Of the 35,636 blood samples tested during 2010, 1223 persons were tested positive for HIV, of which 830 persons contracted the virus through unprotected sex, Mizoram State Aids Control Society (MSACS) reports said. While 348 HIV positives detected during last year contracted with the disease through intravenous drug use (28.45 per cent), 25 of them were infected through their mothers.
The cause of infection for 20 others (1.64 percent) could not be confirmed. Of the 1223 new HIV cases detected during last year, 545 were 25-34 years of age while 337 were aged between 35 to 49. While 273 were aged between 15 to 24, there were 28 persons below 28 and 40 persons above 50 years of age, according to the reports.
From October 1990 to December 2010, 1,33,186 blood samples have been tested for HIV/AIDS and fount that 5312 have been affected by HIV. There are 538 persons with full blown AIDS while 177 persons, including 73 females have died of AIDS. MSACS deputy director Dr Zothankhuma Chhakchhuak informed that the trend is on the increasing and it's a matter of great concern to check the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state. --UNI
