AIDS: diagnosis and control [letter]

At a meeting convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Europe in March 1987 and attended by representatives of 27 member states it was agreed that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pose a major threat to the health of all nations in the world. The most effective means of reducing the transmission of the virus remains intensive frank education for the entire population about the nature of HIV infection its modes of transmission and the precautionary measures available. More epidemiologic data on the distribution of HIV infection and the development of AIDS within the population are needed but should be obtained wherever possible by voluntary targeted surveys rather than through compulsory testing or mandatory reporting by name. In addition there was recognition of the need for further improvement in diagnostic tests for HIV infection to make them simple less expensive and more specific. Tests are also needed to detect HIV or its antigen directly during the early period after infection. Epidemiologic models can be helpful in making short-term predictions but cannot at present be used for the long-term since they are dependent on inaccessible or unreliable data about prevalence and shifts in life-style. Finally there was strong support at the meeting for AIDS research to be identified as a national priority. Funding should be provided to increase the number of basic and clinical research institutes to develop cooperation among scientists from different regions and to establish a collaborative network for clinical trials.