Liuzhou HIV/AIDS statistics released

The State Council AIDS Working Committee is visiting Liuzhou following the release of the latest figures. The main points are as follows:

There are over 9,000 known cases of HIV /AIDS infection in Liuzhou. 

The main transmission route is now via heterosexual sexual contact, having risen from 1.92% in 1998 to 59.05% in 2008.

Intravenous drug users, previously the largest infected group has fallen from 97.7% in 1997 to 19.6% in 2008. This fall is thought to be the result of a city needle exchange system.

The number of infected women is rising, now accounting for 32.71% of new cases.

More new cases are being seen in people not previously considered to be in high risk groups, suggesting that HIV / AIDS is moving into the general populace.

80% of cases are among 20-49 year-olds, but the number among the over-60s is rising (from 5.35% in 2006 to 12%   in 2009).

The number of rural workers infected has increased from 12.64% in 1998 to 39.51% in 2008. 

Guangxi has the second highest incidence of HIV / AIDS in China, after Yunnan. 

October 13th 2009