Free Screening For Kelantanese At Risk Of HIV Infection (BERNAMA)

MACHANG, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- People in Kelantan who feel they may be at high risk of contracting HIV have been advised to undergo free screening at government health facilities.

Kelantan Deputy Director of Health Dr Abu Hasan Ashaari said the health authorities had detected infection in people regardless of the age factor, even in people 60 years and above.

"They are from both genders, and are particularly those who marry often and are unaware they are carriers of the virus," he told reporters after launching the state-level World Aids Day 2009, here.

Dr Abu Hasan said Kelantan had the highest incidence of HIV infection among the states, adding that the highest number of 1,239 cases were detected in 2005 or equivalent to 93.9 per 100,000 people in the state.

"Between January and October this year, 494 cases were reported or equivalent to 30.2 per 100,000 people," he said.

Dr Abu Hasan said the virus was spread by drug addicts through the sharing of syringe needles and prostitutes in towns on the Malaysia-Thailand border.

He said the authorities planned to reduce the incidence of HIV to 22 per 100,000 people by 2015 with the cooperation of everyone.

-- BERNAMA