AIDS epidemic at age 25 and control efforts in China

In the first 10 years of AIDS epidemic in China, intravenous drug users (IDUs) and Former Plasma Donors (FPDs) were hardly hit in the late 1980s and mid 1990s respectively. In the last 10 years, while IDU epidemic keeps at a fast pace, sexual transmitted cases of HIV have been steadily increasing. All signs indicate that the HIV epidemic in China is at a turning point, spreading from high risk groups to the general population. Learning from the SARS epidemic, China has recently launched an impressive AIDS campaign by making serious political commitments, and by strengthening the public health system and implementing an aggressive Four Free One Care Policy. There remains huge challenges both at the societal level which form the roots of the AIDS epidemic and at increasing the capabilities of the implementation teams. In addition to other needed efforts, enhancing AIDS research through international collaborations will strengthen China's ability to conduct her huge control program efficiently. Only with a scientific approach and evidence-based strategy, can China seize the opportunity to stop AIDS at an early stage.