World’s Reported AIDS Cases Rose to 151,790 in April

Reported global cases of AIDS rose by 5,221, or 3.56%, in April to a total 151,790 at the end of the month, the World Health Organization said Friday.

The United States accounted for more than half of the increase, with 2,845 new cases reported to the U.N. health agency. The U.S. total of 89,501 AIDS cases as of April 30 represented 59% of the world figure.

“But updated reports basically were received only from the United States and European countries,” a WHO official explained.

WHO tabulations showed that figures last supplied by the most affected African and Latin American countries were as much as six or even 12 months old.

This distorts any list of the most affected countries because totals for many of them are far out of date.

The world total is cumulative since the first acquired immune deficiency syndrome cases were registered by WHO in 1980.

WHO experts also believe the true total to be at least double the known reported figure because many developing countries, especially in Africa, lack adequate facilities for tracing and diagnosis.

By geographical region, totals and most affected nations on the basis of reports available to WHO are as follows:

-- Africa: 23,262 (Burundi 1,408, Congo 1,250, Kenya 2,732, Malawi 2,586, Rwanda 987, Uganda 5,998, Tanzania 4,158, Zambia 1,296).

-- Americas: 105,612 (Brazil 5,712, Canada 2,449, Haiti 1,849, Mexico 2,158, U.S. 89,501).

-- Asia/Mideast: 369 (Israel 79, Japan 97).

-- Europe: 21,136 (France 6,409, West Germany, 3,086, Italy 3,494, Netherlands 791, Spain 2,165, Switzerland 806, United Kingdom 2,192).

-- Oceania: 1,411 (Australia 1,270, New Zealand 119).