Both the incidence and therefore the financial and emotional impact of the HIV epidemic have been considerably greater in the United States than in either Britain or Sweden. The initial government reaction to AIDS in all three countries was slow and cautious. However, once governments decided to take strong initiative, they quickly established the terms of debate and pursued AIDS policies modeled on historical responses to outbreaks of plague and other virulent infections. Policy in the three countries has mainly been based on consensus, both professional and political: A consensus that has ruled out certain options but that has also generated considerable support for the course pursued. 16 notes.