The HIV virus. (Credit RKM.com.au)

Nearly 40 million people around the world are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Every year over 4 million become infected with HIV and nearly 3 million people die of the disease, over 95 percent of them in the developing world. Globally, HIV is the leading cause of death for adults during their most productive years impacting on societies’ socio-economic development and security.

A two pronged approach is needed to tackle the HIV epidemic. Public health programs are required to limit the spread of HIV and care for those who are already infected. At the same time research is needed to find better ways of stopping the epidemic and determining optimal approaches to treat and care for people living with HIV in countries with limited resources.

Although Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit region so far, HIV is a major problem in many countries in Asia and the Pacific including India, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. In many other countries of these regions HIV is spreading rapidly, fuelled by social inequities, fear and discrimination. For many biological and social reasons women are at increased risk for HIV and often bear the burden of caring for family members sick with the disease. Children can become infected around the time of birth and may also be left to care for their siblings after the death of their parents.

For more information about this project or to make a donation, please contact the Burnet Institute on (03) 9282 2111.