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Establishing this with statistics, he said that nearly 26 percent of those detected with HIV in the State in 2015 (till June) are either foreigners or non-Goans.
At the same time, in what seems to be a positive sign on the HIV/AIDS awareness front, the mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Goa has fallen to zero during the last year, as compared to national average of three to four percent.
Addressing media persons, Goel said that though over the years there is a rise in HIV cases in the State, there is a substantial decline in cases that have tested positive.
He said that tourism States, especially those that record high number of foreign tourist arrivals, are highly vulnerable to AIDS. “Goa ranks number one. Followed by Delhi, Agra and other States,” he said. He added, “With foreign tourists there is always drug trafficking. Most of the cases a single needle is used by many persons for drug dose…drug addicts then have unprotected sex…these are the common routes of transmission.”
As per figures available with Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), almost 26 percent of the 181 cases detected this year (till June), involve foreigners or non-Goans. The figure is on the decline compared to last year that reported 33%.
Further, in nearly 93 percent of cases detected this year, the route of transmission is unprotected sex.
Goel was speaking in the presence of Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik.
As far as mother-to-child transmission of HIV cases is concerned, the State reported nil cases. “The results on the tests were encouraging in Goa. Only five out of 8,000 pregnant women tested for HIV were positive. But no child was found to be having HIV transmitted from the mother,” Goel said.
Goel said across India the mother-to-child transmission ratio is about three to four percent.
The figures available from GSACS revealed in 2014, 47,003 tests were conducted, of which 47 were positive, while in 2015 till date, 22,729 tests were done, of which 19 are positive.
Figures further reveal that Mormugao taluka has the highest number of HIV cases (24.9%), while all other 11 talukas have marginal number of cases between 2 percent to 9 percent.
At the same time, the case are more amongst the age group between 35-49 years (40.9%) followed by 25-34 years (34.8%).
