AIDS victim ostracized

MALANG, East Java: The Malang Regency office has launched an investigation into reports that a woman who has AIDS and gave birth last month has now been ostracized by fellow villagers.

"We're sending a team to Baturetno village," Malang Regent Abdul Hamid was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Baturetno village chief Trisno Sunardi said most villagers rejected the presence of the woman, identified by Antara by her initials Mrs. Sul.

The woman, a former prostitute, earlier tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes AIDS. Intending to go ahead with her pregnancy, she and her husband returned to their home village. She gave birth last month and is under close observation by local doctors.

The Malang regency office now plans to send a medical team to the village to correct the villagers' misperception about AIDS. Most fear that the virus could spread by simply being close to her.