HIV/AIDS cases surge among seniors: report

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- The number of HIV/AIDS cases in South Korea rose by more than 20 percent over the past few years, with a surprisingly sharp increase in infections among senior citizens, a government report showed Wednesday.

The number of new HIV cases among seniors aged 50 or above reached 175 in 2007,
surpassing the number of younger AIDS patients for the first time, according to
the Health Ministry's report to the parliament.
A total of 189 senior citizens were newly-diagnosed as HIV positive last year, a
sharp increase from the 138 in 2005. In comparison, 149 people aged below 30 were
infected with the disease last year, showing a slight decrease from 154 in 2005.
A total of 744 people were diagnosed with AIDS last year, an increase by 22
percent from the 610 in 2004, and 394 people fell ill from the disease during the
first half of this year.
The number of patients suffering from the immune deficiency disease is increasing
at an alarming rate here, with about two South Koreans being diagnosed with AIDS
each day, according to recent government data. The number of AIDS patients
reached above 5,000 last year, with about 1,000 AIDS-related deaths.
Yet, social prejudice and discrimination of AIDS patients in Korea, which has
traditionally stressed sexual moderation as part of the country's Confucian-based
moral code, is hindering people from taking AIDS tests and seeking medical
treatment.
The first reported case of AIDS in South Korea was in 1985.
While sexual intercourse is the most common form of transmission, condom use in
Korea stood at a mere 25 percent last year, compared to between 40 and 60 percent
in other countries, including Japan and the United States.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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