AIDS a danger to teenagers

AIDS a danger to teenagers

SEMARANG: A recent survey showing that over 37,800, or six percent of high school students in the province, have had premarital sex, has local officials worried over the further spread of AIDS.

Mochtadi, chief of the provincial public health office, said that the trend prompted concern because the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) can be transmitted through sexual relations.

The office conducted the research as part of the administration's efforts to seek ways to curb the spread of AIDS among youngsters.

Official statistics show that four people are known to have contracted AIDS in the province and up to 800 are believed to have the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

"AIDS is spreading rapidly in the province and we need proper measures to curb it," Mochtadi said. (har)