Yesterday was World AIDS Vaccine Day. Twenty-five years have now passed since scientists first identified HIV. Despite the many millions of dollars spent on research, and extensive efforts made by scientists all round the world, no cure has yet been found. Various different AIDS vaccine candidates have been tested, and two have reached late-stage testing, but all have proved unsuccessful so far.
The Kenyan Sunday Nation gives some interesting statistics about infections in Kenya, although it is difficult to ascertain precise numbers because many people in at-risk categories have not been tested for HIV. As at 2002, the urban infection rate in Kenya was 14.3%, compared with the rural infection rate of 6.3%. The highest reported infection rate in Kenya in 2002 was 35%, in both Suba District and Kisumu. The infection rate amongst men in 2006 was 3.5, compared with 6.7 for women.
Approximately 10% of people newly infected by HIV in Kenya in 2006 were aged 14 years or younger. 80% of new infections occur in people aged 15 to 49 years. It is estimated that HIV-related deaths and illnesses have reduced the value of agricultural production in Kenya by 1.7%. Deaths from AIDS are so frequent that AIDS has reduced the average life expectancy in Kenya by about 20 years.