U.N. Health Group Reports AIDS Increase

An estimated 3 million people worldwide have developed full-scale AIDS since the disease was first identified in the late 1970s, the United Nations’ World Health Organization said Saturday.

But in a twice-yearly report, it estimated that about 14 million adults and 1 million children have developed the HIV infection--which WHO and many leading medical authorities say causes AIDS.

The estimates--far higher than formally reported figures--represent an increase of half a million AIDS cases since the last report in July and of 1 million in the incidence of adult HIV infections.

Reported AIDS cases totaled 851,628 across the globe at the end of December, against 718,894 last July, WHO said.

But while one half of these were reported by developing countries, the U.N. body said it believed Third World states accounted for over three-quarters of actual cases.

African accounted for 35.5% of reported cases, but 67% of the estimated incidence of the disease since the 1970s, the report said. The United States accounted for 40% of reported cases but 13% of the estimated total.