The appearance of HIV and Aids more than 20 years ago led to a huge campaign for safe sex in this country.

It was largely successful in reducing the numbers of new cases, particularly in Brighton where there was a high incidence of Aids.

Scientists then devised a triple cocktail of drugs which was remarkably successful in keeping many people with HIV alive for many years.

It was never a cure but managed to help reduce the number of deaths from Aids-related illnesses from 1,700 to 300 annually within only four years.

But now there are worrying signs of an increase in HIV among both homosexuals and heterosexuals.

Many people are also becoming increasingly resistant to the drugs being used to treat them.

Scientists will continue to do their best to devise new and increasingly effective drugs to combat HIV.

But the real fear is that people are ignoring the messages about safe sex.

Either they are not interested or they simply do not know about it.

HIV is still something to be avoided at all costs. No one should be complacent about it and there is still no cure.

Once someone has HIV, it is for life and if resistance to drugs continues, that life may not last too long.