AIDS death toll rising

AIDS death toll rising

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Of the 96 known cases of HIV and AIDS in Irian Jaya, eight people have died, a health official says.

Dr. Gunawan, spokesman of the Ministry of Health's provincial office, said here yesterday that, at present, his office recorded eight people with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. A total of 88 developed full-blown Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, Antara reported.

He did not say when the victims died.

AIDS and HIV infections were first reported in the province in 1992, when only six cases were on record. In 1993, the figure increased to 48. The following year, ten more HIV-infected and three AIDS patients were discovered.

Gunawan said that of the total number, 68 were foreigners, and mostly T were fishermen operating in the province.

As of September, 346 people in Indonesia had been recorded as suffering from HIV or AIDS. (swe)