"The infection of people with HIV is out of control in Estonia," Maarike Harro, director of the National Institute for Health Development, told a press conference Friday in Tallinn. "In cases per million people, Estonia is in the worst position in the world, outside Africa."

The World Health Organization estimates that one in every 100 people in Estonia ages 15-49 may be HIV-infected. A total of 4,910 Estonians are registered as HIV-infected, and 468 new cases have been added this year. However, "there are many unregistered cases in Estonia, so the figure of the HIV-positive people may be one- or even two-thirds higher than the official figure," said Social Affairs Minster Jaak Aab.

Of those infected, 65 percent are under age 25. Male drug injectors ages 20-24 are at greatest risk. Women account for one-third of newly registered HIV cases, and female patients outnumber males in the 15-19 age group.

On Friday, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria allocated $6.2 million to Estonia to fight AIDS in the coming three years. In the 2003-2005 period, the Global Fund gave the country $3.9 million.

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