[Worse than we thought? The AIDS epidemic at the end of the year 2001].

HIV/AIDS is a global emergency with far-reaching effects. There is no country that has been left unscathed by the epidemic. It affects all countries socially, economically and culturally. It three-tens development and human security. In spite of our hopes and calculations the situation regarding the world's AIDS epidemic further worsened. Momentarily about 40 million persons live with HIV/AIDS. Their number steadily grows. Globally the worst situation still exists in Sub-Saharan Africa but the fastest growing epidemic is in Eastern-Europe (Russian Federation, Ukraine) which threatens with a possibility of a new and fast wave of epidemic. Although there are new drugs in the clinical practice, the most important task is further on, a vigorous health education, to prevent further catastrophe.