Low graphics   |   Mobile      Login   |   About us      
Tue, 7 Oct 20:27:57 GMT17

 
AIDS in Americas

Last reviewed: 26-06-2008
A "March of Silence" in Mexico City in 2005 in support of people with HIV.<BR> REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar
A "March of Silence" in Mexico City in 2005 in support of people with HIV.
REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar
Nearly 1.6 million people are living with HIV in Latin America, and 230,000 in the Caribbean. The latter has the second highest infection rate in the world - 1.6 percent - after sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Joint U.N. Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

  • Latin America has the developing world's highest treatment coverage.

    In Latin America 73 percent of those in need were receiving anti-retroviral drugs in 2005. In the Caribbean the figure was on a par with sub-Saharan Africa: 23 percent.

    Brazil has the largest number of people living with HIV in Latin America, but its prevalence rate is just 0.5 percent, one of the lowest in the world. The country's prevention, testing and treatment programmes have been held up as a global model.

    In the Caribbean, Cuba has managed to contain the epidemic, but using controversial methods including quarantining and forced testing which have been criticised by experts.

    The Caribbean's pandemic is mainly fuelled by the sex industry, according to UNAIDS. A smaller factor is unsafe sex between men.

    In some Latin American countries - Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru - unprotected sex between men who have sex with men accounts for as many as a third of AIDS cases. Infection rates among sex workers vary widely.

    KEY FACTS


    Latin America
    Number with HIV/AIDS in 2007 1.6 million (UNAIDS, 2007)
    AIDS deaths in 2007 58,000 (UNAIDS, 2007)
    Country with highest prevalence rate Belize (2.5 percent) (UNAIDS 2005)
    Caribbean
    Number with HIV/AIDS in 2007 230,000 (UNAIDS, 2007)
    AIDS deaths in 2007 11,000 (UNAIDS, 2007)
    Countries with highest number of people with HIV Haiti and Dominican Republic (UNAIDS, 2007)
    Country with lowest percentage of people with HIV/AIDS Cuba (0.1 percent) (UNAIDS 2005)

    Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

    • Related articles

    Breaking stories
     Asia No proof circumcision cuts gay male HIV risk-study

    Africa UGANDA: Post-conflict HIV programmes needed in the north

    AlertNet insight
     Asia MEDIAWATCH: Time to stop the hunt for an AIDS vaccine?

    Aid agency news feed
     Americas Red Ribbon Award recognises Fortaleciendo la Diversidad' innovative work to reduce stigma and discrimination towards transgenders

    Blogs
     Americas Yes, people over 50 have sex too


    AlertNet for journalists

    AlertNet for journalists is a set of tools and services designed to make life easier for reporters, fact-checkers and editors when covering humanitarian emergencies.
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-10-07T001553Z_01_BAS03_RTRIDSP_2_ARGENTINA-HONEY_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BAS03.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-10-07T001514Z_01_BAS04_RTRIDSP_2_ARGENTINA-HONEY_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BAS04.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-10-07T001415Z_01_BAS01_RTRIDSP_2_ARGENTINA-HONEY_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BAS01.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-10-07T001321Z_01_BAS07_RTRIDSP_2_ARGENTINA-HONEY_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BAS07.htm
    Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-10-07T001232Z_01_BAS02_RTRIDSP_2_ARGENTINA-HONEY_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BAS02.htm

    Honey bees are seen in a farm in the town of Chivilcoy, some 100 miles (160 km) from Buenos Aires, September 22, 2008. Beekeepers had it easy when cattle roamed freely ...


    More pictures | Galleries

    * Denotes mandatory entry      Rate this item *  
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5


    Name: *     Email: * 
    I am: *     


    Comments:

    Enter the code shown on on the left *




    URL: http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/HIV_CAR.htm

    For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org