Nearly two thirds of Russians with HIV contracted the virus that causes AIDS by using illegal drugs, the country's consumer rights and sanitary oversight agency said Monday.
"The taking of drugs by a parenteral means remains the main way AIDS is transmitted, representing 65 percent of cases," the Rospotrebnadzor agency said in a statement released at a Moscow press conference.
HIV/AIDS Risk associated with drug usage
HIV surveillance data shows 25% of the 8,59,000 AIDS cases were among injection drug users
HIV surveillance data shows 25% of the 8,59,000 AIDS cases were among injection drug users
"AIDS is mainly spreading in Russia among drug addicts, while sexual transmission is the second main cause," said Alexandre Golyussov, head of AIDS prevention at the agency.
Despite prevention programmes, nearly 37,000 Russians have contracted HIV since the beginning of the year and the figure could reach 50,000 by year's end, compared with 44,713 new cases in 2007, according to Russia's federal centre for the fight against AIDS.
Russia recently condemned the spread of Afghan drug trafficking into Russian territory, accusing Kabul and international coalition forces in Afghanistan of failing to stop the illegal trade, especially in opium.
Source-AFP
LIN
AIDS in Russia, Eastern Europe Concerns UN Chief
The UN AIDS chief said Tuesday that the global fight against the disease has made progress but voiced concern over rising cases in parts of the world, including Russia and Eastern Europe.
The UN AIDS chief said Tuesday that the global fight against the disease has made progress but voiced concern over rising cases in parts of the world, including Russia and Eastern Europe.
