HIV cases on the rise in Nagaland: Dr Kire

Kohima, Jun 27: In spite HIV/AIDS awareness amongst people in Nagaland having reached 70 per cent, the presently the virus seems to spread at an alarming rate, Project Director of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society Dr Neiphi Kire has said.

On the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking here yesterday, Dr Kire said that out of the 5,000 test reports throughout the state, about 139 cases were tested positive in the last month, which he added was quite alarming and with this number of blood tests, there is an increasing number of positive cases.

The mode of transmission has also changed. Earlier, the main route of transmission was Intravenous Drug Users (IDU). However, now only 24 per cent of the cases were through this route. In about 60 per cent of the cases the virus wad transmitted sexually with rise in heterosexuality in the state, Dr Kire disclosed.

The HIV/AIDS cases in the state have reached 4652 at present.

Interestingly, the fight against this virus has become not only a 'Departmental battle', but everyone including the churches, NGOs, media, students and civil societies.

UNI