GENEVA, Nov 20, 2007 (AFP) - The number of people in India estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS has been more than halved to 2.5 million due to better statistics and evidence gathering, a United Nations report said Tuesday.
The annual report by UNAIDS said that 2.5 million people in India were infected with the virus in 2006 -- down from estimates of 5.7 million cases in 2005.
The national adult HIV prevalence rate is now estimated at 0.36 percent.
"The revised estimates are based on an expanded and improved surveillance system, and the use of more robust and enhanced methodology," the report said.
In particular, the data was improved following India's third National Family Health Survey conducted over 2005-2006, which was the first national population-based survey to include a component on HIV.
India has also increased its number of surveillance sites dedicated to tracking the spread of the disease to 1,120 in 2006, from 155 in 1998.
Data from pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, people attending sexually transmitted infections clinics, and population groups that are at a higher risk of exposure to HIV are included in the surveillance.
The UN report warned however that despite the fall in numbers, India's epidemic continues to affect large numbers of people with wide regional variations.
Most AIDS cases are found in the four southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, although there are also pockets of high prevalence in other areas which should serve as a warning against complacency, the report said.
Unprotected sex, particularly between sex workers, their clients and partners, is the main factor behind the spread of the disease, with contaminated drug injecting equipment also playing a key role in northeastern regions, UNAIDS said.
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