|
2001-07-04-159 New HIV Carriers Discovered This Year
A growing number of Koreans have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since 1985, when the nation confirmed its first case, according to an official tally released yesterday.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) said that this year alone, 159 new HIV carriers were confirmed as of the end of June, bringing up the total number to 1,439 since 1985.
Of the 159 carriers, 23 have developed full-blown AIDS.
During the first half in 1998, only 64 people were reported to have contracted HIV, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), followed by 88 in 1999 and 110 last year.
This year in particular, more cases involving teenagers are being reported, alerting authorities concerned.
Last March, two male teenagers presumed to be homosexuals were confirmed to be infected with the virus, and a teenage girl was reported to have contracted the disease via sexual contact in May.
A total of 316 people have died of the deadly disease so far, including 30 in the first six months this year.
Out of 1,209 HIV carriers whose channel of infection has been confirmed, 1,167, or 97 percent contracted the fatal virus through sexual contact, while 38 were infected by blood transfusions, two by their parents and two through injections.
Of the total number of infected, 1,256 are males and 183 are females, showing a notable difference between the two genders.
By age, those in their 30s topped the list with 519 cases, trailed by young adults in their 20s (414 cases), 40s (282 cases), 50s (137 cases), 60s and above (54 cases), and 23 teenagers.
``The figure proves that older people and youths are no longer safe from AIDS. Furthermore, a growing number of housewives are infected by their husbands,'' said Yoo Byong-hee, an NIH official.
He added that the spread of AIDS is mainly attributed to excessive sexual promiscuity and an increase of homosexuals.
Enhancing public awareness of the disease through education and PR campaigns is the best way to battle AIDS, Choi added.
| 