2300 in Armenia are infected with HIV

Since 1988, when accumulation of HIV virus infection cases has been resumed in Armenia, 808 people are recorded infected with HIV and 134 of them in 2009, Samvel Grigoryan, the director of AIDS prevention center told today. According to the doctor 590(73%) men have been recorded infected with HIV, 218(27%) women and 16 (2%) children. “The majority of HIV infection has been recorded in Yerevan; Shirak region follows the capital city,” S. Grigoryan said. Doctor said that currently 2300 people are believed to be infected with HIV in Armenia. HIV is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk.