AEGiS-4IAC: [K2] THE GLOBAL PICTURE OF AIDS

4th International AIDS Conference

Stockholm, Sweden. — June 12-16, 1988

[TITLE:] THE GLOBAL PICTURE OF AIDS

Int Conf AIDS. 1988 Jun 12-16;4:1.105 (abstract no. K2)

Jonathan Mann
Global Programme on AIDS, World Health Programme, Geneva

A coherent worldview of the pandemic of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS is beginning to emerge. AIDS is a worldwide epidemic in 3 ways:

HIV infection is already or threatens to be worldwide;
to an unprecedented extent, the people of the world know of AIDS; and
AIDS is consciously perceived as a global problem.

While the origin of HIV remains obscure, the virus was circulating in several continents during the 1970s. As of 1 January 198R, 73,747 AIDS cases were officially reported to WHO from 129 countries; the actual number of AIDS cases during the past decade is estimated to be 150,000. Three broad epidemiological patterns of AIDS and HIV infection can be described. In Pattern I (North America, Western Europe, Australia/New Zealand), most infections have thus far occurred among homosexual and bisexual men and intravenous drug users. Heterosexual transmission is also occurring; transmission through blood, blood products, organs and semen donation has essentially ceased. In Pattern II (parts of Africa and the Caribbean), sexual transmission is predominantly heterosexual. Parenteral transmission through unscreened blood and non-sterile skin-piercing and other invasive practices continues to occur. Perinatal transmission from infected mothers is also important. In Pattern III (Asia, Middle East) HIV seems to have entered more recently and infection is still rare, although increasing in high risk behaviour groups such as male and female prostitutes. WHO's Global Programme on AIDS is responsible for directing and coordinating the global fight against AIDS and has designed the Global AIDS Strategy, endorsed by all nations. The objectives of the Global Strategy are:

to prevent HIV infection;
to reduce the personal and social impact of HIV infection; and
to unify national and international efforts against AIDS.

HIV prevention relies upon informed individual behaviour (with a supportive social environment and relevant health and social support services) and ensuring the safety of specific practices in the health system. Throughout the world, national AIDS programmes are being rapidly developed; evaluation of these efforts will soon become possible. All sectors of the health system should contribute to the programme "Against AIDS - For Health".

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