In an early-morning announcement today, researchers reported that an experimental HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) vaccine effectively reduced the number of people who contracted the virus by nearly a third.

Tested in a U.S.-sponsored trial that involved more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, the vaccine was administered in six injected doses starting in 2006 to half of the group, and the other half received a placebo. Seventy-four people in the placebo group had contracted HIV by the end of the trial, whereas only 51 of the vaccinated group tested positive.* The injections consisted of two vaccines that had proven unsuccessful on their own: Sanofi-Aventis SA’s ALVAC and VaxGen Inc.’s AIDSVAX.

.Reference resource: Click Here.

As HIV/AIDS infection rates increase across the Pacific Islands region, experts say local governments and aid organisations need to work together to stem an epidemic.

As of 2007 an estimated 74,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS in Oceania. Infection rates in the region are still relatively low compared to world figures and experts say this offers a window of opportunity for swift preventative action.

While most of the epidemics in the region are small, the UN says that the annual number of new HIV diagnoses in Papua New Guinea (PNG) doubled between 2002 and 2006.

Located just north of Australia, PNG has a population of six million and accounts for approximately 80 per cent of all HIV/AIDS infections in the Pacific Islands region. Around 40 per cent of PNG’s population lives on less than $US1 a day.

.Reference resource: Click Here.