PIP: As of May 1, 1989, the SEARO region experienced the highest 4 month increase (+119%) in the cumulative reported number of AIDS cases. However, the only countries reporting cases in that region, India and Thailand ranked 1st and 3rd as the world's lowest (.019/100,000 and .004 respectively). Europe including Israel had the next highest 4 month increase (25.2%). The incidence rates for Switzerland and France ranked as the highest in the region (12.24 and 11.52 respectively). The incidence for Israel was 1.78 with imported blood responsible for transmitting HIV to most of the cases. Turkey and Romania had the lowest incidence rates in the region (.038 and .044 respectively) which also were the 4th and 6th lowest rates in the world. 5 predominantly Moslem nations (Qatar, Tunisia, Lebanon, Sudan, and Morocco) ranked behind Europe in terms of 4 month increase (22.5%). Qatar had the highest incidence (5.07) and like Israel these cases had AIDS due to transfusions of imported HIV contaminated blood. Morocco's incidence rate was the lowest at .095. The region that included Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines experienced a 19.3% 4 month increase. Incidence varied from 7.85 for Australia to .038 for the Philippines. In fact, the Philippines had the 5th lowest rate in the world. Even though the Americas had the 2nd lowest 4 month increase, the world's highest incidence rates were here. For example, the 3 largest included Bermuda 173.01, French Guiana 147.52, and the Bahamas 109.8. Bolivia had the lowest incidence rate in the Americas (.235). Africa had the distinction of being the region with the lowest 4 month increase (11.2%). The Congo had the largest incidence rate in the region and the 4th in the world (57.34) followed by Uganda (38.66). On the other hand, Nigeria had the world's 2nd lowest rate (.015) while many of its neighbors had much higher rates. For example, Benin's rate stood at .836, Cameroon .576, and Niger .619.