Latvia has highest number of new AIDS cases in EU, EEA

Take note – story published 6 years ago

Also last year Latvia reported the highest number of new AIDS cases in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA), but the situation has slightly improved from 2015, said Inga Upmace, the board chairwoman of the Baltic HIV Association.

The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report of the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) about the situation in Europe suggests that last year there were 5.4 new AIDS cases per 100,000 residents in Latvia, which is higher than average of 1.3 cases in other countries. In 2015 the number of new AIDS cases in Latvia was 6.2 per 100,000 residents.

Also, Latvia in 2016 the reported the highest growth of new HIV cases among EU and EEA countries – 18.5 new cases per 100,000, while in the EU and EEA on average there were 5.9 new cases.

Upmace believes that the changes in treatment of HIV patients effective as of next year might make a positive turn and reduce the incidence with HIV/AIDS. "Still, the main aspect is HIV test, it is the only way to find out one’s HIV status. A treated HIV patient is not spreading the infection further. The one who knows he is HIV-infected will be careful not to infect his partners," said the expert.

The World’s AIDS day is marked today in Latvia and the world.

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