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AIDS: The story of an epidemic We hear the mantra often these days: great progress has been made in the fight against AIDS. And while the mantra may be true, if we believe it too much we might get lazy or complacent. International AIDS Day, celebrated last Monday, is a time to remember what the fight is about. In case you have forgotten, here's the straight dope: >> Around the world: as of July 1996, there were 21.8 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 94 per cent of whom were in the developing world. By the year 2000, there will be 30-40 million people living with HIV/AIDS. More than six million have already died. >> Closer to home: since the first case was recorded here in 1982, more than 50,000 Canadians have been infected with HIV. Of those infected, more than 18,000 have developed AIDS, and 12,000 have died. Nine Canadians are infected with HIV each day, the equivalent of 3,300-4,200 per year. The median age of new infections dropped from age 32 in 1982-83 to 23 in 1986-1990. The incidence of HIV/AIDS is also growing among young gay men, injection drug users, women, Aboriginals and federal prison inmates. --Source: Health Canada
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