HIV in Europe

The UNAIDS and European Centre for disease prevention and Control (ECDC) have counted more than 2.3 million patients with HIV in Europe. But the pattern of the spread of the disease varies from region to region. In general, the number of HIV patients has increased in 2008, but the number of those reported, decreased drastically. Broadly, HIV in Europe can be subdivided into three regions, (eastern, central and western), to understand the pattern of growth for the HIV virus better.

Europe is mainly affected by HIV-1 subtype B, as studied from the samples gathered from 16 nations across Europe, by the means of phylogeography of viral sequences. The study shows that HIV in Europe had initially hit the continent from multiple external sources and then propagated through local networking. Penetration of subtype B virus in Europe was a result of migration of this virus from its place of origin, Haiti, in the late sixties. It was then transferred to Europe and America through Sexual and homosexual contact or contaminated drug needles. However, AIDS, due to other subtypes are also growing subsequently in Europe, the effect of subtype B remains the most predominant.

The eastern region had a sharp growth in the disease mainly due to an increase in heterosexuality and drug abuse. 45% were reported due to contaminated drug needles. 44% were a result of heterosexuality. Ukraine reports the maximum number of AIDS diagnoses. 15% of the patients are between the age group of 15 to 24, and 41% of the patients are women.

The central region had a reasonably slower growth than the east. But Poland has been affected the most. In 2008, 530 cases were reported, with was just half of those were reported in 2000.

The western region on the other hand, was blessed to have no growth at all, until 2008. Portugal (36.4million), Malta (19.5million), Italy (17.2million) and Spain (29.1 million) are the four most HIV affected nations in Western Europe. But, after rigorous AIDS campaigns and effective implementation of antiretroviral treatment in the last decade, the number AIDS diagnoses in 2008 was 55% less than that of 2003. These strategies also reduced the AIDS mortality rate from 2,986 (2003) to 1,303 (2008).

Dealing with HIV in Europe

WHO, in partnership with the European Centre for Disease prevention and Control, started conducting the HIV/AIDS surveillance program from 2008. It found that the number of infected were increased from 42 per million in 2000, to 56 per million in 2008. But a number of organizations work for the cause to prevent and terminate the wrath of HIV in Europe.

HIV Europe is the biggest body in Europe that works for the betterment of the people living with AIDS. It is an informal advisory board, which enables many NGOs to come together and work for this noble cause. The body provides platform for the patients to share their experiences and stories with the world and thus in a way contribute in the reduction of the growth of the disease. It was founded in June 2005 at Copenhagen. It also works for the health of the patients, improve their quality of life, dismal the social stigma and castration associated with HIV in Europe. It provides employment for the patients and encourages a healthy social and geographical mobility for them.