Assam: Efficient detection leads to 5% rise in HIV+ cases

Guwahati: Assam has witnessed a rise of five percent in HIV cases at 1,337 people during the last year on account of efficient detection of the disease.

According to the data released by Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), the total number of HIV detection cases stood at 1,275 in 2011.

"The virus infection has gone down in the recent years. However, the number of HIV cases has increased due to better and successful detection of the virus," ASACS Additional Project Director P N Talukdar told reporters here.

During the current year till September, 939 people have been tested positive for HIV, he added.

Talking about the areas that are mostly affected, Talukdar said, “HIV has two primary geographical focus within the state. One is in Barak Valley in Cachar and Karimganj districts, while the other is Kamrup region, including the Rural and Metro districts”.

Nagaon and Golaghat are two other high positivity districts in the state, he added.

The data also pointed out that HIV in Assam is mainly driven by the bridge population, which is migrants and truckers, Talukdar said.

While outbound migrants comprise 12.15 percent of the HIV positive cases, the inbound ones add 11.53 percent.

The trucker community is contributing with 11.49 percent of the total HIV positive people in the state, ASACS said.

Talukdar said till September this year, 8,580 people have been detected positive for HIV since 2001.

“Out of that, the number of AIDS patients are 5,916, of which 2,654 people are alive,” he added.

Citing National AIDS Control Organisation estimates, ASACS said a total of 12,804 people were living with HIV positive in the state in 2011.

On account of World AIDS Day, ASACS will hold various programmes at the state and district levels. It will organise a rally in Guwahati in the morning.

PTI