Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International; Wednesday May 6 2:17 AM EDT
Vice Minister of Health Sun Longchun ("Son Lung-chun") says China has entered a phase of "fast growth" in the number of HIV cases.
Speaking at a ceremony honoring writers for strengthening AIDS awareness, Sun said thousands of HIV cases remain unreported due to inadequate testing in rural areas and a poor understanding of the disease among teenagers.
According to Sun, the number of HIV carriers in China was estimated at between 200,000 and 250,000 people last year.
But as of March, only 9,970 cases had been verified.
Sun said 10 percent of all registered HIV carriers were teenagers. China discovered its first HIV case in 1985, but the disease did not begin to spread until the early 1990s, when economic development boosted incomes and led to a rise in prostitution.
Since then, the virus has spread rapidly, fueled by increased intravenous drug use and a rise in the popularity of paid blood donations.
Earlier this year, China announced the formation of a national long- term plan to help stem the spread of HIV.
At least four government ministries are involved in formulating the plan, which will integrate China's anti-AIDS efforts under the umbrella of a nationwide AIDS control network.
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