"Since the disease was first diagnosed in 1981, more than 25 million people
have died from AIDS (end of 2006).
"The situation has become disastrous in sub-Saharan Africa, where
nearly 25 million people have HIV/AIDS, nearly 6% of
the population.
"It is estimated that about 40 million people have the disease worldwide, and
that about 3 million died in 2006.