Utah is at a higher risk of infection since it is a popular tourist destination. Official
Srinagar, August 17: As of June 2023, 6,158 people in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
A government representative has said that 3,478 people are now alive whereas 1,400 people with HIV have passed away while receiving ART. He reported that 547 people had dropped out of follow-up.
There have been 5,060 recorded cases of HIV at GMC Jammu, he added; 1,228 have died, 503 have dropped out of care, and 2718 are now receiving ART.
The number of HIV-positive people recorded at SKIMS Srinagar is 746; 148 have died, 32 have dropped out of treatment, and 448 are maintaining their health with ART, he said.
There are now 352 people enrolled for HIV care at ART Kuthua; 24 have passed away, 12 have stopped following up, and 312 are currently receiving ART.
The authorities said that the growing trend in the number of individuals infected with HIV throughout the years was attributable in large part to the fact that most people aren’t coming forward for HIV testing due to societal stigma.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a debilitating and sometimes fatal illness. HIV reduces your body’s defences against illness and infection by weakening your immune system.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a kind of STI. Transmission also occurs via the sharing of needles, which may lead to infection, as well as through direct contact with contaminated blood or during pregnancy, delivery, or breast-feeding. Without treatment, HIV may slowly impair your immune system, perhaps resulting in AIDS.
According to authorities, an AIDS patient is “unfortunately” frequently stigmatised, leading to social exclusion, rejection, and prejudice.
They said that as J&K is a popular tourist location, it faces a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
Positive HIV/AIDS tests in J&K almost always indicate that the patient acquired the virus from a source outside of the UT.
“Drug addicts are at a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and if they are married or sexually active, they transmit this to their partners as well,” they told KNO.
