Sex is dangerous

Infectious diseases with high mortality, disability and creating public anxiety are not new, but despite this our initial responses to HIV/AIDS have been primitive and slow. Since the start of the epidemic over 60 million people throughout the world have been infected, with the main focus of the epidemic currently in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is every indication that the epidemic will move more towards South-East Asia, with increasing numbers in India and China. Infection with HIV has a profound effect on individuals and their families, and can also lead to destabilisation of societies through its effects on the economy, institutions and security. Considerable emphasis has been placed recently on the widespread use of anti-retroviral therapy. This is a worthwhile initiative but is only part of a balanced array of approaches, which requires building a political consensus, social economic interventions and modifying the biology. Strong political leadership is still required, with an approach that recognises that the socioeconomic drivers of this epidemic.