Global AIDS epidemic: UN snapshot - Facts

(Sebastian Kaulitzki)

Here is a snapshot of the global AIDS epidemic, based on a report published Tuesday by UNAIDS:

- TOTAL: Around 33.4 million people, in a range of 31.1 to 35.8 million, are living with HIV in 2008. They include 2.1 million children under 15.

- DEATHS: Around two million people, in a range of 1.7 to 2.4 million, died from AIDS-related causes in 2008. This figure remains unchanged from 2007.

- NEW INFECTIONS: The AIDS virus infected 2.7 million people in 2008. New infections have dropped by 17 percent over the past eight years.

- CHILDREN: Some 430,000 children were born with HIV in 2008.

- AFRICA: Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 67 percent of all people living with HIV worldwide. About 91 percent of new infections among children also occur here. The epidemic has orphaned more than 14 million children in the region.

- HIV PREVENTION: About 45 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women received treatment to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies, up from 35 percent in 2007.

- HIV TREATMENT: Over four million people in poor countries had access to HIV treatment by the end of 2008, up from three million at the end of 2007. Across the globe, at least 4.7 million received treatment. However, this makes up only 42 percent of the total who needed treatment.

- FUNDING: Some 25 billion dollars will be required for HIV services in 2010.

Source: 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update

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