AIDS lurks in East Timor

DILI, East Timor: Increasing human traffic has exposed the province to the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), chief of the provincial health office Samuel Munaiseche said yesterday.

The local government has embarked on an information campaign to improve people's awareness about AIDS, he said.

"Although there has been no reported case of AIDS, the public need to stay alert on the spread of HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus)," he said as quoted by Antara.

The information campaign is aimed at people from high risk groups and students, he added.

The presence of prostitutes is feared to make the spread of AIDS possible, he said. Cases of gonorrhea and syphilis have been found. (pan)