Among retired people across the world, a fresh twist on a relatively young epidemic is coming to light that has taken medical specialists by surprise: recently transmitted HIV.

Doctors increasingly study the acceleration of other diseases in HIV-positive individuals infected while young a decade or more ago. Thanks to complex drug cocktails, they are living much longer. It is cause for optimism that many so recently struck by Aids have become chronic care patients, albeit with a more rapid progression than average of cardiovascular and other problems.