Miami Herald Examines Growing HIV/AIDS Prevalence Among Russian Children
The Miami Herald on Wednesday examined the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Russia, where increased HIV prevalence among teenage girls and young women is leading to "horrifying spikes" in the number of Russian infants who are born HIV-positive. According to the government's AIDS center, 6,000 Russian infants were born HIV-positive in 2003, compared with only 60 in 1997. The disease already has "taken hold" among Russian prisoners, sex workers and injection drug users, according to the Herald. The "virtually unchecked" Russian HIV/AIDS epidemic is "turning the old Soviet Union into the new Southern Africa," the Herald reports (McDonald, Miami Herald, 6/16). The complete article is available online.
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.