Society
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| A man gets tested for HIV at a clinic in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS photo Ngọc Dương |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Reports of new cases of HIV among homosexual groups have increased by 25 per cent in the first ten month this year, said Lã Thi Loan, vice director of Hà Nội’s Disease Control Centre.
The city has found new 910 cases of HIV infection, an increase of 23 per cent compared to last year. Most of the new cases were found in Hà Nội’s inner-city districts, accounting for 62 per cent of all new HIV carriers, she told online newspaper baotintuc.vn.
The rate of HIV carriers under the age of 30 has rapidly increased over the past five years.
Transmission through sexual activity increased to 65 per cent from 30 per cent, while infection via blood transmission dropped to 32.4 per cent from 70 per cent, Loan said.
The rate of infection among lesbian and gay groups has risen to 25 per cent as compared to 1.1 per cent in 2005.
This year, the city’s healthcare sector has carried out HIV tests at all clinics in districts and communes, including by home service.
As of late last month, there were 20,600 HIV/AIDS patients, Loan said.
According to figures of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Department under the Ministry of Health, about 50,000 people living with HIV in Việt Nam remain unidentified.
Some 209,000 people are living with HIV in Việt Nam; however, only 175,000 people have the condition under control. As many as 130,000 patients receive sustainable anti-virus (ARV) treatments. — VNS
