Press Release: Newly diagnosed AIDS cases fell to 6,441 in the EU25 in 2003

In 2003, 6,441 newly diagnosed cases of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported in the EU25, down by 24% compared to 2002. The number of cases has continuously fallen since 1994, when more than 25,000 new AIDS cases were diagnosed. This reduction in AIDS cases is to a large extent explained by the increased use of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) since the mid-90s. While the number of newly diagnosed AIDS cases continues to decrease in the EU25, an upwards trend can be observed in the number of newly reported HIV infections.