A.I.D.S. Spreading In Europe (Press, 6 August 1985)

A report from the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) indicates that Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (A.I.D.S.) is increasingly spreading in Europe, particularly in France, which has documented the highest number of cases on the continent. However, the scale of the epidemic remains significantly greater in the United States. Since the beginning of the A.I.D.S. epidemic in 1979, the U.S. has reported 12,067 cases and continues to see approximately 160 new cases each week, while Europe has recorded 940 cases outside the U.S., with 178 of those occurring in 1985 alone. As of the latest figures, France has reported 307 cases, translating to 5.6 cases per million inhabitants, with a rate of three to four new cases emerging each week. Meanwhile, West Germany has documented 162 cases (2.6 per million), the United Kingdom has 140 cases (2.5 per million), the Netherlands reports 52 cases (3.6 per million), and Switzerland has 51 cases (7.9 per million). Belgium has reported a total of 81 cases; however, a significant majority of these cases involve individuals diagnosed in Belgium who originally came from Africa. Other European countries have fewer than 50 cases each, all of which still present lower rates than the U.S. rate of 40.9 cases per million. The epidemiological data from the W.H.O. reflect that homosexual and bisexual men constitute the majority of A.I.D.S. cases in both Europe and the United States. In Europe, 83 per cent of A.I.D.S. cases are among these demographics, with only 3 per cent reported among intravenous drug users. In the United States, 73 per cent of A.I.D.S. patients identify as gay or bisexual, with 17 per cent being drug users. The W.H.O. has noted that while homosexual men remain the primary risk group, cases among intravenous drug abusers are emerging in seven European countries, including West Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. A.I.D.S. is believed to be caused by a virus transmitted through sexual contact or contaminated blood and products. The disease severely weakens the immune system, making individuals susceptible to various infections and illnesses. Currently, there are no known cases of recovery from the disease, although it can remain dormant for periods. The alarming trends highlighted in the W.H.O. report underscore the ongoing A.I.D.S. epidemic in both Europe and the United States, with urgent attention needed to address its spread.

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