World Aids Day Today; 15.000 Infected With HIV in Costa Rica
According to the latest figures released by the Ministerio de Salud (Health Ministry), there are 15.000 Costa Ricans infected with the HIV virus and most don't know it. AIDS has claimed some 1.700 lives in Costa Rica since 1983, when the first case was detected.

At present there are about 2.000 carriers of HIV that being treated by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), that is required to provide treatment and medication to those infected.

Last year, the CCSS invested ¢1.725 million colones (us$3.5 million) in purchasing drugs for patients with HIV. Currently the cost to treat a patient is us$2.500 dollars per year.

Today, December 1, is World Aids Day. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are 38 million adults and 2.3 million children living with HIV, and during 2005 some 4.9 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but also about increasing awareness, education and fighting prejudice. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

Two HIV/AIDS medicines will be added to the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of pre-qualified products today. The expansion in choice of therapy these medicines will afford is particularly significant today, on World AIDS Day.

The HIV/AIDS medicines are the antiretrovirals nevirapine, produced by Aurobindo, India, and lamivudine, produced by Aspen Pharmacare Ltd, South Africa. Aspen is the first African producer to be included on the list of WHO prequalified medicines with three other products listed in September — the AIDS medicine Stavudine in three different strengths.

The number of antiretrovirals pre-qualified by WHO is now 70 (36 from generic manufacturers and 34 from brand name suppliers).

"Choices are expanding and the more choice there is, the more competitive the prices. We are confident that before the end of the year there will be additional inclusions to the pre-qualified products list," says Dr Hans Hogerzeil, in charge of Medicines Policy and Standards at WHO.


The HIV virus is transmitted between people during an exchange of corporal fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids and mother's milk. Transfer can also occur by syringe contaminated with an infected person.

The virus cannot be transmitted through sweat or using a public toilet. Nor can the transmission occur by simply being near and HIV infected person or breathing the same air, shaking hands, using the same dish or glass, or even a kiss.

The (correct) use of condoms has helped in preventing the transmission of the infected during sexual intercourse.