HIV/AIDS Infection Rises in Singapore

Singapore's HIV infection rate is up, with 201 people diagnosed in the first 10 months of this year, compared to 189 for the same period last year, the government said today. In a statement, the Ministry of Health said 198 of the 201 new cases were infected via sexual transmission, 78 percent of which were heterosexual transmissions. About 88 percent of the new cases were males. "Among those who acquired the infection through the sexual route, about 88 percent had sexual exposure to prostitutes (locally and overseas) and/or casual sex partners," said the MOH. "The Ministry would like to emphasize that the only way to avoid AIDS is to remain faithful to one's spouse and to avoid casual sex and sex with prostitutes. Persons who engage in casual sex or sex with prostitutes are advised to lower their risk by wearing condoms," it said. A total of 2,034 Singaporeans have been infected with HIV/AIDS since the city-state's first cases were detected in 1985.

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