HIV spread in Africa explained

The spread of HIV across Africa has been explained by teams of biology and geography scientists working together.

In the latest issue of the journal Aids, researchers from the University of Florida suggested how two subtypes of the virus became an epidemic in east Africa during the 1970s.

They claimed that the increased ease with which people could travel form city to city in this period contributed to the rise in HIV transmissions.

Marco Salemi, senior author of the study, pointed to the rapid creation of a more global community to a cause for the spread of diseases.

He said: "We live in a world that is more interconnected every day, and we have all seen how pathogens such as HIV or the swine flu virus can arise in a remote area of the planet and quickly become a global threat.

"Understanding the factors that can lead to a full-scale pandemic is essential to protect our species from emerging dangers."

The rapid mutation and adaptation of HIV has also been cited as a reason behind its spread.

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