Abstract
Since AIDS was recognized first in patients in 1981, more than 30,000 cases have been registered in the U.S. and about 4,500 in Western Europe *) where the epidemic began later. In certain parts of Africa large proportions, e.g. up to 10% of the general population are infected. The exact incidence of the disease in those areas is unknown. In countries where the disease is registered, the number of cases is increasing exponentially with a doubling time of between 5 and 15 months (average 10 months) (1). So far, patients with AIDS have not recovered and about 50% of the registered cases have died. Cases with the full blown disease form the tip of an iceberg (2). AIDS is caused by infection with a retrovirus HIV (Human Immunedeficiency Virus) which is transmitted sexually and by transfer of blood or blood products. For each individual with full blown AIDS there are now 5 infected persons who have signs and symptoms such as malaise, weight loss, immunological abnormalities (the AIDS-Related Complex — ARC). Furthermore, in the U.S. alone between 1 and 1.5 million people are infected with the virus, but are still asymptomatic. According to recent projection*, 20–30% of the infected people will develop AIDS over a 5 years’ period, but this percentage may be much higher in the long run (3). Accordingly, it has been projected that by the year 1991, approximately 270,000 individuals will have developed AIDS in the U.S. alone.
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© 1988 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
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Van Bekkum, D.W. (1988). The Acquired Immunedeficiency Syndrome in Man. In: Beynen, A.C., Solleveld, H.A. (eds) New Developments in Biosciences: Their Implications for Laboratory Animal Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3281-4_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3281-4_2
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