Africa Aids crisis worsens

More than 6.5 million of South Africa's 47 million people could be infected with HIV, according to a Government report released yesterday, much higher than previous estimates.

A 2004 Health Department survey of more than 16,000 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics indicated that between 6.29 million and 6.57 million South Africans were infected with the virus that causes Aids.

The state statistical service put the figure this year at 4.5 million.

The annual survey found 29.5 per cent of pregnant women tested positive for HIV in 2004, compared to 27.9 per cent in 2003.