22nd National Conference of the Indian Association for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS (IASSTD), 6-8 March 1998, Mumbai, India:

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that India will bear the greatest burden of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses over the next 10 years. The 22nd National Conference of the Indian Association for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS (IASSTD) and its associated workshops provided a forum in which more than 300 physicians researchers nongovernmental organizations and policymakers could meet to discuss current information on the evolving HIV epidemic and Indias response to the situation. HIV prevalence remains high among known risk groups such as prostitutes and truck drivers and while the epidemic appears to be stabilizing in some population groups HIV infection is spreading rapidly in the general population. Some STD clinics have reported HIV prevalence rates of 75%. Most HIV/AIDS patients in India present with pyrexia of unknown origin mainly due to pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Conference sessions discussed the syndromic management of STDs and HIV with highly active antiretroviral therapy being too expensive for almost all patients. Participants also noted the need to prioritize research objectives with a goal of developing interventions which are effective and applicable to the Indian context. Special focus should be given to vertical HIV transmission and improving the safety of the blood supply.