United Nations Agencies Release New Data on the State of the Worldwide HIV/AIDS Pandemic

November 21, 2007 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released the 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update, which recalculates the estimates of the number of HIV-infected people around the world. According to the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Mark Dybul, M.D., "The statistics…reaffirm the ongoing need for an urgent response to global HIV/AIDS." Ambassador Dybul continued, "In addition, there is encouraging evidence regarding success in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The new data demonstrate the impact that HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs, including those supported by President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), are having on the epidemic."

For more information:

• 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS)
• Ambassador Mark Dybul's Statement on the UNAIDS/WHO 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update (PEPFAR.gov)

Last revised: November 26, 2007