Aids deaths hit 25 million but infections slow

Some of the most notable progress has been reported in Africa, the report said.

HIV incidence has fallen by 25 per cent since 2001 in East Africa, while the figure for sub-Saharan Africa as a whole was around 15 per cent – equating to around 400,000 fewer infections in 2008.

In South and South East Asia, HIV incidence has declined by 10 per cent in the same time period, the report said.

Mr Sidibe said treatment products had increased ten-fold in the past five years, and the beneficial effects of antiretroviral therapy had led to an 18 per cent decline in mortality since 2001.

But he added better prevention strategies were needed to stop new infections, which stood at 7,400 a day.