HIV

New HIV infections Down by 17%

According to new data in the 2009 AIDS epidemic update, new HIV infections have been reduced by 17 per cent over the past eight years. Since 2001, when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed, the number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 15 per cent lower, which is about 400,000 fewer infections in 2008. In East Asia new HIV infections declined by nearly 25 per cent and in South and South East Asia by 10 per cent in the same time period. In Eastern Europe, after a dramatic increase in new infections among injecting drug users, the epidemic has leveled off considerably. However, in some countries there are signs that new HIV infections are rising again.

The report, by the UNAIDS and the WHO, highlights that beyond the peak and natural course of the epidemic-HIV prevention programmes are making a difference. "The good news is that we have evidence that the declines we are seeing are due, at least in part, to HIV prevention," said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

EH News Bureau