HIV spreading fastest in former Soviet states

HIV is spreading fastest in the former Soviet states. According to some experts, there may be over 8 million people carrying the HIV virus in these countries by 2010. According to the BBC, these figures were published in a report by the World Bank.

Bank experts believe that if the epidemic in Russia is not stopped, then by 2010 thousands of people will be dying every month in this country. At present about 500 Russians die from AIDS every day. However, Russia is spending very little on fighting the spread of the virus, approximately 1% of the total that is being spent in Great Britain where the problem is less severe. According to Chairman of the Organisation Transatlantic partners against AIDS Mikhail Margelov the HIV virus is spreading fastest among young people between the ages of 15 and 20. In his opinion, it is necessary to adopt an approach based on international experience in order to prevent the further spread of the virus and provide effective treatment.

The HIV virus is spreading fast in CIS countries, the Baltic states and the Caucasus. The virus is spreading fastest in Estonia, followed by Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Belarus. However, the number of AIDS sufferers in Estonia is three times higher than in Belarus.

According to the World bank, living standards, culture, the level of national self-sufficiency and the size of the working population all affect the rate at which the virus is spread.