AIDS and HIV Surveillance in Europe

Artzrouni, M. & Heilig, G.K. (1988). AIDS and HIV Surveillance in Europe. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-88-120

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Abstract

As of June 30, 1988, 14,299 European cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had been reported to the World Health Organization; 81 percent of these cases were diagnosed in France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain. There were 7,689 homosexual or bisexual cases (54 percent); 3,218 (23 percent) were intravenous (IV) drug abusers; and 1,043 (7 percent) were heterosexuals who had had sexual intercourse with an infected individual. The epidemic started in the early 1980s among homosexuals and resident of African countries who came to Europe for treatment. AIDS started spreading later, in 1983 and 1984, to the IV drug abusing community in which the epidemic is now spreading faster than in any other group. Short term predictions show that by 1989 there may be 56,400 AIDS cases in the European Community alone. The World Health Organization estimates that there are approximately 480,000 persons in Europe infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of AIDS. The crucial factor concerning the future of the HIV epidemic remains the extent to which the virus will spread beyond the high-risk groups and into the population at large. It is certain however that given the long incubation period of AIDS and the large number of people who are known to be infected, Europe will live through a protracted epidemic that will last at least another decade or two.

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