The HPeV are highly prevalent human RNA viruses and thus far no studies have addressed the evolutionary history of these pathogens. The Bayesian analysis presented here first indicates that the structural P1 and the capsid VP1 region of this viral species evolve at a high rate of evolutionary change (~10 -3 substitutions per site per year). Additional genomic and epidemiological data will help to reveal the relation between such rates and the widespread of this viral species. We also show that the currently circu-lating HPeV types have shared a common ancestor around four centuries ago. Since then, HPeV evolved into different lineages that have spread widely. Overall, a strong tendency for phenotypic conservation could be observed, suggesting that genetic drift plays an important role in the generation of the diversity within the regions under investigation. In summary, by delivering insights into the evolutionary mechanisms of HPeV, this study provides the foundations for a unified understanding of HPeV evolution. HIV/AIDS prevention in China: A challenge for the new millennium China’s first HIV infection was officially reported in 1985 and by the end of 1996, there may have been up to 200,000 people affected nationwide. In 2001, this figure probably exceeded 600,000. By 2003, the predicted number of HIV cases had reached 1.5 million. At least 80,000 individuals now have fullblown AIDS. China may soon have the largest HIV-infected population in the world, possibly 6 million cases by 2005. With infection rates rising at about 30% per year, it is feared this figure might exceed 10 million by 2010. Although the Chinese government was initially slow to accept the problem, in the late 1990s definite changes began occurring. In 2003 Premier Wen Jiabao publicly shook the hand of an AIDS patient and his government promised to introduce a range of free HIV-related services. Large preventive education campaigns are now underway. Unfortunately, there will still be many obstacles in controlling the epidemic and preventing further spread of this disease. Without doubt, China faces a serious predicament in the new millennium, and one which will pose numerous challenges for preventive medicine. China's first AIDS case was officially reported in 1985 in Yunnan Province, adjacent to the border with Burma (1). By the first half of 1995, a total of 1774 patients had been identified (2) . In 1996 it was estimated that there were probably between 150,000 and 200,000 people affected nationwide (3) . According to the Chinese Ministry of Health however, there were only 8303 cases officially recorded by October 1997 (3) . By September 2001, this official number had risen to 28,133, although estimates suggest that it most likely exceeded 600,000 (4) . Until 2002, the Chinese government maintained that there were only about 30,000 HIV cases nationwide, although their official count was later revised 25-fold upwards to 840,000. By 2003 the United Nations had estimated that the number of cases was closer to 1.5 million (5) . In the first half of 2001 alone, China's HIV incidence rate increased by 67% (6) , and at least 80,000 people now have full-blown AIDS (7) . The Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine finally acknowledged in 2001 that they may soon have the largest HIV infected population in the world, possibly 6 million cases by 2005 (8) . With infection rates now rising at about 30% per year, the United Nations estimates that China may have more than 10 million HIV positive patients by 2010 (9) . Given this alarming situation, we considered it necessary to conduct an in-depth literature review on the topic. We conducted a detailed literature search using standard internetbased medical search engines. We also retrieved some older documents from library archives and identified other material from the reference lists of published papers. An up-to-date reference list of HIV/AIDS in contemporary China appears at the end of our manuscript.