Two million people have contracted the HIV virus
	200,000 people have received the virus during 2003
	100,000 people died from AIDS during 2003

This death toll is seconded only by that of Sub-Saharan Africa.

In Tobago, Trinidad, Guyana, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Belize, and the Bahamas, the presence of HIV in pregnant women has risen to, or above two percent. The main vectors of transmission are the usual ones such as; early sexual introduction into the community, unprotected homosexual and heterosexual contact among multiple partners, and lastly, injecting drug users who are exposed to unclean needles. Another route that is normally kept quiet: homosexual activity between males, followed by heterosexual activity with multiple partners. These hetero/homo-sexual relationships are always kept completely secret. Consequently, if a person is infected with HIV, it is almost impossible to track who gave it to them. Finally, the original carrier goes on to infect many others before coming down with AIDS.

Notes:

* This mark indicates that this chart came directly from the UNAIDS (2003) AIDS epidemic update, December Report, the report can be accessed from the second link below, once you have reached the UNAIDS website, click the first link in the column on the right hand side

Resources:

1. Kanabus, Annabel. 14 Feb 2004. AVERT. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.avert.org/ >.
2. UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.unaids.org/ >.