Who is affected by HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS can affect anyone. Worldwide, an estimated 39 million people are living with HIV or AIDS.1 In Canada, about 60,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV since 1985. About 2,500 new cases are reported in Canada every year.2
Since the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) became widespread in 1996, the incidence of AIDS has decreased. Factors responsible for the decline in the incidence of new AIDS cases include:3
- Fewer people are becoming infected with HIV today than in the early 1980s.
- Improved treatments for HIV infection. HAART slows the rate at which HIV multiplies in the body. This helps keep a person's immune system healthy longer, which may slow the rate at which opportunistic diseases (such as pneumonia) develop.
- More effective treatments to prevent HIV-related infections.
| Author: | Douglas Dana Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: October 10, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine | |
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