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Asian HIV epidemics remain largely stable
-Most national HIV epidemics in the region appear to have stabilised.
-An estimated 4.9 million [4.5 million - 5.5 million] people were living with HIV in 2009, about the same number as five years earlier.
-An estimated 300 000 [260 000 - 340 000] people died from AIDS-related causes in 2009 compared to 250 000 [220 000 - 300 000] in 2001.
Progress in the HIV response among children
-Wider access to services that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV has led to a significant drop in new HIV infections among children.
-An estimated 22 000 [15 000 - 31 000] children 0-14 years of age became infected with HIV in 2009 - a 15% decrease from the 1999 estimate of 26 000 [18 000 - 38 000].
-AIDS-related deaths among children declined from 18 000 [11 000 - 25 000] in 2004 to 15 000 [9000 - 22 000] in 2009 - a decrease of 15%.
Mixed progress on new HIV infections
-An estimated 360 000 [300 000 - 430 000] people were newly infected with HIV in 2009, compared to 450 000 [410 000 - 500 000] in 2001 - a 20% reduction over eight years.
-In India, Nepal and Thailand, the incidence rate of new HIV infections fell by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009.
-Between 2001 and 2009, the incidence rate of new HIV infections in Bangladesh and the Philippines - countries with relatively low epidemic levels - increased by more than 25%.
HIV epidemic patterns vary between and within countries
-Overall trends in the epidemic hide important variations. In China, for example, five of the country's 22 provinces account for 53% of people living with HIV.
-In Indonesia's Papua province, HIV infections levels are 15 times higher than the national average.
-Thailand is the only country in Asia with an HIV prevalence of close to 1%.
- In Cambodia, adult HIV prevalence declined from 1.2% [0.8% - 1.6%] in 2001 to 0.5% [0.4% - 0.8%] in 2009.
Key populations are central to the region's HIV epidemics
-Asia's HIV epidemics remain largely concentrated among injecting drug users, men who have sex with men and sex workers.
-About 16% of people who inject drugs in Asia are living with HIV. In some countries, this estimate is considerably higher: 30% - 50% in Thailand and 32% - 58% in Viet Nam.
-High prevalence among men who have sex with men has been reported in several countries in the region: 29% in Myanmar, 5% in Indonesia, and between 7% - 18% in parts of southern India.
-Nearly one in five (18%) female sex workers surveyed in Myanmar tested positive for HIV in the mid-2000s.
Source: UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
