HIV/AIDS: A Very Short Introduction

HIV/AIDS is without doubt the worst epidemic to hit humankind since the Black Death. Despite rapid scientific advances, there is still no cure and the drugs are expensive and toxic. In some of the worst affected countries, life expectancy has plummeted to below 35 years, which has led to a serious decline in economic growth, a sharp rise in orphaning, and the imminent collapse of health care systems. This Very Short Introduction tackles the science, the international and local politics, the fascinating demographics, and the devastating consequences of the disease, and explores how we have - and must - respond.