U.N. estimates 33 million infected with HIV

By, Reuters, November 20, 2007

More than 33 million people are infected with the AIDS virus -- far fewer than original estimates of close to 40 million, the United Nations said in its latest report.

Here are some facts about AIDS, according to UNAIDS:

-- An estimated 33.2 million people were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus in 2007. This included 30.8 million adults and 2.5 million children under the age of 15. Women made up half of those infected.

-- 2.1 million people died of AIDS in 2007, including 1.7 million adults and 330,000 children.

-- 2.5 million people were newly infected with AIDS in 2007, including 2.1 million adults and 420,000 children.

-- Every day more than 6,800 people become infected with HIV and more than 5,700 die from it.

-- There is no cure for HIV, which gradually destroys the immune system. Drug cocktails called highly active antiretroviral therapy or HAART can control infection and keep patients healthy.

-- HIV is now commonly passed through sexual contact between a man and a woman. It can also be passed from man to man, by infected needles, and from a mother to a baby. (Reporting by Maggie Fox)

Source: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN19535413.html