Last year, 870 people were confirmed to be infected with HIV = human immunodeficiency virus in Japan, the lowest number in the past 20 years, according to a summary by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. As the number of tests continues to be low due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is urging those who are aware of the infection to get tested as soon as possible.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, preliminary figures for 1 people were confirmed to be infected with HIV at public health centers and medical institutions nationwide last year.
That's 870 fewer than the previous year, or 187%, the lowest in 18 years.
Of these, about 20% had AIDS = acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Last year, 3,7 tests were conducted.
This is an increase of about 3104,20 compared to the lowest number in the past 1 years, but only about half of what it was in 5000, before the pandemic.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) believes that testing by public health centers and medical institutions continued to be delayed due to the work strain caused by the new coronavirus, and that the refraining from testing of examinees also had an effect, and that there is a possibility that the infected people may not be fully understood.
On top of that, if treatment is started at an early stage, the onset of AIDS can be suppressed and the risk of spreading infection can be reduced, so people who are aware of infection are urged to get tested as soon as possible.