The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that there were approximately 654,000 people currently living in China diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at the end of September. The count comprises of the 575,000 people reported last year plus 96,000 new cases.
There are 2,321 new cases of HIV/AIDS among students aged between 14 to 24. This is quadruple the amount compared to the number reported in 2010.
The main cause of the new cases is reported to be sexual transmission, which is surprising based from the last report. According to the CCDC, HIV is mostly transmitted through either drug use, blood transfusions or through an “unknown” factor, as reported in 2009.
From 1985 to 2005, 30 percent of the HIV infections of China are due to illegal blood trade. The government since then has been doing a great job on cracking down on this illegal trade as well as the drug use that accompanies it.
In the current report, 94 percent of new HIV infection are due to sexual transmission, 66.7 percent of which are from heterosexual sex and 27.5 percent are from homosexual sex. An alarming 32,000 men were reported to be infected with HIV through homosexual sex.
The Chinese government announced that they will place a higher priority with regards to measures to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ordered initiatives for the prevention of the disease. He said, “intervention needs to be more efficient, testing and counseling services more accessible, public education more targeted and follow-up services improved.”
He guaranteed funds to the prevention, control and drug research with regards to HIV/AIDS. He also ordered an “across-the board implementation” regarding medical assistance, testing and prevention of the transmission of the disease from mother to child.
Peng Liyuan, China’s First Lady, is also pushing for increased awareness of HIV/AIDS. She led the “Getting to Zero” campaign across different college campuses in China.