The number of HIV infections increased in Africa

Lower Sahara is home to the most HIV-infected people (Photo: AP)

UNAids says there are currently 39.5 million people worldwide with HIV. The number of people living with the virus has increased everywhere, but the fastest is in East Asia, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. Some countries, such as Uganda, are experiencing an increase in HIV infection rates after a period of decline.

The UNAids report, based on a worldwide epidemic survey, said about 4.3 million people are newly infected with HIV each year. 2.8 million of them are in the Sahara region. 40% of new infections are between the ages of 15 and 24 years.

In 2006, 2.9 million people died of Aids-related diseases. The report said: "The progress of the HIV epidemic depends largely on the attitude of the youth ."

Women are most affected

In Central Europe and Central Asia, the rate of new infections increased by 70% in 2006 compared to 2004. In Southeast Asia, the number of new infections increased by 15% in the past two years. The reason is high-risk behavior such as drug injection, unprotected sex and homosexual sex.

Worldwide, women with HIV are more at risk than before. In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence among women is 14 out of 10 HIV-infected men.

UNAids also said that HIV epidemics in countries like Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland are continuing to increase. Zimbabwe is the only country in Africa where HIV prevalence in adults is declining.