India could be first to develop AIDS vaccine: health minister

[Guest guest]

India could be first to develop AIDS vaccine: health minister

www.chinaview.cn 2003-12-15 18:12:16

NEW DELHI, Dec. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Indian Health and Family

welfareMinister Sushma Swaraj on Monday claimed that India could

become the first country in the world to develop AIDS vaccine on

which pre-clinical tests would begin soon.

" We are about to start pre-clinical tests. India could become the

first country to develop an AIDS vaccine, " she was quoted as saying

by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Swaraj said at a cabinet meeting that there are 57,781 AIDS cases and

an estimated 4.58 million HIV cases in the country.

It usually takes seven to eight years for an HIV positive patient to

develop full blown AIDS, she said.

The minister said Anti-Retro Viral Drug Therapy would be given to

pregnant women tested HIV positive in government hospitals to ensure

that the disease would not spread to the new born.

To remove the stigma attached to AIDS disease, the central government

has instructed government hospitals not to reject any patient, she

added. Enditem

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-12/15/content_1232388.htm