China reports 70,000 new HIV infections in 2005

Catholic New Times, May 21, 2006

BEIJING -- International health organizations warn that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is spreading to Chinas general population, after another 70,000 people contracted the virus last year, bringing the country's total to 650,000.

The figures were released in a joint statement by China's Health Ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations' AIDS agency. Reportedly, most of the new cases were injecting drug users, sex workers and their clients, and babies.

WHO China representative Henk Bekedam told the Associated Press that the situation is "more serious than we thought." While a ban on the sale of blood in the late 1990s reduced the number of infections through transfusions, Bekedam said unprotected sex was becoming the new method for the virus' spread. "Chinas HIV infections have been linked to high risk behaviour. But now, sex work is moving it toward the general population," he said, calling for greater HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.

HIV/AIDS activists have criticized Chinese authorities for being slow to admit the extent of the disease in the country. Although there is free testing and anti-retroviral drugs for the poor, people demanding better treatment and care are still routinely arrested or harassed by authorities, it is reported.

The UN AIDS agency estimates up to 10 million could be infected by 2010 without more aggressive prevention measures, but Bekedam said he believes that scenario is unlikely.