Global Summary of the AIDS Epidemic

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history.

 

Of the total number of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2005, close to 5 million people were newly infected with the virus in 2005; 3.2 million of these in sub-Saharan Africa alone. In the same year, 3 million people died of AIDS-related diseases; more than half a million (570,000) were children. Today the total number of people living with HIV stands at 40.3 million, double the numbers (19.9 million) in 1995. Despite progress made in a small but growing number of countries, the AIDS epidemic continues to outstrip global efforts to contain it.

 

There is ample evidence, however, that HIV does yield to determined and concerted interventions.