SUVA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Health recorded last year 151 new cases of HIV (human immune-deficiency virus), or AIDS, the highest number of reported annual HIV infections since the first reported case in 1989.
According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, Permanent Secretary for Health James Fong said most infections reported were from late case presentations of HIV.
Fong said the rising number is a cause for concern, citing the potential of many unknown cases out in the community in the country with a population of around 900,000 people.
Of the 151 HIV infections, 82 percent are from the 20-49 age group, 6 percent are adolescents and 6 percent are less than 10 years old.
Of them, 52 percent of the new infections were recorded from the central and eastern parts of the country. About 36 percent came from the western side of the main island Viti Levu and 12 percent from the second largest island in Vanua Levu.
There have been 25 HIV-related deaths including one paediatric death.
Since 1989, a cumulative number of 1,417 HIV cases have been reported in Fiji. ■