AEGiS-AFP News: Vietnam-AIDS: More than 1,500 AIDS deaths recorded in Vietnam

Vietnam-AIDS: More than 1,500 AIDS deaths recorded in Vietnam

Agence France-Presse - November 15, 1999

HANOI, Nov 15 (AFP) - A total of 1,512 people have died of AIDS and another 16,493 people have been registered as infected by the deadly HIV virus since records of the epidemic began, Vietnam health officials said Monday.

The documented number of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectees is only about one tenth of the actual number because most cases go undetected, the official from the National Committee for Aids Prevention told AFP.

The infections have been on the rise because the propaganda and education campaigns are not strong enough, she added.

The latest documented figures were correct as of November 5 and include all cases since Vietnam started making records in 1990.

Most Vietnamese affected with HIV are drug addicts and prostitutes aged between 20 and 29, she added.

The committee estimated that by 2000 there will be more than 180,000 cases of full-blown AIDS and some tens of thousands of people will die.

Intravenous drug users and unsafe sexual practices are blamed for the spread of AIDS in Vietnam. There are an estimated 200,000 intravenous drug users, and as many as 100,000 prostitutes nationwide.

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