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概述-歷史記載
Introduction
- Historical Notes |
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廣泛流行的愛滋病 |
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正象早在500年前梅毒驟然和富有戲劇性地出現一樣，20世紀晚期愛滋病也以同樣的方式冒了出來和迅速播散各地。正向梅毒那時不能治癒一樣，愛滋病現在依然不能治癒。但是，雖然梅毒由於逐漸增加的貿易和旅遊也襲擊了各大陸，卻花費了許多年才波及到非洲、亞洲、北美洲和太平洋地區。畢竟，與我們現在的運輸方式比較，輪船和大篷車相對更慢。與此相反，現在的機動汽車、火車、尤其噴氣式飛機已經促進了愛滋病非常迅速地傳播到全球最遠的地區。今天，我們確實正在面對一個全球性的威脅，不僅面臨身體健康威脅，而且面臨經濟、社會和政治穩定的威脅。同時，一些國家已經制定了對抗愛滋病的有效策略，但是，事實證明，要在其他每一個需要這種策略的國家裏貫徹它們是困難的。愛滋病的預防和治療常常面臨文化、經濟和政治壁壘，是否這些壁壘會被及時打破，尚需時日。 |
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2003年全球成人與兒童HIV新近感染估計數（總計：4.2-5.8百萬）
Estimated number of adults and children newly infected with HIV during 2003
Total: 4.2 million - 5.8 million
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資料來源：聯合國愛滋病聯合規劃署、世界衛生組織，2003年12月/Source:
UNAIDS, WHO, Dec. 2003 |
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The AIDS Pandemic |
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Just as syphilis had made a sudden, dramatic appearance 500 years earlier, so AIDS appeared in the late 20th century and quickly spread. And just as syphilis had been incurable then, AIDS is still incurable now. However, while syphilis also reached all continents due to increasing trade and travel, it took many years to arrive in Africa, Asia, North America and the regions of the Pacific. After all, ships and caravans were still relatively slow compared to our modern modes of transportation. In contrast, motor cars, trains, and especially jet planes have now helped to spread AIDS very quickly to the farthest reaches of the globe. Today, we are indeed dealing with a global threat not only to our physical, but also to our economic, social and political health. In the meantime, some countries have developed successful strategies to combat the disease, but it is proving difficult to implement these strategies in every other country that needs them. AIDS prevention and treatment often face cultural, economic, and political obstacles, and only the future will show whether these will be overcome in time. |
