Print this page    •   Back to Web version of article

News Briefs
Portugal Has European Union's Highest Rate of HIV: Statistics Office

April 29, 2002

Portugal has the highest rate of HIV infection in the EU, and is the only nation in the 15-member bloc where rates of infection are rising, the National Statistics Institute in Lisbon said last week. The institute said there were 104.2 HIV cases per one million Portuguese residents in 2000, compared with 88.3 cases in 1999. The EU average is just under 25 HIV cases per one million residents. The number of Portugal's AIDS cases has risen every year since its first recorded case in 1983. "I believe HIV infection rates may be stagnating, but are not yet declining," said the national coordinator of the fight against AIDS, Fernando Ventura, at an AIDS conference in Porto earlier this month. Health officials say drug injection is the main source of HIV infection in Portugal. Some 4,600 people have died of AIDS in Portugal since 1983, according to the National Commission Against AIDS.


Back to other CDC news for April 29, 2002

Previous Updates | Search the CDC archive

Excerpted from:
Agence France Presse
04.24.02



This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update. You can find this article online by typing this address into your Web browser:
http://www.thebody.com/content/art22827.html

General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.