HIV Digest	HIV Digest Archive

Chinese Health Minister and Vice Premier Wu Yi told a conference on HIV/AIDS in Beijing that there must be a nationwide effort to fight the rapid spread of the virus in the country. "It must be reported timely and faithfully. And anyone who intends to hide the epidemic should take responsibility and will be severely punished," said Wu, the China Daily reported. Her comments mark the first time China's leaders have threatened punishment for covering up HIV/AIDS.

Wu told regional officials at the conference that prevention and control work on AIDS is at a vital stage. "The epidemic is at a critical point of spreading from high-risk groups to common people. We can completely contain the momentum if we take it seriously. Otherwise, we will lose this best, fleeting opportunity.... The consequences will be serious," said Wu. She called on local officials to strengthen efforts in public HIV/AIDS education, fight illegal blood sales, end in-hospital infections through unsafe blood transfusions, make condoms and clean needles accessible to high-risk groups, and increase surveillance and monitoring of the epidemic.

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Ray Yip, director of the China-US AIDS Prevention and Care Project, echoed Wu's call to action. Yip told attendees that China still has a "window of opportunity" to effectively contain the spread of HIV/AIDS from high-risk groups, such as drug addicts and prostitutes, to the general public. Yip reiterated that nearly 90 percent of those infected with HIV do not know it.

Many officials do not know how many HIV/AIDS cases exist in their

regions, and those who do are reluctant to acknowledge them for fear of the economic consequences. About 70 percent of HIV-infected Chinese are in poor areas, and nearly 80 percent of them cannot access necessary medical treatment.

Editor's Note: from the Agence France Presse