WHO reveal 'encouraging' HIV news

The number of people dying of Aids-related illness declined over the past two years, according to new figures from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meeting for its twice-yearly session yesterday (January 21st), the executive board of the WHO revealed some positive news regarding Aids-related deaths, with the rate peaking in the late 1990s.

"This is encouraging news," said director-general Dr Margaret Chan.

"But we are still a long way from the goal of universal access. The yearly number of new infections outpaces our ability to expand access to treatment. We are not doing enough to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Some governments are still closing their eyes to infections in high-risk groups."

She added that the global annual incidence of tuberculosis has stabilised in some parts of the world and that "control efforts are paying off", while the public profile of malaria had also risen in recent years.

"The best reason for optimism comes from the results we are seeing in some African countries, particularly following better coverage with bednets and use of the newer strategy for home-based management," she said.

Health officials in Glasgow last week announced that 320 primary school children were to be tested for TB after it was fund that a teacher at their school had contracted the disease.

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