San Francisco Chronicle - The Voice of the West, 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94119 - Sunday, December 1, 1996 - Page 10

A new report from the U.N. and the World Health Organization indicates that there were 3.1 million new HIV infections in 1996 -- about 8,500 a day -- bringing the total to 22.6 million now living with the disease. The report noted that nearly half the new infections are among women and about 400,000 are children.

Some 6.4 million have died of AIDS since the pandemic erupted in the early 1980s.

Even though 1996 has been a breakthrough year for AIDS research, with new drug therapies offering hope for the first time that an HIV-positive diagnosis may not have to be a death sentence, the vast majority of the world population has no access to them.

Just this past summer scientists attending the 11th International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver, B.C., were excited about a new class of drugs, called protease inhibitors, and combination therapies that have been shown to be effective in eliminating the virus from some -- but not all -- patients. However, the dramatic news that HIV- fighting drugs may prolong and improve many AIDS patients' lives has been muted by the knowledge that the expensive treatments are only available to those who can afford them in industrialized Western nations. Elsewhere in the world the disease is spreading with malignant fury.

Sub-Saharan Africa, with 14 million people infected -- 63 percent of those infected worldwide -- is the hardest hit place on Earth. But HIV is also rampant throughout Asia, India, Russia and Latin America.

"The HIV epidemic is far from over, and in fact, continues to strengthen its grip on the world's most vulnerable populations," says Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of U.N.AIDS, the U.N.'s multi-agency program to fight the disease.

"Amidst all the optimism about new treatments, we must remember that 90 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are in developing countries with little access to health care," he says. "The only true hope for the entire world is prevention -- education efforts, new forms of protection and development of a vaccine."

While education and protection are the principal weapons against AIDS, a vaccine remains the undiscovered Holy Grail of the campaign to fight the disease. Yet, only 1 percent of the money spent on AIDS research is dedicated to finding a vaccine.

This World AIDS Day is an appropriate time for researchers to review their priorities and focus more funding and effort on vaccine research.
961201
SC961201

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1996. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1996. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .