The number of female HIV/AIDS patients in China is quickly catching up with that of men, Xinhua News Agency quoted a Ministry of Health report as saying Wednesday. Just ten years ago in China, the ratio of male HIV/AIDS patients to female was 5 to 1, but that has now shifted to 2 to 1. In some regions of the country, the number of female patients is equal to the number of male patients. The report noted that women are especially vulnerable because the disease is transmitted through sex with high-risk groups. "Female AIDS patients also usually have less of a chance to get treatment or help," it said. Without elaborating, Xinhua said the government intends to launch an anti-AIDS campaign urging greater care for women.

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