First classified as a disease in 1981, aids still threatens the mankind, as World AIDS Day was being observed on December 1, 1994.

Despite colossal funds being diverted to aids research, till now there is no cure for it. Moreover, scientists too, are not hopeful of developing a vaccine till the next decade.

Estimates are that 90 per cent of the next century's infection would be in the developing world.

The industrialised countries spend 92 per cent of the global annual cost incurred in AIDS prevention and care. Warns Michael Merson, director, WHO's Global Programme on aids, "All sectors of life are threatened. So is the development process itself."