New HIV Infections, AIDS Patients Fall below 1,400 in Japan

August 28, 2018

Tokyo- The number of newly found HIV infections and new AIDS patients in Japan in 2017 fell below 1,400 for the first time in 11 years, the health ministry said Monday.

The total stood at 1,389, down 59 from the previous year, the ministry said.

With many cases detected early through free examinations at public health centers, such tests are believed to have helped prevent HIV infections from spreading, a ministry committee for AIDS surveillance said.

In 2017, the number of newly found HIV infections fell by 35 to 976 and that of new patients who had already developed AIDS dropped by 24 to 413.

Japanese citizens accounted for 1,193 of the total new HIV infections and AIDS patients, down 86, while 196 were foreigners, up 27. Jiji Press