HIV Cases Among Latvian Prisoners More than Doubles

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV Cases Among Latvian Prisoners More than Doubles

Agence France Presse (12.20.01) - Wednesday, December 26, 2001

The number of HIV-positive inmates in Latvian prisons more than doubled this year, officials said, prompting calls for more spending to slow the spread of the virus. Roberts Girgensons, deputy director of the Latvian prison administration's medical department, said 453 prisoners currently have HIV, a 130 percent increase over the 197 HIV- positive prisoners at the end of last year. Latvia's prison system held 8,617 people on December 14. With spending for Latvia's National AIDS Prevention Center having remained at the same level since 1993, more money needs to be spent to slow the spread of the disease said the center's deputy director, Inga Upmerce. In the general population in Latvia, the number of HIV patients increased 86 percent this year to 1,745, according to official figures.
011226
AD012233

Copyright © 2001 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.