Databank. Global HIV infection increases

Databank

Global HIV infection increases

According to a report issued recently by the Joint United Nations Programme and the World Health Organisation, during 1998 a further 5.8 million people were infected with HIV. This amounts to approximately 11 men, women and children being affected every minute. The total number of people living with the virus rose by one-tenth to 33.4 million worldwide. Half of all new infections are now occurring among young people aged 15 to 24. The global epicentre of AIDS continues to be sub-Saharan Africa. Since the epidemic began, 34 million Africans have been infected and almost 12 million of them have already died. Four countries now estimate that 20 to 26 per cent of adults are living with HIV and South Africa alone accounts for one out of every seven new infections on the continent.