5.1 million HIV+ in India NACO

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Latest NACO surveillance data on AIDS Cases in India

(as reported to NACO as on 31st May 2004) is presented on the

following webpage. [Moderator]

http://www.naco.nic.in/indianscene/overv.htm

5.1 million HIV+ in India

PTI New Delhi July 2: India now has over five million people with HIV

infection in comparison to the previously estimated 4.5 million,

according to the new data released by the government today.The

prevalence has risen to 0.9 per against the previous figure of 0.87

per cent, chief of the National AIDS Control Organisation, Dr

Meenakshi Datta Ghosh told reporters here releasing the data for the

year 2003.

However, there is a distinct fall in the rate of growth of HIV

infections in the country with a visible decline in new HIV

infections, Dr Ghosh said.

The number of HIV positive people has risen from 4.58 million (45.80

lakh) in 2002 to to 5.1 million (51.06 lakh) in 2003, Dr Ghosh said

adding the increase in the HIV positive people during the period was

only 5.2 lakh in comparison to that between 2001 and 2002 which was

6.1 lakh.

However, India continues to be a low prevalence country, Dr Ghosh

said.

" As a positive sign, there are indications of zero stabilisation in

the ante-natal clinics in the six high prevalence states of Tamil

Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland.

Prevalence in the ante-natal clinics represents prevalence in general

population, " she said adding it may lead to plateaus of epidemic.

" Besides, not a single state where HIV prevalence was moderate

(Gujarat, Goa and Pondicherry) has moved on to high prevalence stage

and not a single state where prevalence was low has moved on to the

category of moderate prevalence stage, " she said.

" However, there is no room for complacency and we are continuously

monitoring the situation, " she said.

" One concern that has emerged from the latest data is the rise of

intravenous drug use in urban metropolitan population mainly

comprising migrant and mobile people and street children, " she said.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news & Story_ID=07041