There has been a sharp drop in the number of people dying of Aids over the past four years in Europe.

A study by a group of scientists across seventeen countries showed a fall by eighty percent following the introduction of a new combination of drugs.

The report follows a United States survey showing similar results there.

A BBC science correspondent says the drugs have helped to control the disease and prevent premature death.

But he says they are not a cure for the virus that leads to Aids, and the number of people infected has continued to rise.

Our correspondent says that with more people now living longer with the virus, the need to prevent AIDS spreading is perhaps greater than ever before