On Tuesday in Athens, Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis told a press conference that Greece has recorded 522 new HIV cases in 2005 through Dec. 8. This year's number of new HIV cases is thus expected to be 24-27 percent higher than last year's, according to data from the Center for Infectious Disease Control. Heterosexually acquired infections rose 9.5 percent over 2004 levels, and a record 25 percent of new cases were women. Kaklamanis attributed the increase to a relaxation of prevention measures due to treatment optimism. Many experts cited the lack of a public HIV information campaign; some experts thought more people might be testing for the disease. Since 1984, Greece has recorded 7,643 HIV and 2,641 AIDS diagnoses.

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