Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 52 330 146 at 3.47pm on Wednesday June 4 2003.
The rising number of HIV infections in Australia requires urgent government action, a leading Australian HIV/Aids community organisation said this week.
Bill Whittaker, president of the Australian Federation of Aids Organisation, said that the number of new HIV cases had risen in the three states that have 90% of Australia’s caseload.
In Queensland infection rates rose 20% from 2001 to 2002. In Victoria new diagnoses increased by 7%.
Most of the new infections occurred among gay and bisexual men, in line with the upward trend in comparable countries in Europe and North America.
”Australia is at risk of losing its international reputation as a world and regional leader in HIV/Aids if it allows the current situation to continue,” Whittaker said.
A review of Australia’s current five-year plan, which provides the framework for the country’s HIV/Aids policies, programmes and research was commissioned last year due to emerging evidence of an increase in infections. It is yet to be released.
Source: aidsmap.com