Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - Thursday November 26, 1998
The new cases bring the total number of people with HIV in Russia to 10,283, including 418 children, Health Minister Vladimir Starodubov said, according to the Interfax news agency.
More than 220 Russians have died of AIDS since the disease was first detected here in 1987, including 77 children, Starodubov said.
Russian officials warn that the actual number of HIV cases may be up to 10 times higher, as Russia still lacks comprehensive diagnostic and treatment programs. While this year's figure appear to mark a decrease in new HIV cases from 1997, when 4,300 new cases were registered, Starodubov warned that the virus may spread faster in the next few years if living standards continue to decline, bringing a rise in drug use and prostitution.
Officials say more than 90 percent of people testing positive for HIV are intravenous drug users who have caught the virus through infected syringes.
981126
AP981119
Copyright © 1998 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1998. 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, 1998. 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. .