800 may have HIV in C. Java

800 may have HIV in C. Java

SEMARANG, Central Java: As many as 800 people may have the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in this province, a local official revealed on Saturday.

Chief of the social health service department, Muchtadi, said four people were reported to have died of AIDS.

Muchtadi said that the mushrooming discotheques, brothels, massage parlors in major towns had contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.

"The fear (of acquiring HIV) is well founded because 90 percent of those infected with the disease get it through sexual intercourse," he said, as quoted by Antara.

In a bid to curb the spread of AIDS, the provincial government has formed anti-AIDS commissions in 22 of the 35 regencies in the densely-populated province. (pan)