Today is World AIDS Day, and in some ways the good news of the past few years has been bad news for those fighting the disease.

Wednesday, December 01, 1999

Today is World AIDS Day, and in some ways the good news of the past few years has been bad news for those fighting the disease.

They’ve been so effective in getting the word out about how the virus is spread, and treatments have been prolonging the lives of sufferers so successfully that to many, the sickness is no longer an issue for front page news.

It is, however. People are still dying, and every case of AIDS is preventable. Just because Western nations have had success in controlling and reducing the virus, there is no room for complacency. China saw a surge in the rate of new cases of AIDS in the beginning of 1999. It could be happening everywhere.

Take a moment today to consider that AIDS, like cancer, is a vicious, deadly disease. The battle against it has not been won, even if things seem brighter than they did 11 years ago on the first World AIDS Day. The rules still apply – unprotected sex and sharing drug needles can still transmit the virus. People are still getting it, even if less so.

Don’t forget, the fight isn’t over, and the people fighting it still need your support.