World AIDS Day Reaches 20th Anniversary
December 1, 2007, marks the 20th observance of World AIDS Day, an annual worldwide event established to increase awareness and education regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2007, 33.2 million persons are living with HIV worldwide. The number of deaths from AIDS in 2007 is expected to total 2.1 million.
HIV testing remains a crucial component of HIV prevention strategies. In 2006, CDC issued new guidelines recommending routine HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings in the United States.
In addition, CDC recently provided funding to increase testing among populations disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.
Additional information regarding World AIDS Day and HIV prevention measures is available at www.hivtest.org or at www.cdc.gov/features/worldaidsday.