Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press - Sunday, December 1, 1996 4:46 am EST.
Of those infected, 133 people have developed AIDS, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said in a report released to mark World AIDS Day.
Experts believe the real number of cases to be as high as 100,000. The most recent official figure, as of Sept. 1, had put the number of people infected with HIV at 4,305, up from 3,341 in 1995.
The rapid increase in the number infected -- the official 1995 figure was three times the number reported in 1994 -- has led the government to step up efforts to raise awareness of how the disease is transmitted and how its spread can be prevented.
"We cannot afford to lose time in raising AIDS awareness. ... China faces the same AIDS threat as the rest of the world. The Communist Party and our State Council (Cabinet) view AIDS prevention with great urgency," the Xinhua report said.
"Although the rate of transmission is still relatively low, the rapid increase and the trends are grim."
The Health Ministry staged an AIDS exhibition Sunday in central Zhongshan Park, near the ancient imperial palace, the Forbidden City.
Visitors gawked at photos of an emaciated AIDS victim and of diseased genitalia. Graphic diagrams showed how to use female condoms and explained how the HIV virus can be transmitted through dirty needles, unprotected sex and from mother to child.
"The risks of careless sex and lifestyle hygiene," said one poster.
Although the AIDS virus is generally transmitted through exchanges of body fluids, one of the exhibits was a sales booth for a toilet that, with the push of a button, automatically installs a fresh plastic seat cover and discards used ones.
Last month, the government confirmed that AIDS antibodies had been found in a commonly used blood product, underscoring concerns that the disease may be spreading through China's poorly regulated blood banks, which rely on paid donations.
A newspaper run by the Health Ministry warned earlier this week that more than 1 million Chinese could be infected with the virus that causes AIDS by 2000 if proper steps are not taken to control the disease.
Health News said that if adequate preventive measures were taken, the number of those infected might be kept to only 200,000 by 2000.
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