AIDS is considered the most lethal infectious disease in the world, and its incidence is growing rapidly.[World Health Organization - WHO]
Globally, an estimated >40 million people are infected, >6 million are infected yearly, >22 million people have died of AIDS, >3 million are dying annually and 68 million are projected to die by 2020.
In the USA, over one million people are infected. Over 10 million are infected in each of India and China. It is estimated that sub-Sahara African populations have over 25 million people infected with AIDS virus.
The incidence of European and especially Eastern European cases of AIDS is increasing.
Vaccine sales' estimates exceed $4 billion per year for a safe and effective vaccine designed to prevent clinical signs of AIDS.[IAVI - International AIDS Vaccine Initiative - Report 13 June 2005]