Despite the fall in HIV-positive cases in Odisha, the scenario still alarming

Bhubaneswar, July 27: Odisha has witnessed a steady decline in the number of HIV-positive cases though the testing rate has increased during the last seven years. But the scenario is still alarming. As per official records, as many as 20,593 HIV-positive cases were detected between 2015 and 2021. Due to the lack of awareness at the grassroots level, people are being infected with the deadly virus. According to the Odisha State AIDS Control Society, 3025 persons tested HIV positive out of 6,25,420 tests conducted in 2015. In 2016, as many as 9,09,383 tests were conducted and 3,307 persons were detected positive when 3,299 persons tested positive for the virus out of 11,84,129 tests in 2017. Similarly, 3,209 persons tested positive in 2018 out of 12,18,222 tests and 3,278 cases were positive in 2019 when 14, 03,991 tests were conducted across the state. The positive cases reduced to 2,212 in 2020 and 2,253 in 2021 out of 15,42,935 and 18,22,553 tests in respective years. Out of the total infections in the last seven years, 82 percent of cases were out of unprotected sexual activities and most of them were male while only 13 to 17 percent of women were infected with HIV for the same reason during this period. Most men were infected due to sexual intercourse with many women without wearing condoms. When seven percent of pregnant women were infected with the virus, six percent children contaminated infection from their mothers. One percent of infection was reported due to the use of unsterilized syringes and another one percent through blood transfusion. The rest three percent have been infected by unknown reasons, the Odisha State AIDS Control Society said.