that the epidemic was far from over and continued to take lives throughout the world. Bermuda is not immune from the effects of the virus, reports Keith Caesar, who today interviews the brother of an AIDS victim in the third of a four-part series. Tomorrow: A person with AIDS tells her story.

WHEN you meet a person like Brian, it's easy to look at him and think that everything in his life is going right.

Laid back and full of good jokes, it does not appear that anything can get to him. But what Brian's looks do not reveal is that he has a sister who is dying from AIDS.

Brian, whose name has been changed for this story, is a Bermudian studying at college in the US. Several years ago he got the news that his eldest sister was infected with HIV.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette from his home, Brian was alternately quiet and funny as he related his story of what it is like watching the emotional pain which has been inflicted on his family.

Brian said his sister's disease has had a definite effect on his life. As a sibling, the knowledge his sister has the incurable disease is ever present.

But he said the burden he felt did not compare with what his mother had gone through.

"My mother has had it the worst,'' he said. "This is her child and, it seemed, that my momma was taking it as being her fault. I remember one time this person called my house and asked my mother `what kind of mother are you?' '' Brian said he could not remember how long it had been since he found out his sister had the virus, but her steady physical deterioration is a constant reminder of the ravages of the disease.

"When you watch a person who used to be so healthy go smaller and smaller each year it makes you stop to think about things,'' he said.

"It's hard watching your sister die of AIDS. Even though she made mistakes in her life, this is not fair. No one should have to die like this.'' What is still as clear as day is the reaction he had when he found out about his sister's illness.

"When I found out, I was shocked,'' he said. "I hadn't known anyone with the virus until then. I remember asking my Dad `aren't the children supposed to outlive the parents?' "But that's not the case in today's world.'' Then came the confusion of dealing with the issue. His parents seemed to be coping with the situation, while he was having a hard time with it.

"I was angry and then there was that realisation -- it's only a matter of time now,'' he said.

What followed was paranoia, continued Brian, who was in high school when he first found out.

"I didn't know anyone with AIDS. All I knew was what I was taught in school.

When she would cook, I was a little hesitant about eating the food, and when I did eat, it was very little.

"Then, if we would have hand contact or she would touch me on my arm or something, I would immediately wipe my hands on my pants or wash them straight away,'' he said.

"If we hugged it would be brief. It was almost like I would feel like I had caught something from her -- although it was all in my head.'' Now that he's studying abroad in school, new fears occasionally worry him.

"One of the biggest fears I have is that I will get that call while I'm out in school,'' he said.

"Lots of times I get scared that I may catch it, so I try to keep things in my life and relationships positive. I can't afford to act up.

"When I see people acting recklessly towards sex, It's like man, they just don't get it.'' He has also seen the separation which comes once people find out.

"Some of her friends stayed, others stayed away. I can't run away because that's my sister and she has done everything that she could for me,'' he said.

"Her family has been there for her when no-one else was.

"In the end all we can do is prepare. You know that she is about to die and it begins to dawn on you,'' he said. "Tomorrow she could be dead.'' He concluded: "There are so many things which I wish I could say. But I think my sister already knows.''