Number of AIDS cases in Armenia reaches 16-year high – agency

Arminfo
30 Nov 04

YEREVAN

Since Armenia registered its first AIDS victim 16 years ago, the
highest number of AIDS cases, 45, was registered this year.

We should note that about a week ago the number of AIDS patients stood
at 42 people. According to the HIV/AIDS prevention centre, the number
of women who have contracted the disease has sharply increased to 13
cases this year. Seven women and one child have died. The first AIDS
fatality was registered in 2001. Most women were not engaged in
prostitution and were not drug addicts but contracted the “curse of
the mankind” thanks to their husbands who, in turn, picked up the
infection in CIS countries, namely, in Russia and Ukraine.

In the course of the last 13 days, the number of people who contracted
the AIDS infection has considerably increased. While 50 cases were
registered as of 17 November, the number has already risen to
60. According to official statistics, there are 304 HIV-positive
cases, including 288 citizens of the republic, while only two weeks
ago the number was 296.

The highest rate of the disease is observed in Yerevan – 143 cases or
49.7 per cent of Armenia’s total. However, specialists from the
HIV/AIDS prevention centre say the official statistics do not reflect
the real situation in the republic because real figures are 10 times
higher. Specialists believe that there are more than 3,000
HIV-positive cases in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress