Srinagar, Nov 30: Jammu and Kashmir which till recently boasted of having zero HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive cases is now witnessing surge with non-locals outnumbering the locals.
 Records available with Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society reveal that the number of confirmed HIV+ cases in J&K as on date is 2649 while it was 2222 in 2009.
 Director JKSACS, Dr Wasim Qureshi said 658 persons were suffering from AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) with 76 in Kashmir valley and 582 in Jammu. He disclosed that “out of 76 patients in Kashmir majority are troopers”.
 Qureshi said, “We have to differentiate between HIV +ve case and the AIDS patient. The virus can remain in latent state for several years. In such case the person, who has been confirmed HIV +ve, can die of other disease also,” he said.
 Qureshi said since 1999 number of full blown AIDS cases in J&K is 1076 and among them 185 died.
 He said all the 658 AIDS patients were getting Anti-Retro Viral treatment including 44 children from Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura and Government Medical College Jammu.
 However, the remaining cases most of them who are non-locals have left the state, he said.
 Compared to other states, the number of HIV +ive cases is minimal in J&K.
 “In our country the prevalence of HIV +ive cases is 0.3 percent while in J&K it is 0.01 percent. It is controlled and static in the state,” Qureshi said taking into account the rise in population of the state.
 JKACS had established 33 integrated counselling & testing centres in the state at regional level for providing counselling & testing facilities to people, he said.
 “We have established 20 Blood Banks and 18 sexually transmitted diseases clinics have been established across the various regions of the state,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST