New HIV/AIDS data released in Latvia

Latvia's Public Health Agency recently released data about HIV/AIDS in the country in 2008, indicating that the spread of the virus through heterosexual contact is increasing, the Baltic Times reports.

According to the data, 163 people -- primarily women between ages 15 and 24 -- newly contracted HIV last year. This figure represents about half of all HIV cases registered in 2008, according to the Times. In addition, 22 cases last year involved men who have sex with men, and 100 cases were recorded among injection drug users. Eight cases were recorded among infants because of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Young women whose partners are injection drug users also are at an increased risk of the virus, the data indicate.

Ninety-one people were diagnosed with AIDS in Latvia in 2008, and the country recorded 144 HIV/AIDS-related deaths last year. The incidence of sexually transmitted infections decreased by an average of 15% last year, and a total of 1,519 STI cases were recorded. About 60% of STI patients last year were men between ages 18 and 29 (Baltic Times, 3/23).


Kaiser Health NewsThis article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Study uncovers mechanism of MX protein in fighting HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus