TEDBlog

« Talks from partner conferences on TED.com | Main | Stem cell news is a step forward for regenerative medicine »

21 November 2007

AIDS overestimates

The New York Times reported yesterday that the UN's agency on AIDS dramatically overestimated its count of current and new infections:

The agency, Unaids, will lower the number of people it believes are infected worldwide, to 33.2 million from the 39.5 million it estimated late last year.

Much of the difference comes from new reporting methods in some African countries and in India -- an idea dovetailing with the work of economist Emily Oster. Oster's 2007 TEDTalk takes a critical look at global AIDS figures -- and how they drive the world's approaches to stemming the disease.

On his blog, Emeka Okafor writes, "The AIDS industry should be called to account." But these revised numbers, though lower than before, are still high. We must not lose our sense of urgency on AIDS in Africa and throughout the world.

Bookmark and Share

Loading Comments...

This comment will be attributed to name. Not name?

Characters used: 0 (1000 max.)

TEDBlogobig_forblog.gif

Read our exclusive Q&As with TED speakers -- like these:


Wolfe_QA_144x150.jpg Mesquita_lens_144x150_3.jpg
Haidt_lens_144x150.jpg Godin_ASK_144x150.jpg

See 500+ TEDTalks in a spreadsheet:


spreadsheetscreen.jpg

Spot a glitch on TED? Report a bug



TED on Facebook

Become a Fan of TED
on Facebook


@TEDTalks on Twitter

Follow TED on Twitter:
@TEDNews | @TEDTalks


RSS

Subscribe to TED RSS feeds:
TED Blog | More RSS Options


News from TED


Learn about TEDIndia conference >>
Find all our posts about TEDGlobal 2009 >>
Follow the TED Fellows blog >>
Throw your own TED-style event with TEDx >>


TED takeaway


TED ringtones:
TEDTalks Classic tune in [mp3] [m4r]
TEDTalks Phase II tune in [mp3] [m4r]


Get the latest news on the TED Prize on TEDPrize.org >>

by topic

Archives



TED Bloggers

Chris Anderson | Curator
June Cohen | Director of TED Media
Amy Novogratz | TED Prize Director
Tom Rielly | Community
Bruno Giussani | TED European Director
Jason Wishnow | Director, Film + Video
Emily McManus | Editor, TED.com
Matthew Trost | Assistant Editor, TED.com
Shanna Carpenter | Writer and Community Organizer, TED.com
Diego Rodriguez | Guestblogger
Jane Wulf | TED Scribe

Blogs we watch

+ TEDPrize.org
+ TED Fellows blog
+ Thomas Dolby | TED Musical Director, blogging at ThomasDolby.com
+ Emeka Okafor | TEDAfrica Director, blogging at Timbuktu Chronicles and Africa Unchained
+ The indispensable Global Voices

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Powered by Movable Type