World AIDS Day 2009

Today is World AIDS Day. UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation has published new research to highlight key trends in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The AIDS Epidemic Update 2009 shows the number of new AIDS cases decreasing worldwide, and HIV prevention programs are making the difference.

● The HIV pandemic was first identified in 1981
● In 2008, 33.4 million people worldwide were living with HIV worldwide
● 2.7 million people were newly infected in 2008
● 2 million people died of AIDS related illness in 2008
● In sub-Saharan Africa, the worst affected region, new infections in 2008 were 25% lower than their peak in 1995

See also the UNAIDS website