THE AIDS PANDEMIC - GLOBAL GEOGRAPHICAL PATTERNS AND LOCAL SPATIAL PROCESSES

Geographically-related computer databases on the global incidence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection are being maintained in the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. By Summer 1991, these databases contained over 0.2 billion entries originating from 200 countries. This information permits a reconstruction of the documented diffusion corridors by which HIV-1 and HIV-2 have spread around the world from their original infection heartlands. These intercontinental diffusion patterns are contrasted with evidence regarding local HIV spread processes in Central Africa. The analysis suggests that the historical association between soldiers, prostitute contact and sexually-transmitted diseases explains the current geographical distribution of clinical AIDS in one country of the region, Uganda. The potential economic impact of the disease to the year 2000 is considered in the light of these results.