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Tuesday October 27, 2009

Kelantan sees alarming increase in HIV cases


KOTA BARU: HIV cases transmitted via sex among teenagers and adults has shot up at an alarming rate, the Kelantan state assembly was told.

Women Development, Family and Health committee chairman Wan Ubaidah Omar added that based on updated statistics for new cases there was a 25% increase among Kelantanese aged from 20 to 29 while among the 30 to 39 age group the figure was higher at 42%.

A total of 749 HIV cases were recorded to date and this figure is much higher thanbefore.

“HIV infections through injections reached 70% but in 2008 it fell to 53% and now our latest worry is infection through sexual activity.

“In 2008 it was 27% compared to 19% the previous year,” Wan Ubaidah said in reply to Zulkifli Mamat (PAS-Pulai Chondong) at the state assembly sitting here yesterday.

She said the government has taken several steps to educate the public on HIV that included mandatory screening for those who intended to marry.

She also said that the government also took measures to prevent the spread of the influenza A(H1N1) virus following 346 positive cases with one death in Kelantan.

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