Global epidemiology of HIV-AIDS.

Abstract

HIV, the cause of AIDS, has in the 25 years since its discovery spread

rapidly to every region in the world [1]. To date, more than 65 million people

have been infected with HIV and about 25 million people have died from

AIDS [1]. In the current decade of the epidemic, there has been a substantial

increase in HIV infection in women, and about 40% of all new infections

among adults occurred in young people 15 to 24 years of age. At the end

of 2006 [2], the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

estimated that there were a total of 39.5 million (34.1–47.1 million) adults

and children living with HIV. In 2006, a total of 4.3 million (3.6–6.6 million)

new infections occurred and 2.9 million (2.5–3.5 million) people died from

AIDS.