The situation is particularly bad in Africa, where in many countries 10 to 25percentt of adults are infected; in India, with a low infection rate but more than four million cases; and in some Caribbean countries, including Haiti.
Ms. Stefanovska of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia said her country had a low infection rate, with only 59 people infected.
Currently, artificial insemination and culling of infected animals ensures that a low infection level is maintained in intensively-managed cattle industries [ 17, 18].
By contrast, South Africa, which at the start of the epidemic had a relatively low infection rate, is now seeking ways to help an estimated 20percentt of adults infected with the virus.
One surgeon reportedly refused to wash his hands between patients, saying he had "low infection rates".
Without that first line of defense, experts can only guess at the reasons for the low infection rate.
After years of relatively low infection rates, many Asian countries are now experiencing explosive localized growth, particularly among risk groups, a new United Nations report said this week.
Cuba's very low infection rate can be traced back to the 1980's, when Cuban soldiers returned from Angola with a sexually transmitted disease that was subsequently identified as AIDS.
Most countries in the region have been taken largely by surprise by the sudden emergence of H.I.V./AIDS after years of low infection rates and are just beginning to respond.
However, it does have low infection and death rates.
However, it has low infection and death rates.
