The number of HIV infection cases increased to 1,845 last year from 1,649 cases reported the previous year, and the majority of them were from Colombo and Gampaha, Parliament was informed yesterday.
The first HIV or AIDS afflicted person was reported in 1987 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. The Health Ministry gave these details to the House responding to a question by UNP MP P. Harrison. Since then, there is a rise in HIV infections. There were 1,463 cases in 2011, 1,317 in 2010, 1,196 in 2009, 1,059 in 2008, 957 in 2007, 838 in 2006, 743 in 2005, 614 in 2004, 523 in 2003, 455 in 2002,405 in 2001 and 358 in 2000.
Unsafe sexual relationships, transmission from the mother infected with HIV to the child and transmission through infected blood, are among the main causes for the spread of the disease.
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HIV on the rise, mainly in Colombo and Gampaha
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