akira_hashimoto_2003

Aids fear in Pakistan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3055009.stm

Medical researchers have found evidence that HIV and other blood-borne
infections may be spreading more easily in Pakistan following the war
in Afghanistan.

A study of more than 200 intravenous drug users published in the
Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence shows that needle sharing has
increased three-fold since the start of the conflict in 2001.

This has put them and others at greater risk of contracting HIV, the
virus that causes Aids..

Rates of HIV and Aids in Pakistan have historically been low, but this
latest research suggests the situation could change rapidly.

'Shared needles'

Before war began, 57% of intravenous drug users shared needles, but
this rose to 76% after the war started.

It appears that increased police presence as well as changes in heroin
purity, availability and price have led not only to rises in needle
sharing, but also in the numbers of intravenous drug users.

Earlier studies by these scientists showed that 30% of injecting drug
users in Pakistan are paid for donating blood.

If needle sharing has increased, then so has the spread of blood-borne
diseases like HIV and certain forms of hepatitis - and could, through
donated blood, be passed onto the rest of the population.

The authors of the study say that improvements in support services,
drug treatment and needle exchanges are urgently needed in Pakistan to
avoid an explosive HIV epidemic in the country.