York, according to an expert in infectious diseases.

Dr. Robin Dretler believes that per head of population the Island has a similar rate to the American capital and that its statistics are not far removed from the US as a whole.

Dr. Dretler was speaking during a public debate at the Cathedral Hall, organised by the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation for AIDS.

He also addressed doctors and nurses at the King Edward VII Hospital during a tour of the Island last week designed to raise awareness of the HIV and AIDS problem.

The virus predominantly effects drug users on the Island, accounting for 44 percent of those with HIV or AIDS. However the incidence of the illness is increasing among the heterosexual community which accounts for almost 20 percent of cases.

It is also estimated that for every person tested positive, there are many more on the Island walking around not knowing they have the illness.

Dr. Dretler said that AIDS was now the number one cause of death among women aged between 25 and 44 in America's eight largest cities.

By the turn of the century AIDS is expected to be the number one cause of death in America.

"Bermuda's statistics are not that different from the USA. The rate of AIDS and HIV per person is comparable with New York.'' Dr. Dretler, who is from Atlanta, said it needed a medical break-through to find a cure for the virus and in the meantime the medical profession could only talk in terms of long-term suppression of HIV and AIDS.

"We need to work together to educate each other and encourage each other to be safe. We need to take care of ourselves and we need to take care of each other.

"The way to most directly educate is to start talking to children. We need to talk to them when they are aged about nine, ten or 11,'' he said.

"Regardless of what a person's personal situation on sexual activity is, you need to share that with children, tell them about the dangers that are out there.

"We particularly need to empower the girls, make sure the girls know they have power over men.''