When disasters involving the loss of life strike, humanity sits up and pays attention. The more dramatic the tragedy - the higher the death toll and devastating the damage - the greater the interest.
That was certainly the case with last December's tsunami, the dramatic series of tidal waves which took about 230,000 lives across the Indian Ocean and, as a result, generated an unprecedented outpouring of aid and international action. To lesser degrees, the Sars and bird flu epidemics of recent years also prompted action, with governments significantly strengthening influenza surveillance and prevention measures.
The tsunami and warnings that the world is long overdue for a flu pandemic that could kill millions are never far from our minds. Asians know first-hand how crippling the human and economic toll of such events can be and although powerless to ward off such occurrences, can at least be alert and ready to act.
But there is another, more destructive, disaster among us that is all the time worsening, yet not being given the same attention - the HIV/Aids epidemic. At least 8.2 million Asians are carrying the incurable, killer virus and 1,500 are dying every day. Experts fear the number will rise by another 12 million in the next five years unless the region's governments pay more attention. Last year, an additional 1.2 million people were infected in Asia, second only to sub-Saharan Africa, which is estimated to have 25 million of the world's 39 million sufferers.
An international Aids conference in the Japanese city of Kobe at the weekend was told that the economic cost to the region could be US$29 billion by 2010 unless something is done now. Those believing that Asia is immune from the devastating effects being experienced in some African countries need only look at Papua New Guinea, where the disease is striking the most-productive sections of society with disastrous economic consequences.
Unlike in Africa, HIV/Aids in Asia is mostly confined to vulnerable groups, such as homosexuals, injecting drug users and sex workers. But health officials warn that the virus could easily move into the general population, as has happened in impoverished Papua New Guinea, where 1.7 per cent of all adults now have it.
That possibility is increasing as Asians embrace less-conservative values. More young people are having casual sex and women are having sexual relations with more partners at younger ages. Rising numbers of migrant workers are also increasing the risks.
