AIDS associated with blood transfusion and haemophilia in Europe: Fig 1

EDITOR,—S Franceschi and colleagues report the incidence of AIDS associated with blood transfusion and haemophilia in Europe and the United States.1 However, they provide little information to help us understand these epidemics and erroneously suggest that the higher incidence in France than in other western European countries could be attributed to a delay in screening blood donations for HIV. Rates of AIDS associated with blood transfusion and haemophilia depend on the use of blood and blood products, the general prevalence of HIV infection, and measures to ensure the safety of blood and blood products. These factors have differentially influenced the patterns of the two epidemics, which differ among and within countries (fig 1). …