AIDS: The Second Wave

Over two decades ago, the first cases of a new disease now known as AIDS were described in the literature. Since then, remarkable advances have been made, a new retrovirus has been discovered, promising antiviral agents have been developed and affordable and effective preventive interventions exists. Yet the AIDS pandemic continues largely unabated. AIDS is the world's leading infectious disease cause of death and threatens to devastate the economic systems of resource-poor nations. Over the next decade the HIV epidemic is expected to continue to grow with an increasing proportion of infected persons residing in developing countries and increasingly affecting young women. However, reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS is achievable, and there is some cause for cautious optimism.