Guwahati: The prevalence of HIV-positive cases has gone up in Assam.
Till date 13,946 HIV-positive cases have been detected in the state since 2002.
The Assam State AIDS Control Society, Kamrup (metro) district, has recorded the highest number of HIV-positive cases - 4,901 - till October 31. Cachar district with 3,201 cases and Dibrugarh with 879 cases are in the second and third positions respectively. Chirang with 12 cases has the least number of detected HIV-positive cases.
The Society said from April to October of 2017, 0.73 per cent HIV-positive cases have been detected, an increase from 0.68 per cent during 2016-17. The percentage of HIV prevalence in pregnant women remained the same, at 0.04 per cent. <>but its prevalence among pregnant women has declined over the past one year
"The number of detected cases has increased with the improvement in testing facilities. Now many people are aware and come forward for HIV tests. But we have many miles to go, to create a fully aware environment in Assam," the project director of Assam State AIDS Control Society, Swarnali Deka, said.
Till today, the integrated counselling and testing centre under the society has tested 12,62,601 persons and 22,56,569 pregnant women. So far, 4.62 per cent among those screened are children.
The Society said the highest HIV prevalence in Assam has been detected in long-distance truckers (percentage?) In female sex workers, the prevalence is 0.21 per cent and 0.16 per cent cases have been detected in antenatal clinics.
The main route of transmission of the disease is heterosexual. Around 86.43 per cent cases were spread through heterosexual relationships, 4.62 per cent cases from parent to child, 2.29 per cent cases transmitted through homosexual relationships, 1.07 per cent cases through blood and blood products and 2.3 per cent cases through infected syringe and needles.
In Assam, there are two opioid substitution therapy centres run byr the Society, along with 246 red-ribbon clubs. There are 343 integrated counselling and testing centres and 78 sexually transmitted infection clinics in the state, along with eight link anti-retroviral therapy centres.
