People in Slovakia and abroad wore red ribbons on December 1 to commemorate Worlds AIDS Day and to raise public awareness about the illness and the means of prevention, the TASR newswire reported.
Of the 46 new cases of HIV infection to have been diagnosed in Slovakia this year, 40 were Slovak and the remaining six were foreigners with temporary residence. Also, three new AIDS cases and two AIDS-related deaths were recorded, Chief Public Hygienist Ivan Rovný told TASR.
Since 1985 a total of 552 cases of HIV infection have been diagnosed in Slovakia, with 429 being Slovak citizens and 123 foreigners. Furthermore, 48 people with the HIV virus have died, 40 of whom suffered symptoms of full-blown AIDS, TASR reported.
HIV/AIDS cannot be cured, but antiretroviral treatments can slow down the breakdown of the body’s immune system. Treatments are available in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica and Košice.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
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