Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - December 17, 2003
India has 4.58 million people infected with the HIV/AIDS virus and experts say the disease is spreading at a rate that will push India past South Africa in absolute numbers in the next few years.
"Globally, vaccines are on trial in many countries including the U.S. and South Africa. Soon they should start in Rwanda and thereafter in India and eventually China," Seth Berkley told reporters.
"The real challenge after phase one trials begin in the middle of next year is to move into efficacy trials quickly."
The Indian government has been working with the New York-based IAVI on developing an AIDS vaccine for HIV strain C, the sub-type of the virus most common in India.
South Africa has more than five million people infected with the virus, the highest of any country in the world.
India faces an uphill battle in tackling AIDS because of the huge social and cultural stigma attached to the illness, which has spread beyond traditionally high-risk groups such as prostitutes, drug users and homosexuals.
Scientists have been stumped by the virus that causes AIDS. Unlike most illnesses, it leaves no survivors, giving researchers no antibodies to examine. It also varies from region to region, presenting a problem for companies wanting to run tests.
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