AIDS boss warns of PNG epidemic

Sunday, July 3, 2005; Posted: 3:17 a.m. EDT (07:17 GMT)

Asia has the second-largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world after sub-Saharan Africa.

KOBE, Japan (AP) -- Papua New Guinea is at risk of an African-level HIV/AIDS epidemic, but other Asia-Pacific nations like Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar are also worrisome as the number of infections there continue to rise, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency has said.
The epidemic is as vast and diverse as the region itself with sex and injecting drug use the main engines driving the epidemic.

But there's simply not enough data to create a clear picture of the situation in many areas where other factors -- such as men who have sex with men -- could be contributing to rising numbers in cities and local communities, Dr. Peter Piot, head of UNAIDS


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