Every year the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS continues to rise at a steady, but alarming rate. Furthermore, the number of deaths resulting from AIDS increases at a similar rate, if not faster. In Africa, specifically the sub-Saharan region, levels of HIV/AIDS remain high, and continue to rise. In 2003, the HIV/AIDS epidemic killed more than 3 million people, and 5 million more acquired the HIV virus. This brings the total worldwide to 40 million people living with AIDS. That is roughly equivalent to the entire population of New York City!
"We are the victims of our own success."
Why is this? Dr. Daniel Seekins, Board certified infectious diseases specialist, who has treated HIV patients for more than 12 years, offers his comments. "We are the victims of our own success. In the beginning of the epidemic, when people saw their friends and relatives dying from AIDS, they were motivated to be caregul and avoid getting infected. As better treatment evolved and persons with HIV/AIDS lived longer and return to normal lives, people were less likely to know someone who was sick. People, especially youth, started getting careless and we are seeing more new infected.
Summary of the Epidemic as of December 2003
| Number of people living with HIV/AIDS Total 40 million (34 – 46 million) |
Adults 37 million (31 – 43 million) |
Children 2.5 million (2.1 – 2.9 million) |
|
| People newly infected with HIV in 2003 Total 5 million (4.2 – 5.8 million) |
Adults 4.2 million (3.6 – 4.8 million) |
Children 700,000 (590,000 – 810,000) |
|
| AIDS deaths in 2003 Total 3 million (2.5 – 3.5 million) |
Adults 2.5 million (2.1 – 2.9 million) |
Children 500,000 (420,000 – 580,000) |
Children are classified as being 15 years old or less, while Adults are people 15 to 49. This form of notation is used because the populations of many countries become sexually active within their communities around 15, and after 49, their level of sexual activity drops dramatically. The ranges in the data specify where the actual numbers could lie, and the estimates are the most up to date available within those ranges. This applies to all data unless otherwise noted.
To learn more about each individual epidemic by region, click here.
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:
- Kanabus, Annabel. 14 Feb 2004. AVERT. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.avert.org/ >.
- Seekins, Daniel. Personal interview. 26 Feb. 2004.
- UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.unaids.org/ >.