AIDS getting out of control

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />NEW DELHI: AIDS could well be getting out of hand in five states in the country. HIV has penetrated every district in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Manipur and Nagaland with a prevalence rate of 1 per cent or more amongst pregnant women in most areas, causing national and international concern.<br /></div> <div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" center=""><img src="/photo/859033.cms" alt="/photo/859033.cms" border="0" /></div> <div class="Normal"><br />A prevalence rate of 1 per cent is a marker that indicates a generalised epidemic, which is not restricted to any one group.Beyond this threshold, HIV numbers are known to increase rapidly as it is difficult to control a generalised epidemic. In several districts in these states, the prevalence rates are as high as 5-6 per cent.<br /><br />These are the findings of the annual sentinel surveillance, which in the past has projected an incomplete picture showing success in some areas and decline in the rate of new infections. What has not been projected is that the increase of infection in the rural areas has been alarmingly high.<br /></div> </div>