Aizawl, Feb 4 � Extramarital and unprotected sex was the cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Mizoram, officials of State AIDS Control Society said here today.
Dr Zothankhuma, Deputy Director of Mizoram State AIDS Control Society said that more than 67.86 per cent of the fresh HIV cases detected in the State during 2010 were infected through sexual contacts.
Out of the 35,636 blood samples tested last year, 1,223 people were tested positive for HIV, of which 830 people contracted the dreaded virus through unprotected sex, Zothankhuma said.
He said 348 new detections were infected through intravenous drug use and 25 of them (children) through their mothers while the cause of infection of 20 others were not confirmed.
Since 1990 when the first HIV/AIDS case was detected in the State till October 2010, 5,312 HIV positives have been detected.
While 538 people were found to be full blown AIDS, 177 people including 73 females have died due to AIDS, he said. � PTI
