MANILA. Sept 8: AIDS infection Is approaching “emergency" proportions in Asia, posing a serious threat to the economics of the region's poorer countries, experts attending a conference here said today, reports AFP.

David Bloom. Chairman of the Economics Department of Columbia University, warned that by 2000, half of all Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Infection eases could be In Asia, the world's most populous region.

The centre of gravity of AIDS Is moving towards Asia,* Bloom said, adding that this could seriously affect the economies of countries in the region because it was expensive to treat affected people in their ^"john Elwyer^llead of the

School of Medicine of the University of New South Wales, said Thailand has lost 1.9 bil lion dollar due to AIDS.

AIDS, caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), la an incurable disease which attacks the human body's immune system, rendering It vulnerable against Infection.

The Aslan Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are sponsoring the conference, which centers on the effects of AIDS on the economy

Although AIDS detection came much later In Aota, experts told the conference I he disease was spreading rapidly particularly in India. Thailand and Myanmar.

There could be as many as

one million HlV posittve people in India and between 2.50.000 and 450,000 tn Thailand, they said Myanmar which has de tected 1.50.000 chiefly among Intravenous drug users, could actually have as many as half a million cases, they added.

James Chin, an epidemiology professor at the University of California at Berkeley, said that only Thailand has a systematic collection of data so far.

Dwyer declared that It's too late to avoid an emergency situation In Asia.

We already have one.”

'History will Judge us harshly for responding not quickly enough." he added.

He warned that by 2000, a million people In Asia could be infected each year, and that the

Incidence of Infection in the region could overtake Africa.

Chin satd a 'reasonable estimate was that there would be between 30 and 40 million people Infected with AIDS at the turn of the century.

The experts cited World Health Organization (WHO) figures which showed that the eost of AIDS prevention in developing countries would reach 2.58 billton dollars, and that 1 015 billion dollars would have to be allotted to treating sexu a transmitted diseases, 800 ton dollars to condom marketing. and 250 million dollars for school education.

WHO adviser on m-tentific affairs Lars KalHng said that "what Is needed Is political will.” and that even countries with relatively low AIDS Incidence at

this time must act to combat It

Dwyer called for a "Lesser of two evils" approach, but cau ttoned that control measures should be adopted to each country's culture. -

He warned that New Delhi would have to find ways to raise the status of women and said that tn the case of Indonesia and South Korea. "Complacency must disappears.'

Bangkok would have to change attitudes of tourists visiting the country, while Yangoon would have to change its attitude towards Intravenous drug users, he added.

In the Philippines, the Roman Catholic church must accept "the lesser of two evils' and allow condom promotion, while Shri Lanka must fight

discrimination against AIDS victims. Dwyer said.

He said AIDS could be a 'cruel blessing" because social reforms would be needed to combat It. "Unless so many fac tors that are wrong with society (are changed), we are not going to beat HIV," he added.

Kevin McGrath, the UNDP resident official here, said that aside from the cost of treating AIDS, there was also the cost of supporting orphans. Increased absenteeism and fewer skilled labourers.

'Ultimately. HIV impact may Increase the poverty level of countries already experiencing poor health care. Inadequate sanitation and In some cases famine." he said citing the African experience.