East Timor prone to AIDS

DILI, East Timor: The deadly Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spreading in the youngest province, chief of the local education office Rustam S. Pakaya said yesterday.

A recent blood test taken from 300 high risk people in Dili showed that one had the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes AIDS.

"It is possible that many more city residents have contracted the virus," he said as quoted by Antara.

AIDS cases have reportedly been found in all the 27 provinces across Indonesia. More than 300 people have full-blown AIDS or have contracted HIV.

According to Rustam, almost 30 percent of HIV carriers in Indonesia are aged between 15 and 40 years. (pan)