Only a few countries have made serious efforts to combat the disease, said UNAIDS, the United Nations organization that monitors HIV-AIDS, in its annual report, released in time for World AIDS Day last week.
Worldwide, less than one in five people at risk has access to basic prevention services, and only one in 10 with HIV has been tested and made aware of the infection.
For the first time, though, there is evidence increased efforts over the last five years have resulted in fewer new infections, UNAIDS chief Peter Piot said.
Previous improvements -- such as those made in Senegal, Uganda and Thailand -- were considered exceptions, but falling infection rates in several countries indicate a positive trend.
For years, sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean have had the highest rates of HIV infection and the pandemic continues to intensify in much of southern Africa.
It is also expanding in eastern Europe and Asia, where intravenous drug use and commercial sex are prevalent. Five years ago, one in 10 new infections was in Asia. Today, the rate is one in four or one in five.
China, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam registered significant increases. There are also alarming signs Pakistan and Indonesia could be on the verge of serious epidemics, the report said.
In southern Africa, Zimbabwe showed the most improvement. One of the first countries in the region to be hit by the virus, it began intensive prevention programs earlier than others.
The recent availability of HIV treatment in the developing world gives new energy and hope in fighting AIDS, Kim said. With more attainable drugs, more people are open to being tested for the virus, which is crucial for prevention efforts, he said.
But the situation is different in the poorest countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, eastern Europe, most of Asia and nearly all of sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2004, slightly more than $8 billion US was spent tackling HIV in the developing world. UNAIDS estimates $15 billion will be needed next year, though only $9 billion has been pledged to the effort.
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