China classifies HIV as
'epidemic' as disease spreads
(Beijing - Apr 8,2004)
China has classified HIV as an 'epidemic' with some 840,000 HIV-carriers of
whom 80,000 have contracted the deadly AIDS disease in the world's most
populous nation, the latest status report from the ministry of health said.
The assessment report on China's AIDS prevention and control, released by
ministry shows HIV as an epidemic covering all the mainland's 31 provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities. There are 840,000 HIV-carriers, of
whom 80,000 suffer AIDS.
With the number of patients rising at an alarming rate, a senior Chinese
leader has warned the country's health officials that the consequences would
be grave if no effective measures are take to curb the spread of the
disease.
China's AIDS prevention and control work is at a crucial stage because the
epidemic may spread from high-risk groups
to normal people, Vice-Premier Wu Yi said at a two-day national conference
on AIDS prevention which concluded here yesterday.
Stressing the extreme importance and emergency of curbing the quick spread
of the deadly disease in china, Wu said if no effective prevention and
control measures are taken, "the consequences will be very grievous." "We
should enhance management over blood banks, strictly crack down upon illegal
blood collection and ban in-hospital infection to curb virus spread through
blood transfusions," she said.