概述-历史记载   Introduction - Historical Notes

广泛流行的艾滋病

正象早在500年前梅毒骤然和富有戏剧性地出现一样，20世纪晚期艾滋病也以同样的方式冒了出来和迅速播散各地。正向梅毒那时不能治愈一样，艾滋病现在依然不能治愈。但是，虽然梅毒由于逐渐增加的贸易和旅游也袭击了各大陆，却花费了许多年才波及到非洲、亚洲、北美洲和太平洋地区。毕竟，与我们现在的运输方式比较，轮船和大篷车相对更慢。与此相反，现在的机动汽车、火车、尤其喷气式飞机已经促进了艾滋病非常迅速地传播到全球最远的地区。今天，我们确实正在面对一个全球性的威胁，不仅面临身体健康威胁，而且面临经济、社会和政治稳定的威胁。同时，一些国家已经制定了对抗艾滋病的有效策略，但是，事实证明，要在其他每一个需要这种策略的国家里贯彻它们是困难的。艾滋病的预防和治疗常常面临文化、经济和政治壁垒，是否这些壁垒会被及时打破，尚需时日。

2003年全球成人与儿童HIV新近感染估计数（总计：4.2-5.8百万）

Estimated number of adults and children newly infected with HIV during 2003
Total: 4.2 million - 5.8 million

The AIDS Pandemic

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.