is unequivocally the most devastating epidemic that humankind has ever faced," Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director for UNAIDS, told reporters at a media briefing. Since the epidemic began, over 60 million people have become infected with HIV, the report states. Currently, about 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS.
"No where has the HIV/AIDS epidemic increased as it has in Eastern Europe,"Dr. Piot noted. In 2001, 250,000 new infections were reported, bringing the total number of infected individuals in the region to 1 million. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically as high rates of sexually transmitted infections and injection drug use persist.
"Many years ago the explosion [in Eastern Europe] was predicted, but now it is actually happening," Dr. Piot stated. "It is largely an epidemic involving teenagers," he added. "According to a UNICEF study, there are still millions of teens who know nothing about HIV/AIDS."
In Asia and the Pacific, 7.1 million people are now estimated to be infected with HIV. Nearly half a million people in the region died this year from HIV/AIDS.
Since 2000, new infections in East Asia have more than doubled. A striking increase in HIV infections in Indonesia has also occurred.
"For the first time the number of newly infected people in Asia exceeded 1 million," Dr. Piot said. "Low national prevalence rates in Asia can hide the fact that there are certain populations where the prevalence is very high," he added.
The epidemic continues to exact a devastating toll on people living in sub-Saharan Africa. This year 3.4 million new HIV infections were reported in the region, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 28.1 million. Over 2 million African people died of AIDS in 2001.
"New infections are down in Africa, but it certainly isn't a reason to declare victory," Dr. Piot emphasized. "There is still much room for improvement."
In most countries in the Middle East and North Africa, HIV prevalence is low, the report notes. However, increasing numbers of new cases are being detected in several countries, including Iran, Libya and Pakistan.
The HIV epidemic is still a problem in high-income countries. In 2001, more than 75,000 new infections were reported in these countries, where prevention efforts have not kept pace with advances in HIV/AIDS treatments. In fact, HIV infection rates appear to be rising in North America, parts of Europe, and Australia.
Relatively low national HIV prevalence rates are noted in most South and Central American countries. However, the epidemic is firmly lodged among specific population groups in these regions. After sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean is the most affected region in the world with approximately 2% of the adult population infected with HIV.
The report also reiterates the importance of the global commitment to combating HIV/AIDS that was made at a UN General Assembly Special Session in New York in June.
