HIV/AIDS cases fall, but surge among elderly
THE number of new HIV/AIDS cases in the city has fallen this year but the rate among people over 60 has jumped 30 percent.
The city reported 224 new cases of HIV over 60 this year, up 30.2 percent. About 84 percent are male. Elderly male carriers have kept rising in recent years.
But the city reported 1,952 cases of new HIV infections so far this year, including 748 AIDS patients — a drop of 4.8 percent and 0.4 percent from the same period last year.
However, deaths rose 5 percent to 210.
The figures from the Shanghai Health Commission were released on Saturday, the eve of yesterday’s World AIDS Day. The city’s overall rate remains low and is under control, the commission said.
Males aged between 15 and 24 accounted for 15 percent of new cases so far this year, almost the same as last year.
‘Young men usually catch HIV through sex — almost 60 percent with other men. For elderly men, 78 percent are infected through heterosexual sex,” said Zhuang Minghua from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“HIV/ADS prevention and control education and measures must target different age groups,” Zhuang said.
Males account for 90 percent of new cases, the same as last year.
Sex is still the major factor — mainly homosexual sex. About 96 percent of cases were contacted through sex — 59 percent between men.
Since the first reported HIV infection in the city in 1987, Shanghai has reported 24,283 cases, including 8,278 cases of AIDS. A total of 1,905 people have died.
No mother-to-infant infections were reported this year in Shanghai, for the 11th year.
Education has raised awareness among students, migrant workers, people in entertainment venues and the general public, officials say.
Campaigns targeting high-risk practices like illegal medical operations are carried out and all new inmates in prison and drug rehabilitation centers are screened. The city is also promoting HIV testing in sexually transmitted disease clinics.
All neighborhood health centers offer instant test and counseling. They are also responsible for management of HIV carriers and AIDS patients. About 96 percent of people with HIV/AIDS are covered by neighborhood visits.
On World AIDS Day, the city began a month of education and consultation.
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