It is estimated that by December 1, 1996, more than 8.4 million AIDS cases had occurred since the start of the global AIDS epidemic. Owing to under-recognition, under-reporting and reporting delays, however, only 1.5 million cumulative cases of AIDS in adults and children have been officially reported to WHO by countries.
Because of the long delay between infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the (ultimate) development of AIDS, a more useful indication of current trends in the global epidemic is the number of new infections with HIV. According to UNAIDS estimates, there have been over 3.1 million new HIV infections during 1996. This works out at about 8,500 a day-7,500 in adults and 1,000 in children. During 1996, HIV/AIDS-associated illnesses caused the death of an estimated 1.5 million people, including 350,000 children.
Since the start of the global epidemic, close to 30 million people are thought to have been infected with HIV-26.8 million adults and 2.6 million children. Of these, an estimated 5 million adults and 1.4 million children have died. Today, 22.6 million people are estimated to be living with HIV infection or AIDS. Of these, 21.8 million are adults and 830,000 are children. Approximately 42% of the 21.8 million adults living with HIV/AIDS are women and the proportion is growing. The majority of newly infected adults are under 25 years old.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized in 1981 among homosexual men in the United States of America. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-the virus that causes AIDS-was identified in 1983.
From UNAIDS.
Source: Final Report: The Status and Trends of the Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic, Vancouver, July 5-6, 1996.
