Over 1.7mn contracted HIV in last 10 yrs: Data

NEW DELHI: Over 1.7 million people contracted HIV in the country in last 10 years due to unprotected intercourse, the data provided by National AIDS Control Organization in response to an RTI query has revealed.

The number of people contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the last 10 years, however, has come down significantly. HIV transmission by unprotected sex was recorded in 240,000 people in 2011-12, while the number reduced to 85,268 in 2020-21.

In response to the RTI query filed by Madhya Pradesh-based activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur, the National AIDS Control Organization stated that 1,708,777 people contracted HIV by unprotected sex between 2011 and 2021 in India.among the states, Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest number of such cases of HIV transmission at 318,814, followed by Maharashtra at 284,577, Karnataka at 212,982, Tamil Nadu at 116,536, Uttar Pradesh at 110,911 and Gujarat at 87,440 cases.

Also, 15,782 people contracted HIV by transmission through blood and blood products from 2011-12 to 2020-21, and 4,423 contracted it by mother to child transmission according to 18 month antibody testing data.

Among all states and Union territories, a consistent decline in cases of transmission of HIV was seen, the data said. As of 2020, there are 2,318,737 people living with HIV, including 81,430 children, in the country. The information on modes of transmission has been recorded by the counselor from the response given by HIV patients during the time of pre-test/post-test counseling so the data is self-reported, the RTI application said.