But for HIV/AIDS, the population of South Africa would be over 4.4 million more than it is today. So says the South African Institute of Race Relations in its latest South Africa Survey, published this week in Johannesburg. Currently, there are 50.6 million people in the country. In the absence of AIDS, this would have been 55.0 million. By 2040 the population would have been 77.5 million without AIDS — 24.1 million more people than is projected.

 ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2011) — Scientists have found the 'key' that HIV uses to enter our cells' nuclei, allowing it to disable the immune system and cause AIDS. The finding, recently published in the open access journal PLoS Pathogens, provides a potential new target for anti-AIDS drugs that could be more effective against drug-resistant strains of the virus.

On this day each year, the world gathers to reflect on progress made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and to recommit to taking the battle forward. Today is a special anniversary because it is 30 years since the virus that causes AIDS was discovered. The first documented case of what was later known as AIDS emerged on June 5, 1981 in Los Angeles, California.