[CTRL] Asia Risks Surpassing Africa in AIDS Epidemic

[Shane A. Saylor, Eccentric Bard]

 -Caveat Lector-

Asia Risks Surpassing Africa in AIDS Epidemic
November 10, 1999
Web posted at: 1:00 PM EST (1800 GMT)



BEIJING (Reuters) -- Asia could have more AIDS cases than Africa by 2005
unless precautions are taken seriously, a senior Chinese health official
said Wednesday.

"Asia's HIV-infected and AIDS cases are growing much faster than Africa,"
said Xu Hua, associate secretary-general of the China Sexually Transmitted
Diseases and AIDS Foundation.

"And if Asia doesn't make enough effort to educate its public on prevention,
the number of cases is going to exceed Africa by 2005," he told a news
conference.

   MESSAGE BOARD
AIDS discussions



United Nations figures put the number of people with HIV, which can lead to
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), and AIDS cases in Asia at 7.28
million in 1998.

In that year, Africa had 23 million and Asia was catching up fast with an
annual growth rate of about 20 percent, the U.N. figures showed.


Most populated countries fuel the rise

Xu said a rise in the number of cases in India and China -- the world's most
populous countries -- is likely to trigger an AIDS explosion in Asia.

"The population in India is close to a billion. And then you have China with
1.2 billion people. So you can imagine the enormity of the problem if AIDS
in both of these countries grows substantially," Xu said.

China's Ministry of Health put the country's confirmed HIV cases at 15,088
in September. Of those, 477 had developed full-blown AIDS, and 240 had died,
it said.

Xu quoted health experts as saying China had underestimated the numbers by a
wide margin and put the number of HIV cases at 800,000 in 1999, rising to
1.2 million by 2000.

Xu said among the worst hit Chinese provinces were Yunnan and Guangxi in the
south, Xinjiang in the west and Henan in the east.

"Yunnan is located near Cambodia and Vietnam, where drug smuggling is
rampant. So you have people in Yunnan buying drugs illegally and seeking a
moment of thrill by intravenous drug use," Xu said.

"Most of these people are ignorant of the dangers of contracting AIDS by
injection," he added.


Lack of funds and resources a problem

Xu said there had been suggestions China should conduct a census to get to
grips with the scale of the problem.

"Of course, it'll be good if we could conduct some census, but that's not
easy," Xu said.

A census would cost the government about 30 yuan ($3.60) per person, and to
check everybody would require too much money and resources, he said.

"And what are we to do with those who are tested HIV-positive? We can't just
leave them alone. It's tough in terms of management and resources," Xu said.

Xu also said there is a stark contrast in awareness in developed and
developing countries.

"In developed countries such as the United States, people are better
informed of AIDS and would go for health checkups voluntarily. But
developing countries like China still have to rely on the government and
non-profit organizations," he said.

Samhain( All Hallows Eve ): The only time of year we can truly be
rselves.   -- Shane A. Saylor, Eccentric Bard

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