“The epidemic is spreading into areas and countries where, until recently, there was little or no HIV present—including China, Indonesia and Vietnam (home to over 1.5 billion people).”
- 1 million people contracted HIV in the past year
- Total number of people with HIV in the region; 7.4 million
- An estimated 500,000 people died from AIDS in 2003
- Overall levels of infection in India are below one percent, but separate states have far higher percentages
- Injecting drug use and the commercial sex industry are both on the rise: these are absolutely perfect conditions for the HIV virus to flourish, and a massive epidemic could start at any time.
In Vietnam, the chance for a full fledged outbreak is most prevalent because (according to official estimates):
- 65% of infections are among injecting drug users
- 20% of the injecting drug users in most provinces had HIV
- 20% of the injecting drug users in most provinces had HIV
- The levels of HIV and AIDS are also soaring up in places other than the south; Hai Phong: 8%; Hanoi 15%
In general, this area is a disaster waiting to happen.
THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM, THEREFORE A WORLDWIDE RESPONSE IS REQUIRED. TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP, 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
“” If quotes and italics are used this indicates a direct quote from the UNAIDS report mentioned above.
Resources:
- Kanabus, Annabel. 14 Feb 2004. AVERT. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.avert.org/ >.
- McGeary, Johanna. "." 12 Feb 2001. Time Magazine Archive. 14 Feb 2004 < http://www.time.com/ >.
- UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 14 Feb 2004. < http://www.unaids.org/ >.