[Epidemiology of HIV infection in 2005]

Various concomitant epidemics of HIV infection currently exist and have created a worldwide pandemic. In Eastern Europe, in France and in industrialized countries, the prevalence of HIV infection is on the rise due to the increased life expectancy of seropositive patients and the persistently "high" incidence rate. In Western Europe, the proportion of new cases among women and people from endemic countries is growing. The role of drug use in HIV transmission is decreasing. The opposite situation is encountered in Eastern Europe, where intravenous drug abuse remains the major risk factor, although heterosexual contamination is also rising. In sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is alarming: decreased life expectancy, increased infant mortality, and a prevalence approaching 50% in prenatal consultations in some countries. Minor improvements have been noted (decline in the prevalence in Uganda). Major deficits in the healthcare systems thwart antiHIV campaigns. In southern and eastern Asia, the epidemic is expanding, notably in countries in which it is recent (China, Indonesia). It is difficult today to envisage a global answer to the epidemic, in view of the wide variety of situations.