South Africa is home to about 10% of the global burden of HIV infection. Since the first reported cases of AIDS in South Africa, both a major and minor epidemic has evolved.

The minor epidemic was a well circumscribed epidemic caused by subtype B HIV and occurred predominantly in gay men and haemophiliacs. It started in the early 1980s and by 1990 was already on the wane. The major epidemic is caused by subtype C HIV and is spreading heterosexually in the general population. The major epidemic has already reached high prevalence rates in excess of 25% and the highest rates are in young women.

Source:

Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS. South Africa: Host to a new and emerging HIV epidemic. Sex Trasm Inf 1999; 75: 139-140

Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS. Epidemiology of HIV infection in South Africa. AIDS 1999; 13: S4 - S7.