ASIA/MALESIA - In Malaysia every day 20 more people are infected with HIV where already 58,000 are HIV+

Rome (Fides Service) - The Malaysian health ministry has reported that at the beginning of January the number of HIV+ people in the country was 58,000, that every day 20 more people are infected and two people die of AIDS. The ministry also said 6, 545 of the 58,000 HIV+ cases developed AIDS and that 75% of these were aged between 13 and 39.
Referring to positive results obtained through isolating people with leprosy, TB and cholera some are suggesting that HIV+ people should be isolated to avoid contagion of healthy people. There was an immediate protest on the part of CARAM Asia, the Malaysian organisation which assists people with AIDS, which affirmed that the proposal was an attack on human dignity. (AP) (22/4/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:15 Parole:180)