Epidemiology of HIV infection in Lebanon. Data from 1985-2005.

ABSTRACT

Lebanon is considered among the countries where the HIV epidemic is still in its early phase of spread. Little information is available on the magnitude of the problem due to the lack of an efficient surveillance system. In this review, we report on the epidemiology of HIV infection in Lebanon, based on limited data generated by the Lebanese National AIDS Control Program (NAP). By May 2005, a cumulative number of 813 cases had been diagnosed. The most prevalent mode of HIV transmission in Lebanon is heterosexual exposure accounting for around 50% of the cases. Two hundred ninety-six patients (36.4%) fulfilled the AIDS case definition. Despite the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) provided by the Ministry of Health, the disease burden of HIV infection remains unknown in this country.