HIV cases have spiraled inAssamwith over 2,000 cases being detected in barely seven months this year, a figure which equals the number of cases detected in the entire period in 2021-2022. Health officials said the trend is heading towards a figure which may end up as the highest HIV cases in Assam by March next year.
Till now, the highest ever HIV cases 2,366 were detected in Assam in 2021-2022. But this year, from April to October alone 2,269 cases have been detected.
The new HIV cases in Assam have increased by 26.2% in 2021 in comparison to 2010. In the current year, it is seen that HIV infections are spreading among the youth, especially among IDUs (Injecting Drug Users),
As per NACO HIV Estimation Report 2021, Assam has about 25,073 people living with HIV (PLHIV). Of them, 45% are female and 3% are children. Kamrup (M) has the maximum number of cases (7,610), followed by Cachar district (5,200), Nagaon (1,602) district and Dibrugarh (1,402). Till October 2022, 10,765 people were on anti-retroviral therapy (ART).