Over 135,000 HIV-infected people reported in Vietnam

HANOI, Dec. 1 (Chinese media) -- There has been 135,171 HIV positive people

reported in Vietnam nationwide, the local newspaper New Hanoi reported on

Monday.

Of the HIV-accquired cases, 29,134 had full-blown AIDS and 41,418 died of

the disease in the country so far, the daily quoted the source with the Ministry

of Health (MoH) as saying.

Local health officials warned that Vietnam is facing the risk of disease's

expansion to young population. HIV-acquired cases aged from 20 to 39 increased

to 89 percent from 15 percent, according to MoH.

People with HIV live in all of the country's provinces and cities. Ho Chi Minh

City has the highest number of HIV/ AIDS cases, followed by two northern

provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong of Vietnam.

At a meeting held on Sunday in Hanoi on the occasion of the World AIDS Day,

which is marked on Dec. 1 Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong urged the

whole nation to redouble efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with focus on

the changing social behaviors to AIDS victims.

Trong also called for more financial resources and support from government and international organizations involved in HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Vietnam.