New HIV/AIDS Infections Hit All Time High in Japan
Pastor Dale Morgan
New HIV/AIDS Infections Hit All Time High in Japan*
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 7, 2007; 9:04 AM
TOKYO -- The numbers of new infections of HIV and AIDS patients in Japan
hit record highs in 2006, the Health Ministry said Wednesday,
underscoring concerns over spreading infections.
The number of new HIV infections last year was 914, up nearly 10 percent
from 2005, according to preliminary data released by the ministry's AIDS
Surveillance Committee.
The number of those who developed AIDS in 2006 was 390, up 6.3 percent
from the year before.
Both numbers were a record high since the ministry began taking
statistics in 1985.
The report did not provide analysis on why the numbers are increasing.
Ministry official Kozo Akino said while actual infections may be
spreading, the surge in the number of infections is also because more
people are getting tested.