* Jammu and Kashmir has over 4,300 patients, including 131 orphans and 225 widows, have been tested HIV positive in the state so far.

*Jammu, having the maximum fluctuating population, has reported the highest number of HIV patients, followed by southern districts of the state —- Kathua and Samba.

*According to the J&K State AIDS Control Society (JKSACS) statistics, a total of 4,175 HIV-positive patients, including 2,437 men, 1,484 women and 248 children.

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World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year. The day is dedicated to spreading awareness about AIDS, which spreads due to infection from the virus called HIV.

According to  the news report of The Tribune India, the prevalence of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) has slowly tightened its grip on Jammu and Kashmir as over 4,300 patients, including 131 orphans and 225 widows, have been tested HIV positive in the state so far.

Jammu, having the maximum fluctuating population, has reported the highest number of HIV patients, followed by southern districts of the state —- Kathua and Samba. The number of patients infected by HIV has shown an upward trend over the years. It has mainly been attributed to greater use of drugs than sexual transmission.

According to the J&K State AIDS Control Society (JKSACS) statistics, a total of 4,175 HIV-positive patients, including 2,437 men, 1,484 women and 248 children, have been registered with the society in the Jammu region till May this year.

“Jammu has reported the highest 1,482 HIV patients, followed by 793 in Kathua, 482 in Samba, 243 in Udhampur and 241 in Rajouri,” said Sumeera Khan, Programme Officer and in charge, JKSACS, Jammu.

Read also: Your health is under threat in Jammu region

In the Kashmir region, including Leh, the prevalence of HIV is quite low. The number of HIV patients there is 228, including 58 non-locals.

However, the number of HIV patients has witnessed an increase, though there are some fluctuating figures.Before 2011, the state had 2,573 HIV-positive patients.

New report also states that  use of drugs is a major reason for HIV transmission mainly in the Kashmir valley, female sex workers, truckers and labourers are the main transmitters in Kathua and Samba.

About 750 persons have died due to AIDS in the state since the first case was detected 30 years ago.