Aids - EU warns of resurgence

Italy is estimated to have the highest number of people infected with HIV Aids in the EU, according to a working paper issued yesterday by the European Commission.

According to the statistics, Malta has an estimated HIV incidence of under 500 people, which is not a low figure.

The paper adopted by the Commission calls for the EU to show political leadership in averting an HIV/Aids epidemic in Europe and its neighbouring countries.

The proportion of newly reported HIV cases has doubled in Western Europe since 1995. In certain of the countries that joined the EU last May and in the EU's eastern neighbours the rates of new infections are the highest in the world.

The paper calls for greater efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, measures to ensure people in poorer European countries have access to affordable treatment, better coordination of national HIV/Aids strategies and action to develop new medicines and vaccines.

The Commission's paper is due to be debated by health ministers and Aids experts from across the EU and its eastern nieghbours at an international conference in Vilnis, Lithuania later on this month.

The European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne told a news conference that the Commission was ready to play its part in fighting the resurgence of HIV/Aids in Europe.

He added that "the integrated approach we propose will only work if other partners play their role too. Governments in the EU and its neighbouring countries need to give HIV/Aids the attention it deserves."

On the other hand, Commissioner Pavel Telicka said that "HIV/Aids is not just a problem for Africa and the developing world. We have a serious epidemic beginning to resurface right here in parts of Europe.

The EU must provide political leadership for the continent-wide action needed to avert this."