China says HIV/Aids cases up in Jan-Oct period

BEIJING (REUTERS) - The number of new HIV/Aids cases in China jumped in the first 10 months of the year, as premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang promised to let non-governmental groups play a bigger role in fighting an epidemic spreading fast in vulnerable groups.

The number of new Aids cases rose almost 13 per cent in the January to October period, compared with the same period the previous year, while the number of people infected with HIV aged 50 and above leapt more than 20 per cent, the official Xinhua news agency said.

A total of 492,191 people were living with HIV/Aids as of the end of October, including 68,802 new cases this year, the news agency said, citing the Health Ministry.

Of the new HIV cases within the 10 month period, 84.9 per cent contracted the virus through sexual intercourse, with transmission rates among gay men rising sharply, it added.