Iran Counts 5,780 HIV Cases but Unofficial Estimates Are Six Times Higher

Iran has 5,780 registered cases of HIV, including 700 AIDS cases and 634 deaths, a health ministry official said in newspaper reports published on World AIDS Day. However, several experts said in the same reports that the real figure was 30,000-40,000 cases. The official said that 95 percent of the registered cases were men, while 63 percent were IV drug users. In May, Iranian newspapers reported some 4,800 registered HIV cases and 256 deaths. Iranian authorities have launched an AIDS awareness campaign primarily aimed at young people, including a series on state television in which a leading man in his 20s has HIV/AIDS. In addition, newspapers have reported several cases where prostitutes with HIV were arrested for infecting clients. Although prostitution is officially banned in Iran, official figures report more than 30,000 sex workers.

Back to other news for December 3, 2003

Search the Newsroom archive