64% of HIV/AIDS carriers are drug addicts
Ha Noi, March 9 (VNA) -- As many as 64 percent of nearly 30,000 detected HIV/AIDS carriers are drug addicts, reported a seminar on HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance held in Ha Noi on March 9.
Localities having high rates of HIV/AIDS patients among drug addicts include central and southern provinces with 89.36 percent; northern Hai Phong port city, 74 percent, and central coastal Nha Trang city, 49 percent.
According to epidemic surveys in 21 of the country's 61 provinces and cities, nearly 90 percent of HIV carriers were men and most of them under 30 years old.
The surveys indicated that Viet Nam is in the early period of HIV epidemic with a high infection rate reported in the drug addict group.
To curb the disease, Viet Nam has since 1994 conducted an epidemiological surveillance programme in 21 provinces and cities nationwide. In 2000 alone, the programme was carried out in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang city and southern Can Tho province.--VNA
