HIV and AIDS in the People's Republic of China: a collaborative review

The number of individuals diagnosed with HIV in China has risen dramatically in the last two years coincident with increased awareness and an attitude change within government. UNAIDS has suggested that China could have 10 million HIV infected people by 2010. However, antiretroviral treatments and HIV testing are not yet widely available and infected individuals often live in remote areas. It is unlikely that cheaper, locally produced, generic antiretroviral formulations will be available in China in the near future. Consequently, alternative strategies to manage HIV infection are being considered including the use of hydroxyurea, chloroquine and traditional Chinese herbal medicines. It is recognized in China that prevention and educational strategies will need to be at the forefront of approaches to control this epidemic.