BRATISLAVA, November 26, (WEBNOVINY) — From October 2009 until the end of the same month this year, HIV infection was diagnosed in thirty citizens of the Slovak Republic, which is almost 20 persons fewer than in the previous twelve-month period. Of 339 cases of HIV infection recorded here from the beginning of HIV and AIDS monitoring in Slovakia in 1985, 286 patients were males and 53 females. Of this number, HIV infection in 57 people developed into the AIDS while 37 persons died of this illness. The head of the epidemiology department of the Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic Jan Mikas reported at a news conference on Friday that infected foreigners represent a relatively high number of 114. Together, 453 people are living with HIV here while the highest number of HIV infection cases was reported in Bratislava County. Mikas added that over 65 percent of patients were infected during a same-sex intercourse.
According to UNAIDS data presented by the head of the WHO office in Slovakia Darina Sedlakova, 33 million HIV-infected people lived all over the world in 2009 while the number of newly infected fell from 2.7 million to 2.6 million last year. On the World AIDS Day on Wednesday, December 1, the world expresses sympathy with people affected by the infection. Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. On this day people wear a red ribbon as an international symbol of AIDS awareness demonstrating care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and reminding others of the need for their support and commitment.
SITA