HIV/AIDS cases up to 578

JAKARTA (JP): Official health statistics show the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Indonesia increased by 20 in August, raising the official total to 578.

Ministry of Health Director General for Communicable Disease Control and Environmental Health Dr. Hadi Abednego said 13 new cases were found in Riau, three in South Sumatra and four in Irian Jaya.

He said 438 people were HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive, and 140 had AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome).

However, as quoted by Antara Saturday, Hadi believes the real figure may be 100 times greater.

Ninety percent of sufferers are said to have contracted the disease through sex, and men have two-thirds of the reported cases.

Jakarta has the highest number of recorded cases with 174, followed by Irian Jaya with 141 and Bali with 39. (mds)