'Around 60,000 people are estimated to have HIV in the UK.'

The first of December is World AIDS Day. How is AIDS affecting the world today? And what progress has been made to combat the disease? By Andrew Chapman

The World AIDS Day website reveals that five people die of AIDS across the world every minute of every day - that's 8000 people a day

The site links to various campaigns and events. People are marking the day by wearing red ribbons, too. There's other merchandise you can buy, too, to support the campaign and increase awareness.

Many people are still confused by the difference between HIV and AIDS. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus which affects the body's immune system, and therefore its ability to fend off infection.

With time, people with HIV become increasingly vulnerable to a group of infections and cancers. When they become unwell with these, this is when they are said to have AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Certain groups are especially vulnerable to HIV but it can be passed on by anybody, whatever their sexual orientation or habits, under certain circumstances: having unprotected penetrative or oral sex with someone who has the virus; by sharing infected needles or syringes; from an infected mother to a baby during pregnancy or through breastfeeding; and through being given infected blood.

AIDS has been a major health issue for over 20 years, although it first appeared in Africa as early as the 1940s.

The annual update from the United Nations organisation UNAIDS this year reveals that the number of people across the globe living with AIDS continues to rise, although infection rates are decreasing in some countries.

Around 60,000 people are estimated to have HIV in the UK - as many as a quarter may be undiagnosed.

However, if basic precautions such as avoiding unprotected sex in any situation where your partner might have HIV, and avoiding sharing needles, are observed, the disease can easily be contained.

In many industrialised countries, antiretroviral drugs are given to people suffering from HIV to prolong life expectancy and the onset of AIDS but as yet there is no cure. However, you can help the research.

In 2003 the World Health Authority launched the 3 by 5 Initiative to give antiretroviral drugs to three million people living with HIV and AIDS in developing countries by the end of 2005.

There are many resources on the internet for caring for people with HIV/AIDS. The most prominent charity in Britain working to combat both the disease and prejudice against it is the Terence Higgins Trust.