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Like the mythological heroine Cassandra, Robert Webster seemed destined to remain a prophet who was never to be believed. His vision has since been validated but, fortunately for the world, his predictions of disaster—an influenza pandemic—have not yet reached the proportions of Greek tragedy.
Scaling up access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for HIV-infected adults and children in developing countries can no longer be refused for medical or economic reasons, or on the grounds of inequality, lack of infrastructure, risk of viral resistance or alternative priorities. Access to ARVs is an appropriate, rational and cost-effective investment choice in developing countries.