Tuesday, November 29, 2011

that there were 5.8 million new HIV infections in 1999

The Numbers

Of the between 16,000 and 20,000 hemophiliacs in this country, more than 50% are HIV+ and over 2700 have already died. 98% of the positive hemophiliacs have been infected by tainted blood products.

The World Health Organization's best estimates are that there were 5.8 million new HIV infections in 1999 for a grand total of 33.4 million people who are HIV+. Far and away the largest number of cases are in sub-Saharan Africa, where there were 4 million new cases and 23 million people who are positive. 50% of all HIV infections occur in women and 75% of those are the result of vaginal intercourse. Currently, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe have more than 20% (and maybe as high as 25%) of their adult populations infected with HIV. Even the relatively advanced country of South Africa is experiencing an acceleration in its infection rate: 700,000 new HIV cases among ages 15 through 49 during 1998. Recent estimates are that its prevalence rate is at least 10% and may possibly be as high as 15%. A major problem in these countries is the care of the millions of children orphaned by the deaths of their parents due to AIDS.

The situation involving children directly is even more bleak.


In the United States, there is a great disparity in pediatric (below age 13) AIDS cases by race.

Racial Group

% Pediatric AIDS Cases

% of General Population

African-American

57

14

Hispanic

23

12

Caucasian

18

70

Statistical information is regularly being updated by the CDC

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