Report: Iran HIV Cases Increase Dramatically

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state television is reporting that the number of HIV-positive citizens in the country has risen by 80 percent annually over the last decade.

Talking about the virus that causes AIDS was once longer taboo in the Islamic Republic. But in recent years, government officials in Iran have begun greater outreach and education about HIV and AIDS.

On Sunday, state television quoted Health Minister Hassan Ghzaizadeh saying there has been a nine-fold growth in the number of HIV/AIDS patients in the decade.

The report said number of registered HIV-positive citizens is about 27,000, though estimates suggest there are some 100,000 people infected in Iran. It said a third of those infected said they contradicted the virus through sexual intercourse, while the rest got it from using infected syringes.  NYTimes