From the beginning of the year to the end of October, 58 new cases of HIV infection were recorded and diagnosed in Slovak citizens, while 21 new cases of HIV infection were reported in foreigners, announced Health Ministry spokesperson Zuzana Eliášová in connection with World AIDS Day, which falls on 1 December.
In recent years, Slovakia has been among those EU member states with the lowest incidence of HIV infection, says Eliášová. However, the number of cases is growing. The highest number of positive cases is found in the Bratislava region. Since the beginning of monitoring in 1985, the total number of reported HIV-positive cases in Slovakia is 1253. During this period, 75 people died of HIV, of which 56 were in the AIDS stage.
Health Minister Marek Krajčí has emphasized the need for prevention in the fight against this disease.
