HIV positive cases on the rise in U'khand

Dehra Dun, Sep 25 (UNI) The number of HIV postitive patients in Uttarakhand has increased alarmingly.

According to a report by the Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society, the total number of patients tested positive in the state since 2000 has shot up to 1536 from last year's figure of 29.

Uttarakhand has so far reported 239 AIDS cases while 45 patients have succumbed to the disease during the same period, Mr Abhinav Kumar Sharma, spokesman of the Uttarakhand AIDS Control Society told UNI.

He said youth aged between 15-25 were the more vulnerable section and attributed the rise in HIV positive cases to the increasing number of floating population.

He informed that Red Ribbon Clubs would be set up in various colleges in the state to educate the youth about the deadly infection and halt the spread of AIDS.

Dehra Dun has two Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centres which provide care to patients of HIV/ AIDS free of charge.

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