The number of new HIV infections almost doubled in 44 European countries over the past seven years, according to a report published by the World Health Organization, Bloomberg reported.
The number of newly diagnosed cases rose to 41,949 last year from 21,787 in 2000, the WHO and the Stockholm-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in an e-mailed statement today. In the same period, 5,244 new AIDS cases in 48 countries were reported.
The highest rates were reported by Estonia, Ukraine, Portugal and the Republic of Moldova. In the region, the predominant mode of transmission was sex between men, followed by heterosexual contact, the report said. Injecting drugs is the main route of transmission in eastern Europe, the report said.
“There are two issues that we should keep in mind,” Nata Menabde, deputy regional director for Europe, said in the statement. “First, the number of new patients in central and eastern Europe is growing faster than the number of people with access to treatment. Second, strengthening the capacity of public health systems in all countries is the best defense against HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
Among countries in the European Union or European Free Trade Association, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Romania reported the lowest rates of infection.
