Number of Russians With HIV Jumps Nearly 10-Fold: Official

A top Russian health official reported Monday that the number of HIV-positive Russians has increased nearly 10-fold in the past three years. "Only 20 per 100,000 Russians were HIV-positive in early 2000 and the rate has increased by nearly 10 times to 180 per 100,000 by November 2003," said Vadim Pokrovsky, head of the federal center to fight HIV/AIDS, reported the Interfax news agency. Most of those infected with HIV are men ages 15 to 30, he said. In May, Pokrovsky said that up to 1.5 million Russians may have HIV, although the officially registered figure is about 238,000 people. Pokrovsky said some experts in his department estimate that AIDS deaths may become as numerous as those from car accidents in Russia within a few years. Experts say about 90 percent of all HIV infections in the country result from drug users sharing needles.

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