Only over the last three months, a total of 163 new HIV cases have been revealed, which is a more than 30 percent year on year increase.
More than 3000 people are now officially registered as HIV infected in region, which is among the highest number in all of Northwest Russia. The increasing number of HIV cases now increasingly worry regional health authorities.
The density of HIV infected is highest in Kandalaksha district (674/100000), while the Kolsky rayon and Murmansk have an infection rate of respectively 447,7/100000 and 408,3/100000, Murman.ru reports.
More than 80 percent of the infected are in the age group 15-30 years, while more than 25 percent are aged 30-39 years. Two thirds of the cases are men. More than 70 percent of the cases have been infected through illegal drug use, the news site informs.
According to HIV Norge, the number of new HIV cases is increasing also in neighboring Norway. There, a total of 299 new cases were revealed in 2008, which 49 more than in 2007. A total of 4086 were registered as HIV positive in the country by the end of 2008.
Sweden last year saw a decrease in the number of new cases. There a total of 8455 HIV cases are registered.
