World Bank warns of spread of HIV/AIDS in Middle East, North Africa

The World Bank has issued a report warning countries in the Middle East and North Africa to take preventive measures to avert an epidemic of HIV/AIDS.

"Left unchecked, the HIV/AIDS epidemic could cost the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) approximately one-third of today's GDP by 2025," said a World Bank press release November 20 announcing the publication of the report.

The press release noted that in 2002, some 83,000 people were newly infected with HIV/AIDS and that the total number of AIDS deaths has increased almost six fold since the early 1990's.

The World Bank report noted that no country in the region systematically screens high-risk groups such as intravenous drug users, sex workers, and migrants in order to get a clear picture of the pattern of the epidemic, the press release said.