Parting

International HIV AIDS Ranking. The UN called Russia the epicenter of the global HIV epidemic

The wide spread of AIDS in the world makes it possible to consider the disease as a global problem of our time, for the solution of which the efforts of doctors alone are not enough. Medicine is not yet able to cope with the infection, and the role of public events like World AIDS Day can hardly be overestimated. This article will talk about the size of the AIDS epidemic in Russia and in the world, what the red ribbon is, and how public events help doctors cope with the plague of the 20th and possibly 21st century.

Epidemic AIDS

Poster "AIDS: we need research, not hysteria" at the Gay Pride parade in New York, June 27, 1983

In Europe, cases of infection were at first quite rare, and until the end of the 90s there was no talk of an epidemic, but in 3 years (from 1999 to 2002), the number HIV-infected cases tripled and continued to rise until 2004. After that, the increase in the incidence in most European regions slowed down.

To understand the depth of the problem, let's take a closer look at the statistics on AIDS in Russia and in the world.

General statistics for all patients infected HIV, in the world

According to the World Health Organization ( WHO), the total number of all HIV-infected exceeds 70 million people. Of these, about 40 million people are living with the virus today (36.7 million as of 2015). Almost every hundredth inhabitant of the planet aged 15-49 years old is sick today HIV, and these are just the official statistics. In reality, according to experts, these figures may be 3-5 times higher, because in some countries there is not enough logistical capacity to detect the disease.

The only region in the world where deaths from HIV-infection is only growing from year to year, the Asia-Pacific region remains. The number of deaths there is recorded annually by 200 thousand more than before.
The highest growth rates in the number of patients HIV according to statistics UNAID s are celebrated today in Russia and Central Asia. The number of fresh cases there annually increases by 10-15%.

In general, after the widespread introduction of antiretroviral therapy and as a result of the activities of public organizations, the epidemic in the world has stabilized - the total percentage HIV-infected has not been growing over the past five years, compared to 2004, the death rate from AIDS a, the number of infected children decreased by 30%.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the total number of all HIV-infected people exceeds 70 million

The most powerful of the organizations fighting against AIDS ohm - UNAIDS which, with the support UN brought together many smaller organizations - introduced a program that will completely stop the epidemic by 2030. To do this, it is necessary to achieve the principle of “90-90-90” everywhere:

90% of HIV-positive people should know about their disease - estimated WHO up to 20 million people do not yet know that they are sick;

90% of people diagnosed with the disease should receive modern antiretroviral therapy;

in 90% of people receiving treatment, it is necessary to achieve a stable reduction in viral load - that is, in fact, to make them non-infectious to others.

Achieving these goals, according to experts UNAIDS, although it will not save mankind from AIDS but stop the epidemic.

Unfortunately, not all countries today have the ability to comply with the 90-90-90 principle, including Russia, where the percentage of patients HIV has been steadily increasing in recent years. This in 2016 gave UNAIDS reason for the statement that Russia today is one of the main centers of the spread of the epidemic.

Statistics for HIV-infected patients in Russia

The forecast for the course of the HIV epidemic in Russia is extremely unfavorable

The statistics of HIV infection in Russia really does not inspire optimism. According to official data, by the end of 2016, 1,114,815 cases were registered in the Russian Federation. HIV- infections. The number of AIDS patients, or rather HIV-positive, in Russia in December 2016 was 870,952 people, the remaining 243,863 had died by this time from various causes.

The scale of the global infection is frightening in its size and threatens the existence of tens of millions of people on the entire planet. Realizing all the danger AIDS and, public organizations and charitable foundations are joining the fight against infection.

Public events aimed at combating AIDS ohm

In conditions when medicine cannot cope with the disease, prevention and prevention of new cases of infection play a huge role. This is what public organizations do.

The main objective of the events they hold is to draw people's attention to the problem, to talk about the danger of the epidemic, to make them think about what HIV this is not something far away, but a very real and very terrible disease.

Activities and actions aimed at combating AIDS oh, a lot is held in the world - from the banal distribution of leaflets to large-scale rallies and processions. We will talk about some of them.

The red ribbon is a symbol of the fight against AIDS ohm

Red ribbon - a symbol of the fight against AIDS

The wearing of a chest ribbon as a means of expressing solidarity is used everywhere. Everyone in our country is familiar with the St. George ribbon, which is worn as a tribute to the memory and respect for the heroism of the Soviet people during the war years. AT USA during the Gulf War, American citizens tied yellow ribbons around themselves to express their protest and support the soldiers. Ribbons of various colors are worn by people to draw attention to other issues, such as Alzheimer's disease, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and the growth of cancer in children.

In June of the same year, many participants in the prestigious award Tony Awards(award for success and achievements in theatrical art) were already wearing blood-red ribbons, expressing solidarity with all those affected by AIDS a.

A little later, in November, at a concert in memory of the deceased from AIDS and Freddie Mercury, the red ribbon was visible on the chest of his fans, and in 1992 the ribbon was already worn by most of the Oscar participants. Since then, the red ribbon has become a regular participant in such events.

It would seem that how it can help in the fight against AIDS oh a piece of cloth pinned to the chest with a pin? Actually it can. Even if a few people out of thousands of fans of numerous movie and pop stars, seeing this symbol on the chest of their idols, become interested in the problem HIV and will be more vigilant in terms of infection, so these ribbons were not in vain.

Since 2006, for new techniques that are being introduced to combat HIV, at the International Conference on AIDS a prestigious award bearing the symbolic name "Red Ribbon" is awarded. In Russia, an award with the same name has been established. It is awarded on International AIDS Day for a significant contribution to counteracting the epidemic.

Even if a few people out of thousands of fans of numerous movie and pop stars, seeing the red ribbon on the chest of their idols, become interested in the problem of HIV and are more vigilant in terms of infection, then these ribbons were not put on in vain

world day against AIDS ohm

December 1 - World AIDS Day

In 1988, at the initiative of their employees D. Bunn and T. Netter, in WHO decided to create a day of struggle against HIV which would draw public attention to the problem of the epidemic.

Since then, World Anti-Virus Day AIDS om takes place every year on December 1 all over the planet. Initially organized events WHO, but since 1996 this responsibility has been taken over by UNAIDS.

education, including individual prevention measures;

support for public programs to prevent the growth of the epidemic;

demonstration of the unity of mankind in the face of a global threat.

To this end, on December 1, rallies, charity concerts and other public events are held around the world. The variety of actions that take place on this day is limited only by the imagination of the local organizers. It can be a flash mob or a free distribution of condoms, free testing for HIV or a parade with red ribbons, thematic exhibitions or open lessons in schools - in the face of world danger, all means are good.

World Day of Remembrance for Victims AIDS a

Every year on the third Sunday in May, millions of people around the world participate in events that call for the memory of the victims HIV and think about the risk of infection.

On this day, various actions and charity concerts are also held, sanitary education and anonymous testing are carried out, any forms of attracting attention and enlightening people are used.

At the same time, on this day they pay tribute to the memory of those who died from AIDS a: doves are launched into the sky, leaflets with the names of the dead are burned, wreaths are launched along the river.

The role of these and other events is unusually high. After all, it is precisely a superficial idea of the epidemic, a lack of understanding of how easy it is to become a victim AIDS and, in many ways, contributes to the emergence of new victims.

In India, which is one of the ten worst infected countries in the world, 65% of women have never heard of HIV and have no idea what it is. The overwhelming number of sexual contacts takes place here without a condom.

According to UNAIDS, the United Nations organization against AIDS, we have prepared a list of countries where you should be especially careful not to catch the "plague of the 20th century".

The topic of the article is not the most pleasant, but “forewarned is forearmed”, the problem exists and just turning a blind eye to it is unforgivable carelessness. Travelers and so often risk their health, fortunately, with lesser consequences, but it’s still not worth putting yourself in danger.

Although the country is the most developed on the African continent, the number of HIV-infected people here is a record - 5.6 million. This is despite the fact that there are 34 million patients in the world, and the population of South Africa is about 53 million, that is, more than 15% live with the virus.

What you need to know: the majority of HIV-infected people are blacks from disadvantaged suburbs. It is this group that is in the worst social conditions with all the ensuing consequences: drug addiction, promiscuous sex, unsanitary conditions. Most of the patients were recorded in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (the capital is Durban), Mpumalanga (Nelspraid), Freestate (Blomfontien), North-West (Mafikeng) and Gauteng (Johannesburg).

Nigeria

Here, there are 3.3 million carriers of HIV infection, although this is less than 5% of the population: Nigeria recently displaced Russia, taking 7th place in the world - 173.5 million people. In big cities, the disease spreads due to antisocial behavior, and in rural areas due to constant labor migration and "free" customs and traditions.

What you need to know: Nigeria is not the most hospitable country and the Nigerians themselves are well aware of this. Therefore, the receiving party will certainly take care of safety and warn against dangerous contacts.

Kenya

The country accounts for 1.6 million infected, just over 6% of the population. At the same time, women are more likely to suffer from the disease - about 8% of Kenyan women are infected. As in many African countries, the status of a woman, and hence her level of security and education, is still very low.

What you need to know: a safari in a national park or a beach and hotel vacation in Mombasa are quite safe activities, unless, of course, you specifically look for illegal entertainment.

Tanzania

A country quite friendly for tourists with a bunch of interesting places is also dangerous in terms of HIV infection, although not like many other states in Africa. According to recent studies, the HIV/AIDS incidence rate in Tanzania is 5.1%. There are fewer infected men, but the gap is not as large as, for example, in Kenya.

What you need to know: Tanzania, by African standards, is a fairly prosperous country, so if you follow the obvious rules, the threat of infection is minimal. High, more than 10, the percentage of infected people in the Njobe region and the capital Dar es Salaam. Fortunately, both of them are far from the tourist routes, unlike Kilimanjaro or the island of Zanzibar.

Mozambique

The country is deprived not only of sights, but also of elementary infrastructure from hospitals to roads and water supply. In addition, many of the consequences of the civil war are still unresolved. Of course, an African country in this state could not avoid an epidemic: according to various estimates, from 1.6 to 5.7 people are infected - conditions simply do not allow an accurate study. Due to the widespread spread of the immunodeficiency virus, foci of tuberculosis, malaria and cholera often break out.

What you need to know: a dysfunctional country, an outsider even in its own region. The chance of getting infected here is higher than in others, so precautions should be taken especially carefully.

Uganda

A country with good potential for classic safari tourism, which it has been actively developing lately. Plus, Uganda has been and remains one of the most progressive countries in terms of HIV prevention and diagnosis in Africa. The first specialized clinic was opened here, and disease testing centers operate throughout the country.

What you need to know: risk groups are the same as everywhere else: drug addicts, former prisoners - it will not be difficult for a sane tourist not to intersect with them.

Zambia and Zimbabwe

These countries are similar in many ways, even the main attraction, they have one for two: Victoria Falls is located right on the border - tourists can come to it from both sides. In terms of living standards and the incidence of AIDS, the countries are also not far from each other - in Zambia there are almost a million infected, in Zimbabwe - 1.2. This is the average figure for Southern Africa - from 5% to 15% of the population.

What you need to know: there are problems with the provision of medicines, in addition, in rural areas, many self-medicate and practice useless rituals. Therefore, the disease, typical for cities, has also reached remote areas.

India

There are 2.4 million HIV-infected people here, however, against the background of 1.2 billion people, this does not look so frightening - less than 1%. The main risk group is sex workers. 55% of Indians live in four southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Goa, the incidence rate is far from the highest for India - 0.6% of men and 0.4% of women.

What you need to know: Fortunately, HIV infection, unlike many other tropical diseases, depends indirectly on unsanitary conditions. Outright dirt and crampedness is a normal condition for India. The main thing, as, by the way, in any country, is to try not to appear in public places if there are wounds and cuts on the body, not to wear open shoes in the city, and we are not even talking about dubious entertainment.

Ukraine

Eastern Europe, unfortunately, over the past decades has shown a positive trend in the incidence of HIV / AIDS, and Ukraine consistently tops this sad list. Today, slightly more than 1% of people in the country are HIV-infected.

What you need to know: A few years ago, unprotected sex became the way the disease spread, overtaking injections with dirty syringes. Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odessa and Nikolaev regions are unfavorable. There are 600-700 infected per 100 thousand inhabitants. Kyiv, where tourists most often come, has an average level, and Transcarpathia has the lowest rate in the country.

America is in 9th place in the world in terms of the number of carriers of HIV infection - 1.2 million people. Such a high rate in one of the most prosperous countries is due to the high level of drug addiction, unresolved social contradictions, and active migration. And the violent, dissolute 60s were not in vain for the health of the nation. Of course, the disease is concentrated on specific groups of people who in the United States most often live not only separately from everyone, but localized, in “bad” areas.

What you need to know: Here are ten cities where the percentage of HIV-positive patients is highest (in descending order): Miami, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, New York, Washington, Columbia, Memphis, Orlando, New Orleans, Baltimore.

HIV infection is one of the most progressive sexually transmitted diseases in the world. It is also worth noting that AIDS statistics in the world, as a rule, absolutely do not correspond to the true picture of the spread of the disease, since research methods are based only on patients who are served in medical institutions. At the same time, most carriers and patients are not even aware of their infection due to unwillingness or lack of access to a doctor.

Another factor contributing to the concealment of truthful information about the spread of AIDS in the world is the fear of politicians and doctors to be guilty of the inability to contain the avalanche of infection that is rapidly moving towards humanity.

The state of the spread of HIV in the world

The number of HIV-infected people in the world is growing exponentially. First of all, this is due to the fact that the problem of AIDS in the world does not lend itself to the basic rules for combating infectious diseases, which are based on the exclusion of one of the components of the epidemiological process:

The source of the disease.
transmission path.
susceptible population.

In the countries of the world, HIV has long been the number one problem. For every infection to spread, there must be a source, a route of transmission that ensures that the virus reaches a susceptible population. In the case of HIV, there is no way to act on any of the three components that contribute to the spread of the disease. A huge problem is that most people become infected from virus carriers who are in the so-called “serological window”, when a person is already infected, but the tests are still negative. It has not been possible to exclude the latter factor for many decades, since the invention of a vaccine against immunodeficiency has been postponed indefinitely due to insufficient knowledge, research and technical capabilities.

Given the above, the statistics of HIV in the world will worsen every year, as many people on the planet underestimate the danger of the immunodeficiency virus. The current HIV epidemiological situation in the world can only be affected by awareness of the population and support for the fight against AIDS at the state level.

The prevalence of HIV infection (AIDS) in the world

Only by the end of the eighties, the statistics of HIV-infected people in the world reached indicators that shocked the world community. In 142 countries, the World Health Organization found more than 120,000 people with AIDS and more than 100,000 infected with a retrovirus. The real prevalence of HIV in the world is much higher than these data, since there is always a percentage of the population that is not registered in medical institutions and therefore cannot be taken into account in statistical indicators. There are also carriers who are not even aware of their infection. The AIDS epidemic in the world affects mainly people of reproductive age. This leads to a significant loss of the able-bodied population, a decrease in the birth rate of healthy children and, accordingly, a decrease in the health indicator of all strata of mankind.

How many HIV-infected people are there in the world?

The question that interests many is how many people have AIDS in the world today? The countries of southern Africa, India, Russia, the USA and Latin America occupy the first place in terms of HIV in the world. In these states, infected people make up approximately 15% of the total population. Every year, the number of HIV-infected people in the countries of the world increases by 5-10 million. Thus, at the beginning of the 21st century, the number of AIDS patients in the world amounted to more than 60 million. The first place in AIDS in the world community is occupied by the countries of southern Africa. Due to the unstable economic situation, the possibility of treating and identifying HIV-infected people is very difficult. This leads to a rapid and rapid spread of immunodeficiency among people. The disease progresses very quickly to stage 4 - AIDS.

The epidemiological situation of HIV infection in the world

Countries where the incidence of immunodeficiency is rapidly increasing:

Brazil.
countries of Central Africa.
Haiti.
Indonesia.
Bangladesh.
Pakistan.
Mexico.
United Kingdom.
Turkey.

The ways of spreading AIDS in the countries of the world to some extent depend on the economic situation in the state and on its policy towards HIV-infected people. There are such features:

The countries of the European Union, the USA, Australia and New Zealand are characterized by a high early detection of the disease among the population. This is due to compulsory health insurance and relatively frequent high-quality medical examinations. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that 80% of the infected were found among homosexual men and drug addicts who use intravenous drugs. In childhood, the incidence is practically not recorded. This is due to the timely and high-quality treatment of infected pregnant women, which prevents the vertical transmission of immunodeficiency (from a sick mother to a healthy fetus through the placenta, blood, breast milk). Cases of non-sexual transmission in these countries are practically not registered.
For the states of Africa and the adjacent warm islands, as well as the states of the Caribbean, Indonesia, the rate of early detection of AIDS is very low. In these countries, the majority of patients are heterosexual. Their age is 18-38 years. Most of these people were infected through sexual contact with prostitutes. Studies show that more than 90% of them are infected with a retrovirus. In Africa, HIV transmission is often associated with sexual contact with an ill woman. More often, such intercourse additionally leads to diseases that are sexually transmitted. And genital ulcers that develop due to these pathologies lead to a higher likelihood of transmission of the pathogen. In such states, transfusion of blood and its products from an infected donor to a healthy recipient is not uncommon.
Countries where HIV has been introduced relatively recently. These include Asia and Eastern Europe. Infection with a retrovirus here occurs mainly through sexual contact. The highest risk of infection in people who have many sexual partners do not neglect unprotected relationships with prostitutes.

HIV in Russia

The Urals Federal District occupies the first place in terms of HIV in the Russian Federation. About 800 patients per 100 thousand of the population are registered in it, which is a very high figure. Over the past 15 years, cases of detection of immunodeficiency in pregnant women have increased by 15% in Russia. At the same time, such women are registered at a later date, which leads to intrauterine infection of the fetus due to the lack of necessary treatment in the early stages of embryo formation. The Siberian Federal District also claims the first place in Russia in terms of AIDS, in which about 600 infected per 100 thousand of the population are registered, most of them have the last stage of the development of the disease, that is, AIDS.

Medical news in the world of HIV

Nowadays, the task of creating a vaccine against a retrovirus in scientists is in the first place. Now a huge amount of research work is being carried out in the field of molecular microbiology, which undoubtedly brings humanity closer to the creation of an AIDS vaccine. Despite this, there are a number of factors that prevent the possibility of obtaining such a drug:

The high ability of the virus to mutate.
A variety of HIV strains (currently 2 types are known).
The need to fight not only with a retrovirus, but also with infected cells of the body, as well as AIDS-associated infections.

Due to the fact that the spread of HIV in the world is growing every year, many patients simply do not have time to wait for a vaccine. Therefore, the main way in the fight against this disease should be directed to preventive measures. All HIV-infected people in the world receive free treatment, which provides them with the most comfortable life. With adequate and competent therapy, patients can live a full and long life. Treatment of HIV in the world is carried out in regional AIDS centers according to uniform standards and provides for an individual approach to any patient, the selection of a scheme depending on the stage of progression of the pathology. The main principle of medical care is maximum confidentiality.

AIDS is constantly spreading among the world's population, while curing it completely is not yet possible. Therefore, it is worth directing maximum efforts to prevent such a dangerous pathology.

Last week it became known that every 50th inhabitant of Yekaterinburg is infected with HIV. Today, the Ministry of Health officially announced that an increased level of the spread of the disease is observed in 10 regions, including the Sverdlovsk region. Life found out which regions of the country are most likely to contract a deadly disease.

On November 2, Tatyana Savinova, First Deputy Head of the Health Department of the Administration of the City of Yekaterinburg, announced a pandemic of the immunodeficiency virus in the Ural capital. According to her, the disease is firmly rooted in all segments of the city's population and the spread of the disease no longer depends on risk groups. A total of 26,693 cases of HIV infection have been registered in Yekaterinburg, but this includes only officially known cases, so the actual incidence is much higher.

Later, the city health department informed about the epidemic, and the refutation was made by herself Savinova. According to her, on P press conference, journalists asked her a question about the situation in Yekaterinburg. And in response she just " voiced the data broadcast in the media."

Of course, for us, physicians, this has long been an HIV epidemic, since many people are sick in Yekaterinburg, the official said. - It didn't happen yesterday and nothing has been officially announced.

Today, the head of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Veronika Skvortsova, that an increased level of the spread of HIV disease has been recorded in 10 regions Russia.

In our country, 57% of all sources of HIV infection are the injection route, as a rule, among heroin addicts, she added.

Meanwhile, according to experts, it is really high time to declare the epidemic officially, moreover, on a national scale.

The epidemic is spreading throughout the country, and only one administrator had the courage (the administration of one region. - Approx. ed.) admit it. There is unevenness: the population of cities is more affected. And where the urban population is higher than the rural population, the percentage of those affected is higher there. This is the Volga region, the Urals, Siberia. These are signs of the general epidemic which at us goes, - Life reported. Director of the Federal Methodological Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Epidemiology Vadim Pokrovsky.

To prove what was said, the head of the center cited figures.

Now we have 1% of the population infected with HIV, and in the age group of 30-40 years - 2.5%. On the day we register a total of 270 new cases of HIV infection in the country, every day 50-60 people die from AIDS. What else is needed to talk about the epidemic? asked Pokrovsky.

In Yekaterinburg, the situation with HIV is not even the worst. Every 50th inhabitant of the city (2% of the population) is infected there. But in Tolyatti (Samara region), as told by p Head of the Federal Scientific and Methodological Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS Vadim Pokrovsky,already 3% of the population are HIV-positive.

On the Life map, you can find your region and see how many cases are among your fellow countrymen.

The share of HIV-infected people in the total number of inhabitants of the region

As you can see, the epidemic covered Russia unevenly. Half of all those infected live in 20 of the 85 regions. The worst situation is in the Irkutsk and Samara regions (1.8% of the inhabitants are infected with HIV). In third place is the Sverdlovsk region, the capital of which is Yekaterinburg (1.7% of the inhabitants are infected with HIV).

Slightly fewer infected in the Orenburg region (1.4%), the Leningrad region (1.3%), the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (1.3%).

And here are the statistics on the mortality of HIV-infected people by region (data from the Federal AIDS Center, dated 2014, no more recent statistics yet).

As of December 31, 2014 in Russia 148,713 HIV-positive adults and 683 children died. In 2014, 24.4 thousand HIV-positive people died.

Pokrovsky explained why HIV "selected" these regions:

These are the regions where drug trafficking took place, for example, the Orenburg region. As well as materially prosperous parts of the country where drugs were easier to sell (Irkutsk and Sverdlovsk regions).

Yekaterinburg Mayor Yevgeny Roizman also said that the majority of HIV-positive people became infected due to drugs.

I started talking about it in 1999,” he said. - Of those addicts who passed through my hands, the guys are heroin addicts, of which 40% were HIV-positive. The girls are heroin addicts, if without HIV infection, it was an event. Moreover, they were all, as a rule, also prostitutes. Then, when what was called a crocodile started, everyone there was HIV-infected. They could buy disposable syringes, but they recruited from one bowl. Now there is a sexual spread. Indeed, we are ahead of the whole of Russia. The situation in the Sverdlovsk region is worse than in Yekaterinburg. Ahead of all of Russia - this was due to drug addiction, - said Evgeny Roizman.

Vadim Pokrovsky stressed that among the main problems in this area is the lack of medicines.

Now we need to treat a little more than 800 thousand HIV-infected people. 220,000 have died, and, according to estimates, another 500,000 have not yet been diagnosed with us,” Pokrovsky noted.

Previously, Pokrovsky, which is bad with prevention.

There are no strategic programs to fight AIDS in the regions, Vadim Pokrovsky says. - As a result, they will print and hang several posters and flyers. This is where prevention ends.

It turns out a vicious circle.

People do not even suspect how difficult the situation with HIV is in Russia, Vadim Pokrovsky notes. - Information is the main method of combating the spread of the disease. In addition, it is also cost savings, because the fewer people get infected, the less you will have to treat later.

Online Q&A
November 2016

What is HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects the cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing its function. Infection with the virus leads to progressive degradation of the immune system and, as a result, to "immunodeficiency". The immune system is considered defective when it can no longer perform its role in fighting infection and disease. Infections associated with severe immunodeficiency are known as "opportunistic infections" because they "take advantage" of a weakened immune system.

What is AIDS?

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the term applied to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. It is characterized by the appearance of any of more than 20 opportunistic infections or HIV-related cancers.

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact (vaginal or anal) and oral sex with an infected person; when transfusing infected blood; and when sharing contaminated needles, syringes, or other sharp instruments. It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

How many people in the world are infected with HIV?

WHO and UNAIDS estimated that at the end of 2015 there were 36.7 million people living with HIV worldwide. In the same year, about 2.1 million people acquired the infection and 1.1 million people died from HIV-related causes.

How quickly does an HIV-infected person develop AIDS?

This period of time varies greatly from person to person. If left untreated, most HIV-infected people show signs of HIV-related illness within 5 to 10 years, and possibly sooner. After the acquisition of HIV infection before the diagnosis of AIDS usually takes 10-15 years, and sometimes more. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can slow the progression of the disease by preventing the virus from replicating and therefore reducing the amount of viruses (known as "viral load") in an infected person's blood.

What is the most common life-threatening opportunistic infection that affects people with HIV/AIDS?

In 2015, nearly 390,000 people with HIV died from tuberculosis. It is the leading cause of death among HIV-infected people in Africa and one of the leading causes of death among this population worldwide. There are a number of key public health strategies that are critical for preventing and managing TB infection in people living with HIV.

routine screening for TB symptoms at every doctor's visit;
management of occult TB infection (eg, isoniazid prophylaxis);
fight against tuberculosis infection;
early initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

How can I reduce the risk of HIV transmission through sexual contact?

use male or female condoms correctly with every sexual contact;
take antiretroviral drugs for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
engage only in non-penetrative sex;
remain faithful in relationships with an uninfected and equally faithful partner and avoid any other forms of risky behavior.

Does male circumcision prevent HIV transmission?

Male circumcision reduces the risk of acquiring HIV during sexual intercourse between a man and a woman by about 60%.

A one-time medical male circumcision provides lifelong partial protection against HIV as well as other sexually transmitted infections. Male circumcision should always be considered as part of an overall HIV prevention package and in no way replaces other known prevention methods such as male and female condoms.

How effective are condoms in preventing HIV?

When used correctly with every sexual encounter, condoms are a reliable way to prevent HIV infection in women and men. However, no remedy other than abstinence is 100% effective.

What is a female condom?

The female condom is the only female-controlled barrier method of contraception currently available on the market. The female condom is a strong, soft, transparent polyurethane cap that is inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse. When used correctly with every sexual encounter, it fits completely around the vagina and provides protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

What are the benefits of an HIV test?

Knowing your HIV status provides two important benefits:

By learning that you are HIV positive, you can take the necessary steps to access treatment, care and support before symptoms appear, potentially prolonging your life and preventing complications for many years to come. years.
Once you know you are infected, you can take precautions to prevent passing HIV on to others.

What are antiretroviral drugs?

Antiretroviral drugs are used in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. They fight HIV by stopping or curbing the reproduction of the virus and reducing its amount in the body.

What is the current status of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision?

As of mid-2016, 18.2 million people were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) worldwide. Although this figure represents the impressive progress made over the past decade in scaling up HIV treatment coverage, it represents only 46% of patients requiring ART. Thus, more than half of the people who need access to treatment still do not have it.

Is there a cure for HIV?

No, there is no cure for HIV. But with proper and continuous adherence to prescriptions for antiretroviral therapy, the progression of HIV in the body can be slowed almost to a halt. More and more people with HIV, even in low-income countries, are able to stay well and productive for a long time. WHO recommends treatment for all people infected with HIV, as well as for those who are at significant risk.

What other types of assistance do people with HIV need?

In addition to antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV often need counseling and psychological support. Access by HIV-infected people to adequate nutrition, safe water and basic hygiene can also help maintain a high quality of life.

Many countries consider HIV infection as the main problem in the formation of a healthy nation all over the world. Depending on the economic state of the state, the ability to quickly and accurately detect infected people, timely high-quality treatment of patients, as well as the awareness of the population about the danger of the disease and prevention methods, the indicator that determines which country has the most HIV (AIDS) incidence depends.

The popularity of the state in the world community and economic growth depend on this indicator in the 21st century. Many highly developed countries do not allow entry into their territory without passing an appropriate analysis, which indicates the government's interest in the health of its population. In the Russian Federation every year every working person is required to take an analysis to determine the retrovirus in the blood. This allows you to control the disease and take appropriate measures to prevent immunodeficiency. For example, in Belarus, when crossing a border checkpoint, one must document one's HIV-negativity. But in Europe, this document is not always required. In any case, when traveling to another country, you must have such data with you, which are valid for 3 months.

Countries according to the number of HIV-infected people are divided into 3 levels:

States in which the causative agent of AIDS is transmitted among men - homo- and bisexual, drug addicts using intravenous potent substances. These include the USA, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Great Britain, Turkey. These countries have a high rate of infected per 100,000 population, which ranges from 53 to 246 patients, depending on the region.
The disease occurs among heterosexuals when the pathogen is transmitted sexually through contact with a prostitute. At the same time, a high degree of possibility of infection in people who have many sexual partners. Often such patients are also exposed to sexually transmitted diseases. Such regions include the countries of Asia and Eastern Europe. They have a relatively low rate of those infected with a retrovirus, which is from 20 to 50 patients per 100,000 population.
In China, Japan, Nigeria, Egypt, the incidence of HIV infection is lower than in other countries of the world. Here, the disease is considered imported and occurs most often in prostitutes and those who use their services. These countries have a low rate of infected, which is from 6 to 16 patients per hundred thousand citizens.

Countries heavily infected with HIV pose a great danger to the population of the Earth. The statistics of such states show that the infection with immunodeficiency is growing every year. This suggests that either the country is not fighting AIDS or the actions taken are not effective. There is a list that includes the most dangerous countries in terms of HIV transmission. The rating below shows the level of danger in them:

SOUTH AFRICA. It has the highest degree of infection of the population with a retrovirus. It is believed that approximately a quarter of the population is affected by immunodeficiency. There are 5.6 million patients with AIDS here. The state has an HIV mortality index of about 1 million people a year, infected - 15% of the total number of citizens.
India. AIDS has affected 2.4 million people here. In the country, the mortality rate from immunodeficiency varies from 1% to 2% per year, the number of HIV-infected people is 10-12% of the population.
Kenya has the lowest rate of HIV (AIDS) in Africa. Statistics speak of 1.5 million patients. The country has a mortality index from a retrovirus - 0.75 million people, 7.5% of the population are infected with this pathogen.
Tanzania, Mozambique. There are 0.99-0.34 million people with AIDS here, depending on the region. These countries have an immunodeficiency mortality index of 0.2-0.5 million citizens per year, 8-12% of the population is infected.
USA, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe. There are 1.2 million people with AIDS. These countries have a total HIV mortality index of 0.3-0.4 million people per year, 5% of the population is infected.
Russia. HIV-infected people in Russia amount to 0.98 million people. Mortality from AIDS reaches a level slightly less than 3-4% of all cases. The most HIV-infected city in Russia is Yekaterinburg. It is believed that one in 50 residents of the city is infected with a retrovirus.
Uzbekistan. The infection in Uzbekistan affected 32,743 people. Of these, 57% are men.
Azerbaijan. The number of HIV (AIDS) patients in Azerbaijan is 131 people. Of these, 36 women and 95 men.
United Arab Emirates. Recently, the detection rate of HIV infection among Arabs has increased. According to the latest data, the incidence index is 350-370 thousand per 367 million population.

HIV (AIDS) in Kazakhstan

According to the latest report, HIV-infected people in Kazakhstan account for 0.01%. At the end of 2016, 22,474 cases of infection were registered. 16,530 people with AIDS have been identified. Among the total number of infected men are 69%, women - 31%. Although the female sex occupies a smaller proportion among those infected, their number is gradually growing. The government is actively involved in the treatment of HIV (AIDS) in Kazakhstan. The effectiveness of the program is evidenced by:

increasing the number of early detection of patients;

an increase in the number of patients who received antiretroviral therapy;

decrease in the birth rate of infected children.

HIV in the USA

The number of HIV-infected people in the United States is growing every year. The country has a high level of economy, which contributes to the early detection of those infected and the appointment of adequate treatment in the initial stages of the disease. This helps to reduce the aggressiveness of the virus, prolong life and improve its quality.

How many people are HIV positive in the US? To a greater extent in America, immunodeficiency is common among homosexuals. It is believed that there are about 2.6 million carriers of the infection in the United States. But the high level of medical care makes it possible to take good care of such patients, making their life the same as that of healthy people.

How common is HIV in Russia?

AIDS in Russia has not yet won the status of an epidemic, but the growing figures indicate the possibility of a rapid progression of infection among people in the country. HIV infection in Russia is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies, because there is no vaccine for its prevention, and only the self-awareness of citizens can lead to a decrease in the incidence rate.

Where did AIDS come to Russia from? The first confirmed case of immunodeficiency was discovered in Moscow in the family of a seafarer. After a 9-month business trip to hot countries, he was hospitalized in his hometown with pneumocystis pneumonia, which very often affects infected people due to a decrease in the barrier function of immunity. The examination revealed the human immunodeficiency virus. The man died a few months later, and his family had to move to the other side of the country, change their names so that their ill-wishers would not find them.

Since this period, the level of HIV incidence in Russia has been gradually growing, violating the standard indicators of the health of the population and reducing its efficiency.

How many HIV-infected people are in Russia? At the end of 2016, the quantitative index among those infected with a retrovirus was 0.98 million. This number is considered one of the lowest in the world, while AIDS mortality in the Russian Federation is stable at an average level. In the regions of Russia, the situation of HIV incidence is different. This is due to several factors:

Religiosity.
The population of the region.
Economic importance.
The quality of medical equipment and service.

How many people have HIV (AIDS) in Russia? The largest figure in the Ural Federal District. The incidence has the highest numerical indicator among other regions of the country. It is 757.2 infected per 100,000 people.

The Siberian Federal District has an incidence index of 532 infected people per 100,000 citizens. Privolzhsky Federal District - 424 patients for the same population.

Among all the federal districts of the country, the North Caucasian Federal District has the lowest rate, here the level is 58 people per 100,000 population.

The number of AIDS patients in Russia in the Far Eastern Federal District is 172 infected. How many people are ill with HIV (AIDS) in Russia in the North-West region? The incidence index in this district is 407 patients per 100,000 population.

The number of HIV, AIDS-infected people in Russia is progressing upward every year, so only preventive measures can reduce the incidence among citizens of the Russian Federation.

Thanks to the standards of immunodeficiency treatment, the state program for detection and therapeutic assistance, the number of patients with HIV infection (AIDS) in Russia has slightly decreased. The rate of birth of infected children has decreased, which indicates the early detection of a retrovirus in pregnant women and the appointment of correct and effective treatment for them.

Thanks to the simplification of testing for retroviruses and the constant screening of the population, the dynamics of HIV disease in Russia tends to reduce mortality rates. Some facts suggest that the number of carriers of the pathogen is increasing. But on closer examination, it turns out that the number of examined citizens is growing every year, and this leads to an overestimation of the absolute incidence rate.

There is no need to be afraid that there are a million HIV-infected people in Russia. If you adhere to the basics of personal hygiene and prevention methods, the risk of infection approaches zero. You need to know that the best means of protection against retrovirus infection are barrier contraceptives, sterile instruments.

Of all countries in the world, the highest growth rate in the number of new cases of HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus) was recorded in Russia. Deborah Burks, coordinator of global AIDS programs, said this in her speech at the US State Department on the occasion of World AIDS Day celebrated annually on December 1. She said that "the largest increase in the number of new HIV infections worldwide is observed in Russia due to the lack of response in the fight against the breadth and depth of the epidemic in the country."

She did not provide any figures or data to support her words. However, official statistics confirm these words of the representative of the US State Department. At the beginning of 2017, there were about 36.7 million people living with HIV in the world, mostly in developing countries, including countries in Africa. Russia accounts for about 900,000 of them, according to official statistics. The real figures in the Russian Federation, according to domestic experts,.

In 2016, 1.8 million new infections were recorded worldwide, in other words, about five thousand people are infected with HIV every day on the planet - one every 17 seconds. In Russia, the annual increase in the number of new cases of infection with the virus averages 10%: in 2014 - 89808 cases of new infections, in 2015 - 98232 people newly infected, in 2016 - 103438 cases. And this year will be no exception. Mortality from HIV infection, according to Rosstat, in Russia is also growing annually: in 2014 - 12540 deaths, in 2015 - 15520, in 2016 - 18575 deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which has been keeping regional HIV statistics since the 1980s, when data collection and analysis began, reports that the total number of people infected in the European Region has reached 2,167,684, including 1,114,815 cases registered in Russia.

Over the past year, according to WHO, in the European Region, 160 thousand new cases This is the maximum in the history of observations. The European region is the only one where the number of new infections is on the rise. But this does not mean that these threatening data refer to Europe. WHO statistics "for the European Region" unites 53 countries with a population of almost 900 million people - in addition to the countries of the European Economic Area (EU / EEA), this also includes Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Russia.

In the EU countries themselves, only 29,000 new HIV infections were recorded last year. Russia is spoiling the "European statistics", since out of the total regional figure of 160 thousand, more than 103 thousand cases are in our country.

A joint report by the WHO and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says this is the highest number of cases reported in a single year. "If the trend continues, we will miss our target of ending the spread of the HIV epidemic by 2030," says Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

In Russia, the highest incidence rates were also noted in 2016 - 70.6 cases per 100,000 population, in Ukraine this figure is 33.7 per 100 thousand, in Belarus - 25.2, in Moldova - 20.5. The number of newly diagnosed HIV infections in Russia and Ukraine is 73% of the number of infections in the European Region and 92% of the total in the east of the European Region.

In 2014, more than 142,000 new cases of HIV infection were recorded in the European Region (of which 89,808 cases were in the Russian Federation), in 2015 - 153,407 (of which 98,232 were in the Russian Federation). By the end of 2017, there will also be at least 100 thousand new infected people in Russia, Vadim Pokrovsky, head of the Federal Scientific and Methodological Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, is convinced.

According to him, the number of deaths due to HIV-positive status is also growing. "Last year, 18.5 thousand people, according to Rosstat, died precisely from AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). In fact, more than 30 thousand people died with HIV, but why the remaining 15 thousand died is a question that needs to be studied," Pokrovsky said.

It cannot be said that the increase in the incidence rate is decreasing in Russia, one can only speak of a decrease in the increase in new cases. "We do not reduce growth, but as it was, it remains such, it is added," says Vadim Pokrovsky, head of the scientific and methodological Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS.

Since 2016, the Ministry of Health has taken into account only non-anonymous infected people - those who have been tested in state medical institutions with a passport and an insurance certificate in their hands. There were 86,800 such people in 2016 compared to 100,000 in 2015. And taking into account anonymous analyzes, Rospotrebnadzor counted 125,000 new cases of laboratory confirmation of HIV infection in 2016. Thus, the Ministry of Health closed its eyes to at least 20% of those infected. And a large part of HIV-infected people is not yet aware of their diagnosis, since the latent form can last 10-20 years.

At the same time, there is not enough money in the state budget for the treatment of HIV / AIDS. WHO recommends immunodeficiency virus suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ARV) to all those diagnosed with HIV, while in Russia, ARV therapy coverage is 46% of 650,000 people with HIV registered by the Ministry of Health, or 33% of 900,000 living carriers of the virus registered by the Ministry of Health. Rospotrebnadzor as of the end of 2016.

State strategy of the Russian Federation to combat HIV: there is no prevention, only those who are already infected are identified

Recall that the state strategy to counter the spread of HIV, adopted by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, set the task of bringing the coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ARV), which suppresses the immunodeficiency virus, to 90% of all infected by 2020 - this would stop the epidemic.

However, it is not easy for Russian citizens to receive such treatment, and in the countryside it is completely unrealistic, medicines given to patients are far from the most modern, with a large number of side effects and mostly generics - medicines that differ in composition from the original medicine both in the amount of active substance and by its quality.

In February 2015, due to the unfavorable dynamics of the spread of HIV infection in the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Health developed an AIDS response strategy until 2020. Officials planned to reduce prices for drugs vital to the infected through import substitution and the creation of cheaper Russian analogues.

But the Russian drug for the treatment of HIV will be registered at best only in 5-10 years, TASS reports. The development of the domestic gene therapy drug Dinavir, which is being developed by a group of scientists from the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, is now only at the stage of preclinical trials.

As for existing medicines, Vadim Pokrovsky, head of the Scientific and Methodological Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, says that only a quarter of patients receive them.

Despite the fact that the government of the Russian Federation in April announced an increase in spending on the fight against AIDS, only 60,000 people will feel the positive effect - "a drop of water on a hot stone," Pokrovsky believes.

In general, according to him, there are no pre-exposure prophylaxis programs (PrEP) in Russia, when antiretroviral drugs are taken by people with a potentially high risk of contracting HIV. There are no funds for this, because there are not enough medicines even for already infected citizens. Against this background, the only concept that works and is officially approved in Russia is the “test and treat” strategy, recalls Medvestnik. “Prevention should prevent infection, and we are identifying those who are already infected, and every year more and more. At the same time, next year the State Duma is going to reduce the budget for the treatment of HIV infection from 17.5 to 16.5 billion rubles. Therefore, it is not surprising that that our epidemic is on the rise," Pokrovsky said.

“The Russian state does not stand on ceremony with those who criticize it. As soon as Pokrovsky complained about the insufficiently active fight against the epidemic, the Ministry of Health deprived the Federal AIDS Center in June of this year of state funds under a far-fetched pretext. Non-governmental organizations also face an increased number of obstacles. Many of them are forced to curtail their work, since, according to a law released in 2012, they are required to register as "foreign agents," recalls the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung... By the way, in Switzerland the situation is almost stable - in 2016, the virus was detected in 539 people there, in 2015 - 537.

Sex between men remains a major mode of HIV transmission

Despite the existence of specialized prevention programs in many European countries, sex between men continues to be the predominant mode of HIV transmission in the European Economic Area (EU/EEA).

In all previous years, cases of diagnosing HIV infection among men who have sex with men have grown there at an alarming rate - from 30% in 2005 to 42% in 2014.

According to acting Director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Andrea Ammon, to reduce these statistics, it is necessary to adopt new strategies, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection (PrEP) and access to health care for EU citizens living in other countries.

In Russia, the official statistics are different: 40% of all HIV-infected people are people of traditional sexual orientation, from 55% to 60% of those infected were infected as a result of drug use, and only less than 2% were infected through homosexual contacts.

However, these figures are again far from reality due to the fact that in Russia, due to the high level of condemnation, gays cannot even tell doctors that they had same-sex contacts. “In AIDS centers there is a system of codes that are assigned to different groups. For men who have sex with men, this is 103. But they are given other codes, for example 105 (persons with promiscuity). And in this way gays replenish the statistics of the heterosexual path But according to studies by public organizations, every sixth gay in Russia is already infected," Yevgeny Pisemsky, head of the Phoenix Plus NGO in Oryol, told Radio Liberty.

"Specialists in AIDS centers are well aware of such underestimated statistics. But they are always under the sword of Damocles of the law on the so-called propaganda among minors and interpret it in such a way that "just in case, we will not even mention it, otherwise we will be accused of propaganda homosexuality. But only real numbers could convince society that the problem exists," says Pisemsky.

According to the Open Institutes of Health Foundation, the results of a 2017 biobehavioral study show that the average prevalence of HIV infection among gay men in Russia is 18% (in Moscow - 13%, in St. Petersburg - 24%, in Yekaterinburg - 16%).

According to Pisemsky, the state will not be able to fight HIV without recognizing that it is in this risk group that it spreads very quickly. This means that no prevention is carried out in this environment, and gays themselves receive a deceptive confidence that the HIV problem does not concern them.

Every second HIV-infected person is diagnosed at a late stage

Nearly half of HIV infections across the European Region, which includes Russia, are diagnosed at a late stage, increasing the risk of ill health, death and HIV transmission.

The large number of AIDS cases in Russia and other Eastern European countries is evidence that late diagnosis, late initiation of antiretroviral therapy and low treatment coverage are contributing to the incidence, the World Health Organization notes.

HIV/AIDS surveillance data from 2016 suggests that the likelihood of late diagnosis increases with age. For example, 65% (63% in the EU/EEA) of people over 50 in the European Region were diagnosed with HIV at a late stage.

Testing for HIV infection for certain diseases, such as other sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and some types of cancer, can improve the quality of diagnosis.

According to Russian statistics, more than half (51%) of registered cases of HIV infection are diagnosed at a late stage of the disease.

Today, the head of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Veronika Skvortsova, that an increased level of the spread of HIV disease has been recorded in 10 regions Russia.

In our country, 57% of all sources of HIV infection are the injection route, as a rule, among heroin addicts, she added.

Meanwhile, according to experts, it is really high time to declare the epidemic officially, moreover, on a national scale.

To prove what was said, the head of the center cited figures.

On the Life map, you can find your region and see how many cases are among your fellow countrymen.

The share of HIV-infected people in the total number of inhabitants of the region

Slightly fewer infected in the Orenburg region (1.4%), the Leningrad region (1.3%), the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (1.3%).

And here are the statistics on the mortality of HIV-infected people by region (data from the Federal AIDS Center, dated 2014, no more recent statistics yet).

As of December 31, 2014 in Russia 148,713 HIV-positive adults and 683 children died. In 2014, 24.4 thousand HIV-positive people died.

Pokrovsky explained why HIV "selected" these regions:

Yekaterinburg Mayor Yevgeny Roizman also said that the majority of HIV-positive people became infected due to drugs.

Vadim Pokrovsky stressed that among the main problems in this area is the lack of medicines.

Now we need to treat a little more than 800 thousand HIV-infected people. 220,000 have died, and, according to estimates, another 500,000 have not yet been diagnosed with us,” Pokrovsky noted.

Previously Pokrovsky, which is bad with prevention.

There are no strategic programs to fight AIDS in the regions, Vadim Pokrovsky says. - As a result, they will print and hang several posters and flyers. This is where prevention ends.

It turns out a vicious circle.

South Africa

What you need to know: Most HIV-infected people are blacks from disadvantaged suburbs. It is this group that is in the worst social conditions with all the ensuing consequences: drug addiction, promiscuous sex, unsanitary conditions. Most of the patients were recorded in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (the capital is Durban), Mpumalanga (Nelspraid), Freestate (Blomfontien), North-West (Mafikeng) and Gauteng (Johannesburg).

Nigeria

What you need to know: Nigeria is not the most hospitable country and the Nigerians themselves are well aware of this. Therefore, the receiving party will certainly take care of safety and warn against dangerous contacts.

Kenya

The country accounts for 1.6 million infected, just over 6% of the population. At the same time, women are more likely to suffer from the disease - about 8% of Kenyans are infected. As in many African countries, the status of a woman, and hence her level of security and education, is still very low.

What you need to know: a safari in a national park or a beach and hotel vacation in Mombasa are quite safe activities, unless, of course, you specifically look for illegal entertainment.

Tanzania

What you need to know: Tanzania is a fairly prosperous country by African standards, so if you follow the obvious rules, the threat of infection is minimal. High, more than 10, the percentage of infected people in the Njobe region and the capital Dar es Salaam. Fortunately, both of them are far from the tourist routes, unlike Kilimanjaro or the island of Zanzibar.

Mozambique

Uganda

What you need to know: risk groups are the same as everywhere else: drug addicts, former prisoners - it will not be difficult for a sane tourist not to intersect with them.

Zambia and Zimbabwe

These countries are similar in many ways, even the main attraction, they have one for two: it is located right on the border - tourists can come to it from both sides. In terms of living standards and the incidence of AIDS, the countries are also not far from each other - in Zambia there are almost a million infected, in Zimbabwe - 1.2. This is an average figure for Southern Africa - from 5% to 15% of the population.

What you need to know: there are problems with the provision of medicines, in addition, in rural areas, many self-medicate and practice useless rituals. Therefore, the disease, typical for cities, has also reached remote areas.

India

There are 2.4 million HIV-infected people here, although against the background of 1.2 billion people this does not look so frightening - less than 1%. The main risk group is sex workers. 55% of Indians with HIV-positive status live in four southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Goa, the incidence rate is far from the highest for - 0.6% of men and 0.4% of women.

What you need to know: Fortunately, HIV infection, unlike many other tropical diseases, depends indirectly on unsanitary conditions. Outright filth and tightness is a normal condition for India. The main thing, as, by the way, in any country, is to try not to appear in public places if there are wounds and cuts on the body, not to wear open shoes in the city, and we are not even talking about dubious entertainment.

Ukraine

What you need to know: a few years ago, unprotected sex became a way to spread the disease, overtaking injections with dirty syringes. Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odessa and Nikolaev regions are unfavorable. There are 600-700 infected per 100 thousand inhabitants. Kyiv, where tourists most often come, has an average level, and Transcarpathia has the lowest rate in the country.

USA

America is in 9th place in the world in terms of the number of carriers of HIV infection - 1.2 million people. Such a high rate in one of the most prosperous countries is due to the high level of drug addiction, unresolved social contradictions, and active migration. And the violent, dissolute 60s were not in vain for the health of the nation. Of course, the disease is concentrated on specific groups of people who most often live not only separately from everyone, but localized, in “bad” areas.

What you need to know: Here are ten cities where the percentage of HIV-positive patients is highest (in descending order): Miami, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, New York, Washington, Columbia, Memphis, Orlando, New Orleans, Baltimore.

Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com