site.btaHIV-Positive Cases in Bulgaria Number 2,460

HIV-Positive Cases in Bulgaria Number  2,460

Sofia, November 30 (BTA) - There are 2,460 people living with HIV in Bulgaria, with 193 new cases found so far this year, the Health Ministry said ahead of December 1, marked as World AIDS Day.

Of the newly registered HIV-positive cases, 88 per cent were infected through sexual contact. The newly registered people with HIV were infected through heterosexual contact ( 39 per cent), homosexual contact (49 per cent) or the use of injected drugs (12 per cent). The percentage of newly registered HIV-positive cases among injected drug users remains low.

Again, as in recent years, men are over five times more than women among the newly registered HIV-positive cases. The youngest HIV-positive person is 19 and the oldest is 64.

So far this year no baby has been registered as born to an HIV-positive mother.

Most newly infected HIV-positive people live in the larger population centres: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Vratsa, Sofia Region, Pleven, Pazardjik, Bourgas and Stara Zagora.

More than 263,900 people have been tested for HIV in the first nine months of the year.

Bulgaria will mark World AIDS Day with various initiatives. This year's motto is "Hands up for HIV prevention". The campaign will focus on HIV prevention, the use of condoms, testing and antiretroviral therapy.