Greater access to antiretroviral drugs has helped cut the death toll from HIV by over 10 per cent over the last five years. The World Health Organization and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) say an estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. This figure is up from 33 million in 2007 – as fewer are dying with HIV. The latest report also shows there has been a significant drop in the number of new HIV infections. It says new infections have been reduced by 17 per cent over the past eight years. UNAIDS and WHO say better access to powerful drug treatments has helped saved many lives. The report estimates that since the availability of effective treatment in 1996, some 2.9 million lives have been saved. In total, almost 60 million people have been infected by HIV and 25 million people killed by causes related to the virus since the epidemic started.<br/>