May 5, 2009
Data released by the Health Protection Inspectorate show 126 Estonia residents were diagnosed with HIV in the first four months of 2009. The newly infected include 70 men and 21 incarcerated persons. The largest number of cases, 42, was reported in Tallinn, the capital. Estonia�s HIV figures have been trending downward in recent years - from 668 in 2006 to 633 in 2007 and 545 in 2008 -- and experts hope fewer than 500 people will be diagnosed in 2009. Estonia spent about 200 million kroons (US $17.08 million) fighting HIV/AIDS in 2008.