(Shanghai)  --  An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with the HIV virus.

   That's according to a new report from the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.

   While, the number is up from 33 million in 2007, the report says more people are living longer due to the availability of HIV drugs.

   The report also says the number of AIDS-related deaths declined by more than ten-percent over the past five years as more people gained access to life-saving treatment.

   The group says the AIDS epidemic is most active in sub-Saharan Africa, but notes there were 400-thousand fewer HIV infections in 2008.

   That's a drop of 15-percent compared to 2001.

   New HIV infections declined by nearly 25-percent in East Asia and ten-percent in south and southeast Asia within the same time period.

   UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe says the declines come in part because of HIV prevention programs.

   Despite the progress, Sidibe admits more needs to be done.



   (Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)