UN chief warns of Asian HIV/Aids 'explosion'

The risk of Aids spreading in Asia is higher than ever and there is a danger of an "explosion" of the deadly disease if prevention…

The risk of Aids spreading in Asia is higher than ever and there is a danger of an "explosion" of the deadly disease if prevention efforts are not intensified now, according to the UN’s top AIDS official.

When I look at what's going on in many countries in Asia there's a vicious cocktail of risk factors
Peter Piot, executive director, UNAIDS

One-in-four new infections occurs in Asia, with the disease having spread to all provinces of China amid its economic boom, while India now has the world's second-highest number of Aids/HIV patients after South Africa.

The Aids epidemic is still mainly found among vulnerable groups such as homosexuals, injecting drug users and sex workers, but it could spread to the general population unless intense efforts are made, said Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS.

"When I look at what's going on in many countries in Asia there's a vicious cocktail of risk factors," he said before the start of an international Aids conference in the western Japanese city of Kobe.

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"An explosive cocktail of risk factors that mean that if 'business as usual' continues there will undoubtedly be an explosion of Aids," he added.

Low condom use, limited access to HIV testing, gender inequality, widespread injecting drug use, and sex work could lead to a rapid expansion of the deadly disease leading to 12 million newly infected people within the next five years.

The figure could be reduced to six million if there was sufficient political will, he said.

Prevention and access to cheap medicine will top the agenda at the 7th Asia-Pacific Aids Conference in Kobe from July 1st to 5th.