Unless more money and effort is devoted to stopping its spread, the UK's development minister, Gareth Thomas, will warn a meeting of scientists and experts convened by the government in London today. Although UN statistics show an apparent slow-down in the growth of the epidemic, and drugs to keep people alive are now at least partly available in heavily affected parts of the developing world, Thomas will stress that all the progress will be in vain unless a means is found to stop the spread of infection.
"The reality is that the spread of HIV is set to spiral out of control unless we act now," he will say. "Five people are infected with HIV every minute. We must increase our efforts - and increase them now."
The message is backed by a new UK £220m fund for research into technological solutions to halt the spread, such as vaccines and microbicide gels, which women could use during sex. Five more people are infected for every two who are put on life-saving drugs, 33 million people now live with the virus and 15 million children have been orphaned.
"The reality is that the spread of HIV is set to spiral out of control unless we act now," he will say. "Five people are infected with HIV every minute. We must increase our efforts - and increase them now."
The message is backed by a new UK £220m fund for research into technological solutions to halt the spread, such as vaccines and microbicide gels, which women could use during sex. Five more people are infected for every two who are put on life-saving drugs, 33 million people now live with the virus and 15 million children have been orphaned.
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