China Sees a Rise in HIV-infected Students

According to government officials, China is witnessing a rise in the number of registered HIV infected students, with homosexual transmission emerging as a major cause of new infections.

A total of 1,700 students were reported HIV positive in 2012, a 24.5-percent rise year on year, said Yu Jingjin, an official with the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Of the newly reported 1,700 cases, 64.8 percent of the infections are attributable to homosexual contact, Yu said.

Of the total HIV/AIDS cases reported in 2012, a staggering 87 percent caused due to sexual transmission.

China has reported over 7,000 students living with HIV, with the first AIDS patient being found in 1985 in the country.

Source: IANS