AIDS
(aquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
* The World Health Organization groups the Middle East into its Eastern Mediterranean region and includes the Russian Federation republics with Europe.
Annual death toll:
2.7 million
Infection:
AIDS is the advanced stages of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. By killing or damaging cells of the body's immune system, HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers.
Symptoms:
Swollen lymph nodes for more than three months is usually the first sign of infection. A wide range of other symptoms can appear between 2 months and 10 years after infection.
Transmission:
HIV is spread through blood, semen and vaginal discharges, from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding, through infected blood and the use of shared needles.
At risk:
People who have sexual contact with an infected person or who share needles. Infants who are fed breast milk.
Treatment:
Drugs that significantly prolong life with HIV/AIDS are available in industrialized countries. But the cost puts them out of reach for most people in developing countries.
Vaccine:
None.