World AIDS cases decrease as stats are revised
By Jen Colletta
PGN Staff Writer
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

The World Health Organization and the United Nations AIDS agency reported Nov. 20 that the number of people living with HIV/AIDS across the globe has decreased. These statistics, however, might be more reflective of the correction of previous overestimations rather than a drastic drop in the actual number of cases.

The WHO and UNAIDS cut the previous estimated number of cases from 39.5 million to 32.7 million, mostly due to several countries slashing their HIV/AIDS projections. Earlier this year, India, which was considered as much of a hotspot for the spread of AIDS as Africa, halved its projection of six million HIV/AIDS cases to three million and several African countries, such as Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, made similar changes.

The New York Times reported that the decrease could be influenced by better data-collection methods. Previously, most HIV/AIDS projections were based on tests of pregnant women or those who were at a higher risk for STDs, such as prostitutes, at clinics. Data was collected mostly from urban areas with suburban statistics being projected. Because this method was too concentrated in areas where HIV was widespread, the actual number of cases was exaggerated.

Some critics allege that agencies such as the United Nations have traditionally inflated their AIDS statistics to secure more funding for research and treatment and prevention programs, but U.N. officials have denied such allegations.

Although better reporting can be credited with the decreased number, officials at UNAIDS said the statistics do show some realistic drops in new infections in some areas that have been hardest hit with the virus.

Nearly 22.5 million, or about two-thirds, of the total number of people living with HIV are located in sub-Saharan Africa, where 1.7 million people contracted the virus this year. WHO and UNAIDS recorded 2.5 million new infections worldwide in 2007, but several years ago, there was an average of five million new cases each year. Researchers believe the epidemic hit its peak in the late 1990s.

Despite the apparent decrease in the number of new infections, however, HIV/AIDS claimed over two million lives worldwide in 2007. The virus affects more women than men in Africa, but in most other countries, such as the United States, gay men make up the largest population of HIV/AIDS victims.

The Centers for Disease Control reported in 2005 that nearly 20,000 American men contracted HIV/AIDS from having sex with another man, which accounts for 71 percent of American HIV/AIDS cases.

The UNAIDS/WHO report said the only way to attack the disease is through “immediate action and increased funding to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.”

Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.