There is no good news about Aids. With a total of 85,000 cases reported at the beginning of this year the World Health Organisation estimate of the true figure is nearer 150,000. Their global estimate for HIV infection is between five and ten million. Most HIV-positive individuals have no symptons and don't know they are infected: but the majority of them - possibly all of them - will eventually develop Aids and die; in the meantime, of course, they may infect anyone they have sex with and any children they bear.

LRB 19 May 1988 | PDF Download